Postgres allows you to choose a different page size (at initdb time? At compile time?). The default is 8K. I've always wondered if 32K wouldn't be a better value, and this article points in the same direction.
On the other hand, smaller pages mean that more pages can fit in your CPU cache. Since CPU speed has improved much more than memory bus speed, and since cache is a scarce resource, it is important to use your cache lines as efficiently as possible.
Ultimately, it's a trade-off: larger pages mean faster I/O, while smaller pages mean better CPU utilisation.
Ultimately, it's a trade-off: larger pages mean faster I/O, while smaller pages mean better CPU utilisation.