Site optimization with database.

My current host allows me one database. I was thinking I would setup my own content management that would make most content on my site database driven. If I get a load of visitors (wishful thinking maybe), will it affect my page loads dramatically? Is it a bad idea to have all of my content on one database? Do multiple database transactions slow down the site?

I am using PHP and MySQL. I will be launching my site June 1 - strict deadlines and I will have to optimize "on the fly." I am already in need of optimizing my images, etc. I love doing things the hard way!! If I wasn't learning as I went - I am sure this would have been so much simpler!

your using a server side scripting, every query to database will consume time. Yup multiple database transaction can slow down the site. since your just starting, one database is fine

Thanks!

Can you tell me when it should be a concern? I have multiple pages all drawing information from the database. A forum, news, press releases, stories, articles. I did it that way to optimize the time I needed to update the site.

Will it matter that most of my queries are simple and usually only return one row? Sometimes I get the feeling that although I think my database is getting quite large - it is still small in comparison to some that are out there.

I know the questions are very vague, but I am concerned that I will launch my site and then one day it will get so slow I will lose all of my traffic.

Thanks for your help.

Im not talking as a pro, it is base on my personal experience. If you targeting a large visitors in the future you need atleast two database, one for the forum and the rest is for your content management. What kind of website do you have? is this a non-profit or profit sites? Im just thinking