When you retrieve data into Spreadsheet Add-in or use Report Writer to retrieve data, Essbase uses the retrieval buffer to optimize the retrieval. Essbase processes the data in sections. Increasing the retrieval buffer size can significantly reduce retrieval time because Essbase can process larger sections of data simultaneously.
By default, the retrieval buffer size is 10 KB. However, you may speed retrieval time if you set the retrieval buffer size greater than 10 KB. See Setting the Retrieval Buffer Size.