Performance Difference in comparing integers and comparing strings

Question

Can anyone provide any concrete evidence of performance when comparing

int = int

and:

string = string

in

Answer 1

Put both of your queries in the same query window. At the very top (before either of these queries) put: SET STATISTICS IO ON

When you run the code run it with the option "Include Actual Execution Plan" (an icon on your toolbar which looks like three little boxes, about 7 icons to the right of the Execute button)

This will result in three tabs in your results: Results, Messages, Plan. The Messages and the Plan will show you the IO cost and the full Execution cost.

The query with the bigger numbers has the highest cost! This method will allow you to prove to yourself which query has the lowest cost (highest performance)