Why is Batch Mode Fast? - SQL Server Query Optimization

Explore the intricacies of SQL Server and Synapse query optimization in this 49-minute SQLBits conference talk. Delve into the evolution of database engine performance from SQL Server 7.0 to modern systems, examining concepts like Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) and their impact on query execution. Learn about ColumnStores and the advantages of Batch Mode processing over traditional Row Mode. Discover how Batch Mode leverages parallelism and SIMD instructions (AVX) for enhanced scalability. Gain insights from Conor Cunningham, an architect for the SQL core database engine at Microsoft with over 20 years of experience, as he unravels the secrets behind lightning-fast query performance in SQL Server and Synapse.

Intro
SQL Server 7.0 - Pentium Era
Instructions Per Cycle (over HW generations)
Bit counting IPC example
Modern CPU Takeaways To Maximize Perf
ColumnStores, Batch Mode
Row Mode vs. Batch Mode
Batch Mode Details
Batch Mode vs. Row Mode Parallelism Batch Mode
Scalability
SIMD instructions (AVX)