On Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 9:07 AM, Ants Aasma <ants@cybertec.at> wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 3:48 PM, Yan Chunlu <springrider@gmail.com> wrote:
>> yes the system seems overloaded, I am dealing with a simple "INSERT" but not
>> sure if it is normal that it took more time than the explain estimated:
>
> The estimated cost is in arbitrary units, its purpose is to compare
> different execution plans, not estimate time taken. So it's completely
> normal that it doesn't match actual time taken.
Right. And to make explicit what you implied, when there is only one
to do something (like insert a row, or do maintenance on an index) it
often doesn't even attempt to cost that at all as there is no choice.
So it is not just a matter of units.
Cheers,
Jeff