Server-- running a forums. Is php(mysql) or cgi(perl) faster?

Question

I'm running a server on an old AMD K-6 500 MHz system w/ 256 megs of ram and a few hard drives, using WinXP Pro... I installed the package XAMPP which includes:
* Apache 2.2.2
* MySQL 5.0.21
* PHP 5.1.4
* phpMyAdmin 2.8.1
* XAMPP Control Panel Version 2.3
* FileZilla FTP Server 0.9.16c
and I was thinking of either installing the perl add-on and using YaBB(Yet Another Bulletin Board) or leaving it and just running phpBB2(php Bulletin Board 2)... Which is faster, Perl or PHP?

Thanks for any input or answers!

~~Greg

Testing them both takes awhile to set up and deploy so I would rather have this answered.

Answer 1

It depends on configuration. CGI installations are slower than mod_php, mod_perl, and FastCGI installations.

Answer 2

perl would be faster, but php are more complete and your application would be better.