Entity Framework query performance differs extrem avec raw SQL execution

[ForumBot]

I have a question about Entity Framework query execution performance.

**Schema**:

I have a table structure like this:

```
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[DataLogger]
(
[ID] [bigint] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL,
[ProjectID] [bigint] NULL,
CONSTRAINT [PrimaryKey1] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED ( [ID] ASC )
)

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[DCDistributionBox]
(
[ID] [bigint] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL,
[DataLoggerID] [bigint] NOT NULL,
CONSTRAINT [PrimaryKey2] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED ( [ID] ASC )
)

ALTER TABLE [dbo].[DCDistributionBox]
ADD CONSTRAINT [FK_DCDistributionBox_DataLogger]
FOREIGN KEY([DataLoggerID]) REFERENCES [dbo].[DataLogger] ([ID])

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[DCString]
(
[ID] [bigint] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL,
[DCDistributionBoxID] [bigint] NOT NULL,
[CurrentMPP] [decimal](18, 2) NULL,
CONSTRAINT [PrimaryKey3] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED ( [ID] ASC )
)

ALTER TABLE [dbo].[DCString]
ADD CONSTRAINT [FK_DCString_DCDistributionBox]
FOREIGN KEY([DCDistributionBoxID]) REFERENCES [dbo].[DCDistributionBox] ([ID])

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[StringData]
(
[DCStringID] [bigint] NOT NULL,
[TimeStamp] [datetime] NOT NULL,
[DCCurrent] [decimal](18, 2) NULL,
CONSTRAINT [PrimaryKey4] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED ( [TimeStamp] DESC, [DCStringID] ASC)
)

CREATE NONCLUSTERED INDEX [TimeStamp_DCCurrent-NonClusteredIndex]
ON [dbo].[StringData] ([DCStringID] ASC, [TimeStamp] ASC)
INCLUDE ([DCCurrent])

```

Standard indexes on the foreign keys also exist (I don't want to list them all for space reasons).

The `[StringData]` table as has following storage stats:

- Data space: 26,901.86 MB

- Row count: 131,827,749

- Partitioned: true

- Partition count: 62

**Usage**:

I now want to group the data in the `[StringData]` table and do some aggregation.

I created an Entity Framework query (detailed infos to the query can be found [here](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35436442)):

```
var compareData = model.StringDatas
.AsNoTracking()
.Where(p => p.DCString.DCDistributionBox.DataLogger.ProjectID == projectID && p.TimeStamp >= fromDate && p.TimeStamp < tillDate)
.Select(d => new
{
TimeStamp = d.TimeStamp,
DCCurrentMpp = d.DCCurrent / d.DCString.CurrentMPP
})
.GroupBy(d => DbFunctions.AddMinutes(DateTime.MinValue, DbFunctions.DiffMinutes(DateTime.MinValue, d.TimeStamp) / minuteInterval * minuteInterval))
.Select(d => new
{
TimeStamp = d.Key,
DCCurrentMppMin = d.Min(v => v.DCCurrentMpp),
DCCurrentMppMax = d.Max(v => v.DCCurrentMpp),
DCCurrentMppAvg = d.Average(v => v.DCCurrentMpp),
DCCurrentMppStDev = DbFunctions.StandardDeviationP(d.Select(v => v.DCCurrentMpp))
})
.ToList();

```

The excecution timespan is exceptional long!?

