Introduction to Multidimensional Data Model Design - SQL Server Analysis Services 2012 Cube Development - page 8

• Fastest possible query performance is required : The Tabular Model is en-
tirely stored in memory, so it is very fast at query time. Note that cubes are
cached as they are queried, so there is a point at which the Cube may match
the Tabular Model for a similar query but, in most cases, the Tabular Model
will outperform the Cube for sheer query speed.
• You want to use Power View or intend to run reports at a low granularity
of data : An add-in for SQL Server Reporting Services, Power View is an ad
hoc visualization and analysis tool with which users may explore Power Pivot
or the Tabular Model data in a familiar Office-like interface. Prior to SQL 2012
SP1, Power View could not use a Cube as a source. This is no longer a lim-
itation with the release of SP1. The Tabular Model is also likely to be more
efficient to retrieve data at low granularity, as opposed to retrieving just the
summary values.
For additional information on the comparison between tabular and multidimensional
models, refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh212940.aspx .