• Duration is clock time. The amount of time elapsed between a query starting and a query completing. CPU time is the amount of time spent executing on the CPU, calculated per core.

    Which you use depends on which you want. Interested in what's taking time, use duration. Interested in what uses CPU, use CPU.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass