Given the added detail, I agree that one big table is not as good as a bunch of smaller tables. As to whether a lot of tables is better or worse than a set of distinct databases ... well, there is a whole chapter (7) in the MySQL manual about optimization. Have you looked at that yet?

I don't know off hand whether mysql's data files are "one per table" or "one per database" -- and I'm not sure if that even makes a difference for performance.

If you aren't familiar with the science and art of creating indexes on fields that are often used in the "where" clause, maybe it would be more effective to study that before trying "separate databases vs. separate tables in one database". Indexes are pretty easy to add to a running database, and can have a dramatic effect on query response time. (UPDATE: Then again, if you have other good reasons for using separate databases, go ahead -- I doubt it would damage performance at all, and might even help.)

In reply to Re^3: Speed of MySQL DBs by graff
in thread Speed of MySQL DBs by rsiedl

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