- Execution result: 92rows

- Execution time: ~16000ms

**Attempts**:

I now took a look into the Entity Framework generated SQL query and looks like this:

```
DECLARE @p__linq__4 DATETIME = 0;
DECLARE @p__linq__3 DATETIME = 0;
DECLARE @p__linq__5 INT = 15;
DECLARE @p__linq__6 INT = 15;
DECLARE @p__linq__0 BIGINT = 20827;
DECLARE @p__linq__1 DATETIME = '06.02.2016 00:00:00';
DECLARE @p__linq__2 DATETIME = '07.02.2016 00:00:00';

SELECT
1 AS [C1],
[GroupBy1].[K1] AS [C2],
[GroupBy1].[A1] AS [C3],
[GroupBy1].[A2] AS [C4],
[GroupBy1].[A3] AS [C5],
[GroupBy1].[A4] AS [C6]
FROM ( SELECT
[Project1].[K1] AS [K1],
MIN([Project1].[A1]) AS [A1],
MAX([Project1].[A2]) AS [A2],
AVG([Project1].[A3]) AS [A3],
STDEVP([Project1].[A4]) AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
DATEADD (minute, ((DATEDIFF (minute, @p__linq__4, [Project1].[TimeStamp])) / @p__linq__5) * @p__linq__6, @p__linq__3) AS [K1],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A1],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A2],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A3],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
[Extent1].[TimeStamp] AS [TimeStamp],
[Extent1].[DCCurrent] / [Extent2].[CurrentMPP] AS [C1]
FROM [dbo].[StringData] AS [Extent1]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCString] AS [Extent2] ON [Extent1].[DCStringID] = [Extent2].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCDistributionBox] AS [Extent3] ON [Extent2].[DCDistributionBoxID] = [Extent3].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DataLogger] AS [Extent4] ON [Extent3].[DataLoggerID] = [Extent4].[ID]
WHERE (([Extent4].[ProjectID] = @p__linq__0) OR (([Extent4].[ProjectID] IS NULL) AND (@p__linq__0 IS NULL))) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp] >= @p__linq__1) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp] < @p__linq__2)
) AS [Project1]
) AS [Project1]
GROUP BY [K1]
) AS [GroupBy1]

```

I copied this SQL query into SSMS on the same machine, connected with same connection string as the Entity Framework.

The result is a very much improved performance:

- Execution result: 92rows

- Execution time: 517ms

I also do some loop runing test and the result is strange. The test looks like this

```
for (int i = 0; i < 50; i++)
{
DateTime begin = DateTime.UtcNow;

[...query...]

TimeSpan excecutionTimeSpan = DateTime.UtcNow - begin;
Debug.WriteLine("{0}th run: {1}", i, excecutionTimeSpan.ToString());
}

```

The result is very different and looks random(?):

```
0th run: 00:00:11.0618580
1th run: 00:00:11.3339467
2th run: 00:00:10.0000676
3th run: 00:00:10.1508140
4th run: 00:00:09.2041939
5th run: 00:00:07.6710321
6th run: 00:00:10.3386312
7th run: 00:00:17.3422765
8th run: 00:00:13.8620557
9th run: 00:00:14.9041528
10th run: 00:00:12.7772906
11th run: 00:00:17.0170235
12th run: 00:00:14.7773750

```

**Question**:

Why is Entity Framework query execution so slow? The resulting row count is really low and the raw SQL query shows a very fast performance.

**Update 1**:

I take care that its not a MetaContext or Model creation delay. Some other queries are executed on the same Model instance right before with good performance.

**Update 2** (related to the answer of @x0007me):

Thanks for the hint but this can be eliminated by changing the model settings like this:

```
modelContext.Configuration.UseDatabaseNullSemantics = true;

```

The EF generated SQL is now:

```
SELECT
1 AS [C1],
[GroupBy1].[K1] AS [C2],
[GroupBy1].[A1] AS [C3],
[GroupBy1].[A2] AS [C4],
[GroupBy1].[A3] AS [C5],
[GroupBy1].[A4] AS [C6]
FROM ( SELECT
[Project1].[K1] AS [K1],
MIN([Project1].[A1]) AS [A1],
MAX([Project1].[A2]) AS [A2],
AVG([Project1].[A3]) AS [A3],
STDEVP([Project1].[A4]) AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
DATEADD (minute, ((DATEDIFF (minute, @p__linq__4, [Project1].[TimeStamp])) / @p__linq__5) * @p__linq__6, @p__linq__3) AS [K1],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A1],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A2],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A3],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
[Extent1].[TimeStamp] AS [TimeStamp],
[Extent1].[DCCurrent] / [Extent2].[CurrentMPP] AS [C1]
FROM [dbo].[StringData] AS [Extent1]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCString] AS [Extent2] ON [Extent1].[DCStringID] = [Extent2].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCDistributionBox] AS [Extent3] ON [Extent2].[DCDistributionBoxID] = [Extent3].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DataLogger] AS [Extent4] ON [Extent3].[DataLoggerID] = [Extent4].[ID]
WHERE ([Extent4].[ProjectID] = @p__linq__0) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp] >= @p__linq__1) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp] < @p__linq__2)
) AS [Project1]
) AS [Project1]
GROUP BY [K1]
) AS [GroupBy1]

