Performance for character data is better with a binary character set and collation sequence than with a nonbinary character set and collation sequence.
CREATE DATABASE dbname COLLATION 'ISO_BINENG' CASE RESPECTOther settings for these options result in a nonbinary character set and collation sequence.
The disadvantage of these settings is that uppercase characters are always sorted before lowercase ones. For example, “BANANA” sorts before “apple.” If you prefer a more natural sort order, but still need a case-sensitive database, and if you are willing to sacrifice some degree of performance, use the collation ISO_1 instead of the default, ISO_BINENG.