How to benchmark a SQL Server Query?

Question

I\'d like to know the standard way to benchmark a SQL Sever Query, preferably I\'d like to know about the tools that come with SQL Server rather than 3rd Party tools.

Answer 1

set showplan_text on will show you the execution plan (to see it graphically use CTRL + K (sql 2000) or CTRL + M (sql 2005 +)

set statistics IO on will show you the reads

set statistics time on will show you the elapsed time