```

So you can see the problem you described is now solved, but the execution time does not change.

Also, as you can see in the schema and the raw execution time, I used optimized structure with high optimized indexer.

**Update 3** (related to the answer of @Vladimir Baranov):

I don't see why this can be related to query plan caching. Because in the MSDN is clearly descripted that the EF6 make use of query plan caching.

A simple test proof that the huge excecution time differenz is not related to the query plan caching (phseudo code):

```
using(var modelContext = new ModelContext())
{
modelContext.Query(); //1th run activates caching

modelContext.Query(); //2th used cached plan
}

```

As the result, both queries run with the same excecution time.

**Update 4** (related to the answer of @bubi):

I tried to run the query that is generated by the EF as you descripted it:

```
int result = model.Database.ExecuteSqlCommand(@"SELECT
1 AS [C1],
[GroupBy1].[K1] AS [C2],
[GroupBy1].[A1] AS [C3],
[GroupBy1].[A2] AS [C4],
[GroupBy1].[A3] AS [C5],
[GroupBy1].[A4] AS [C6]
FROM ( SELECT
[Project1].[K1] AS [K1],
MIN([Project1].[A1]) AS [A1],
MAX([Project1].[A2]) AS [A2],
AVG([Project1].[A3]) AS [A3],
STDEVP([Project1].[A4]) AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
DATEADD (minute, ((DATEDIFF (minute, 0, [Project1].[TimeStamp])) / @p__linq__5) * @p__linq__6, 0) AS [K1],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A1],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A2],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A3],
[Project1].[C1] AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
[Extent1].[TimeStamp] AS [TimeStamp],
[Extent1].[DCCurrent] / [Extent2].[CurrentMPP] AS [C1]
FROM [dbo].[StringData] AS [Extent1]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCString] AS [Extent2] ON [Extent1].[DCStringID] = [Extent2].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCDistributionBox] AS [Extent3] ON [Extent2].[DCDistributionBoxID] = [Extent3].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DataLogger] AS [Extent4] ON [Extent3].[DataLoggerID] = [Extent4].[ID]
WHERE ([Extent4].[ProjectID] = @p__linq__0) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp] >= @p__linq__1) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp] < @p__linq__2)
) AS [Project1]
) AS [Project1]
GROUP BY [K1]
) AS [GroupBy1]",
new SqlParameter("p__linq__0", 20827),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__1", fromDate),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__2", tillDate),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__5", 15),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__6", 15));

```

- Execution result: 92

- Execution time: ~16000ms

It took exact as long as the normal EF query!?

**Update 5** (related to the answer of @vittore):

I create a traced call tree, maybe it helps:

**Update 6** (related to the answer of @usr):

I created two showplan XML via SQL Server Profiler.

[Fast run (SSMS).SQLPlan](http://pastebin.com/6We2u6Dg)

[Slow run (EF).SQLPlan](http://pastebin.com/B2mty2R9)

**Update 7** (related to the comments of @VladimirBaranov):

I now run some more test case related to your comments.

First I eleminate time taking order operations by using a new computed column and a matching INDEXER. This reduce the perfomance lag related to `DATEADD(MINUTE, DATEDIFF(MINUTE, 0, [TimeStamp] ) / 15* 15, 0)`. Detail for how and why you can find [here](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35436442).

