Here is an alternate method that I use to generate the pseudo random numbers. The basic method is to take the right 7 bytes from the NEWID function and convert that to a BIGINT before applying the MODULUS operator. No need for the ABS function, since 7 bytes can only produce a positive BIGINT number.

if object_id('tempdb..#t','U') is not null begin drop table #t end

-- Generate 20,000,000 rows

select top 20000000

NUMBER = identity(int,1,1)

into

#t

from

(select top 4473 * from master.dbo.syscolumns) a

cross join

(select top 4473 * from master.dbo.syscolumns) b

-- Show distribution of rowcount around average of 40000

select

a.RandomNo,

Rows = count(*)

from

(

select

RandomNo =

(convert(bigint,convert(varbinary(7),newid()))%500)+1

from

#t aa

) a

group by

a.RandomNo

order by

count(*),

a.RandomNo

RandomNo Rows

-------------------- -----------

335 39455

3 39457

76 39481

426 39489

494 39535

242 39539

278 39539

490 39548

445 39553

244 39566

...

...

...

124 40400

228 40402

425 40410

286 40434

45 40458

463 40463

373 40531

152 40586

(500 row(s) affected)