Slow insert with MySQL full-text index

I use a full-text index in a MySQL table, and each insert into this table takes about 3 seconds. It seems that MySQL rebuilds (a part) of the full text index after each insert/update. Is this right?

The table has about 30 varchar and text fields, some indexes on varchar-fields and a fulltext index over the three fields title_text (char(255)), content_text (text), author_text (char(255)). In the table are about 210.000 rows, the table size is about 2.5 GB and the index size about 0.5 GB. The insert queries are done for every new row (no combined query for all inserts).

How can I get better performance from the INSERT? Is there perhaps an option to set when MySQL rebuilds the full-text index?

It must be as quick if not quicker to do:

• ALTER TABLE mydb.datafulltxt DISABLE KEYS;

• Do many INSERTs into mydb.datafulltxt

• ALTER TABLE mydb.datafulltxt ENABLE KEYS;

• Repeat as required.

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#27071, answer score: 2