The Result look s like this:

Pure EntityFramework query:

```
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
DateTime begin = DateTime.UtcNow;
var result = model.StringDatas
.AsNoTracking()
.Where(p => p.DCString.DCDistributionBox.DataLogger.ProjectID == projectID && p.TimeStamp15Minutes >= fromDate && p.TimeStamp15Minutes < tillDate)
.Select(d => new
{
TimeStamp = d.TimeStamp15Minutes,
DCCurrentMpp = d.DCCurrent / d.DCString.CurrentMPP
})
.GroupBy(d => d.TimeStamp)
.Select(d => new
{
TimeStamp = d.Key,
DCCurrentMppMin = d.Min(v => v.DCCurrentMpp),
DCCurrentMppMax = d.Max(v => v.DCCurrentMpp),
DCCurrentMppAvg = d.Average(v => v.DCCurrentMpp),
DCCurrentMppStDev = DbFunctions.StandardDeviationP(d.Select(v => v.DCCurrentMpp))
})
.ToList();

TimeSpan excecutionTimeSpan = DateTime.UtcNow - begin;
Debug.WriteLine("{0}th run pure EF: {1}", i, excecutionTimeSpan.ToString());
}

```

0th run pure EF: **00:00:12.6460624**

1th run pure EF: **00:00:11.0258393**

2th run pure EF: **00:00:08.4171044**

I now used the EF generated SQL as a SQL query:

```
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
DateTime begin = DateTime.UtcNow;
int result = model.Database.ExecuteSqlCommand(@"SELECT
1 AS [C1],
[GroupBy1].[K1] AS [TimeStamp15Minutes],
[GroupBy1].[A1] AS [C2],
[GroupBy1].[A2] AS [C3],
[GroupBy1].[A3] AS [C4],
[GroupBy1].[A4] AS [C5]
FROM ( SELECT
[Project1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] AS [K1],
MIN([Project1].[C1]) AS [A1],
MAX([Project1].[C1]) AS [A2],
AVG([Project1].[C1]) AS [A3],
STDEVP([Project1].[C1]) AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
[Extent1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] AS [TimeStamp15Minutes],
[Extent1].[DCCurrent] / [Extent2].[CurrentMPP] AS [C1]
FROM [dbo].[StringData] AS [Extent1]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCString] AS [Extent2] ON [Extent1].[DCStringID] = [Extent2].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCDistributionBox] AS [Extent3] ON [Extent2].[DCDistributionBoxID] = [Extent3].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DataLogger] AS [Extent4] ON [Extent3].[DataLoggerID] = [Extent4].[ID]
WHERE ([Extent4].[ProjectID] = @p__linq__0) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] >= @p__linq__1) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] < @p__linq__2)
) AS [Project1]
GROUP BY [Project1].[TimeStamp15Minutes]
) AS [GroupBy1];",
new SqlParameter("p__linq__0", 20827),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__1", fromDate),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__2", tillDate));

TimeSpan excecutionTimeSpan = DateTime.UtcNow - begin;
Debug.WriteLine("{0}th run: {1}", i, excecutionTimeSpan.ToString());
}

