Strange Sql Server Query Slow

Question

i have a query like this

  SELECT TOP 10 
         * 
    FROM NEWS 
   WHERE newsid > AAA 
ORDER BY newsid desc;

this query is very slow for some values of AAA

for example it is fast for 1,000,000 and 1,400,000 but it is slow for 1,355,316

I am confused!!!

Answer 1

My first thought is that it is doing a lot of string comparison, and that maybe in your case where there are 1,355,316 records, either the string values are long, or the table is fragmented.

Is there an index on the table?

To start reading about query optimization, read this and this.

Answer 2

If in Sql Server 2008 try with FORCESEEK hint. You will get predictable results.