Originally Posted by TexasDreams

considering the number of posts, the only solution on improving the search would be this.

Shut down the board for 72-hours to convert the code to use a mySQL full-text-search instead of using vBulletin's search. And then shut down the board at least 16-hours once a week to update the indexes.

Shut down the board for 24-hours a week continuing in using vBulletin's search. And then shut down the board at least 8-hours once a week to update the indexes. And permanently ban every user and their IP who uselessly bumps threads.

Leave it as it is, and not have any major downtime or having to charge users to be here.