```

0th run: **00:00:00.8381200**

1th run: **00:00:00.6920736**

2th run: **00:00:00.7081006**

and with `OPTION(RECOMPILE)`:

```
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
DateTime begin = DateTime.UtcNow;
int result = model.Database.ExecuteSqlCommand(@"SELECT
1 AS [C1],
[GroupBy1].[K1] AS [TimeStamp15Minutes],
[GroupBy1].[A1] AS [C2],
[GroupBy1].[A2] AS [C3],
[GroupBy1].[A3] AS [C4],
[GroupBy1].[A4] AS [C5]
FROM ( SELECT
[Project1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] AS [K1],
MIN([Project1].[C1]) AS [A1],
MAX([Project1].[C1]) AS [A2],
AVG([Project1].[C1]) AS [A3],
STDEVP([Project1].[C1]) AS [A4]
FROM ( SELECT
[Extent1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] AS [TimeStamp15Minutes],
[Extent1].[DCCurrent] / [Extent2].[CurrentMPP] AS [C1]
FROM [dbo].[StringData] AS [Extent1]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCString] AS [Extent2] ON [Extent1].[DCStringID] = [Extent2].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DCDistributionBox] AS [Extent3] ON [Extent2].[DCDistributionBoxID] = [Extent3].[ID]
INNER JOIN [dbo].[DataLogger] AS [Extent4] ON [Extent3].[DataLoggerID] = [Extent4].[ID]
WHERE ([Extent4].[ProjectID] = @p__linq__0) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] >= @p__linq__1) AND ([Extent1].[TimeStamp15Minutes] < @p__linq__2)
) AS [Project1]
GROUP BY [Project1].[TimeStamp15Minutes]
) AS [GroupBy1]
OPTION(RECOMPILE);",
new SqlParameter("p__linq__0", 20827),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__1", fromDate),
new SqlParameter("p__linq__2", tillDate));

TimeSpan excecutionTimeSpan = DateTime.UtcNow - begin;
Debug.WriteLine("{0}th run: {1}", i, excecutionTimeSpan.ToString());
}

```

0th run with RECOMPILE: **00:00:00.8260932**

1th run with RECOMPILE: **00:00:00.9139730**

2th run with RECOMPILE: **00:00:01.0680665**

Same SQL query excecuted in SSMS (without RECOMPILE):

**00:00:01.105**

Same SQL query excecuted in SSMS (with RECOMPILE):

**00:00:00.902**

I hope this are all values you needed.

[ForumBot]

In this answer I'm focusing on the original observation: the query generated by EF is slow, but when the same query is run in SSMS it is fast.

One possible explanation of this behaviour is [Parameter sniffing](https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2013/06/the-elephant-and-the-mouse-or-parameter-sniffing-in-sql-server/).



SQL Server uses a process called parameter sniffing when it executes
stored procedures that have parameters. When the
procedure is compiled or recompiled, the value passed into the
parameter is evaluated and used to create an execution plan. That
value is then stored with the execution plan in the plan cache. On
subsequent executions, that same value – and same plan – is used.

So, EF generates a query that has few parameters. The first time you run this query the server creates an execution plan for this query using values of parameters that were in effect in the first run. That plan is usually pretty good. But, later on you run the same EF query using other values for parameters. It is possible that for new values of parameters the previously generated plan is not optimal and the query becomes slow. The server keeps using the previous plan, because it is still the same query, just values of parameters are different.

If at this moment you take the query text and try to run it directly in SSMS the server will create a new execution plan, because technically it is not the same query that is issued by EF application. Even one character difference is enough, any change in the session settings is also enough for the server to treat the query as a new one. As a result the server has two plans for the seemingly same query in its cache. The first "slow" plan is slow for the new values of parameters, because it was originally built for different parameter values. The second "fast" plan is built for the current parameter values, so it is fast.

The article [Slow in the Application, Fast in SSMS](http://www.sommarskog.se/query-plan-mysteries.html) by Erland Sommarskog explains this and other related areas in much more details.

There are several ways to discard cached plans and force the server to regenerate them. Changing the table or changing the table indexes should do it - it should discard all plans that are related to this table, both "slow" and "fast". Then you run the query in EF application with new values of parameters and get a new "fast" plan. You run the query in SSMS and get a second "fast" plan with new values of parameters. The server still generates two plans, but both plans are fast now.

Another variant is adding `OPTION(RECOMPILE)` to the query. With this option the server would not store the generated plan in its cache. So, every time the query runs the server would use actual parameter values to generate the plan that (it thinks) would be optimal for the given parameter values. The downside is an added overhead of the plan generation.

Mind you, the server still could choose a "bad" plan with this option due to outdated statistics, for example. But, at least, parameter sniffing would not be a problem.

Those who wonder how to add `OPTION (RECOMPILE)` hint to the query that is generated by EF have a look at this answer:

[https://stackoverflow.com/a/26762756/4116017](https://stackoverflow.com/a/26762756/4116017)