I missed the original response to my post - so I've picked it up from here.
Is the phenomenon totally reproducible ?
Did you check the filter_predicates and access_predicates of the plan, or just the structure. I don't expect any difference, but a change in predicate order can result in a significant change in CPU usage if you are unlucky.
If there is no difference there, then enable rowsource statistics (alter session set "_rowsource_execution_statistics"=true) and run the queries, then grab the execution plan from V$sql_plan and join to v$sql_plan_statistics to see if any of the figures about last_starts, last_XXX_buffer_gets, last_disk_reads, last_elapsed_time give you a clue about where the time went.
If you are on 10gR2 there is a /*+ gather_plan_statistics */ hint you can use instead of the "alter session".
Regards
Jonathan Lewis http://www.oracle.com/technology/community/oracle_ace/ace1.html#lewis
The Co-operative Oracle Users' FAQ http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/faq/ind_faq.html
Cost Based Oracle: Fundamentals http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/cbo_book/ind_book.html
Scott,
Have you tried going beyond just explain & autotrace and running a full 10046 level 12 trace to see where the slower version is spending its time? This might shed some light on the subject, plus - be sure to verify that the explain plans are exactly the same in the 10046 trace file (not the ones generated with the EXPLAIN= option), and in v$sqlplan. There are some "features" of autotrace and explain that can cause it to not give you an accurate explain plan.
Regards, Brandon
-----Original Message----- Jonathan, Thank you for your answer. We did do an explain plan on both versions of the statement and they were identical, which is what is so puzzling about this.
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