Under heavy load, does the default trace cost ?  I'm about to find out, as I'm turning it off.

SQL Server 2005, one instance, 64 bit EE, 32 gb of RAM, 4 Dual Core procs (so 8 procs), HP 585; big box, right ?

I'm running at 80-90 % cpu; across all 8....so I'm squeezing anything I can and part of that squeeze is turning the default trace off...

Also have change the max degree of parralellism to 4.

select * from sys.configurations where configuration_id = 1568

select * from ::fn_trace_getinfo(0)

sp_configure 'default trace enabled', 0

reconfigure with override

We'll see if it makes a difference today, i'd like to keep the cpu's out of the 90's !

Didn't help, maybe didn't hurt either, all CPU's (8 of them) pegged most of the day 94-100%