After research, I realize that there is a tool, Index Tuning Wizard (ITW), in SQL Server 2000 can be used to improve query performance.
Apply ITW to my Q2, it recommends only set non-clustered index to ItemID in TABLE_ONE.
After set the index and run Q2, there is following result:
With the index CPU time improved 11.2% (from 8478 ms to 7528 ms) and elapsed time improved 57% (from 33578 ms to 14488 ms).
BTW, although my testing query is very simple, ITW can used to pretty complicated query.
Finally thanks to every one in discussion.
Apply ITW to my Q2, it recommends only set non-clustered index to ItemID in TABLE_ONE.
After set the index and run Q2, there is following result:
With the index CPU time improved 11.2% (from 8478 ms to 7528 ms) and elapsed time improved 57% (from 33578 ms to 14488 ms).
BTW, although my testing query is very simple, ITW can used to pretty complicated query.
Finally thanks to every one in discussion.