TPMC

tpmC is a standardized performance metric derived from the TPC-C benchmark, developed by the Transaction Processing Performance Council (TPC). It expresses the throughput of a database system under a representative online transaction processing (OLTP) workload, typically reported as the number of new-order-type transactions that can be processed per minute. The metric is used to compare the performance and scalability of database platforms and configurations, often alongside a price-per-tpmC figure to assess cost effectiveness.

The TPC-C workload simulates a complex order-processing environment across a configurable number of warehouses. Results are reported for a defined scale factor (warehouse count) and concurrent client load, reflecting sustained mixed transactions that include operations such as new orders, payments, order status checks, deliveries, and stock level checks. The measured throughput, tpmC, is intended to represent practical OLTP performance, with higher values indicating greater performance.

In practice, tpmC is complemented by the price-performance figure, expressed as dollars per tpmC, to enable comparisons that account for hardware and platform costs. Benchmark results are commonly published by vendors and are used by industry analysts to assess system capabilities and scalability.

Limitations include the synthetic nature of the workload, which may not capture all real-world patterns, and sensitivity to hardware, software configuration, and virtualization factors. As with any benchmark, tpmC provides a standardized reference point but should be interpreted alongside other performance indicators and workload characteristics to gauge real-world suitability.