Here are some more tips on SQL Performance.
SET NOCOUNT
So what is it useful for?
First of all what is it doing: Stops the message indicating the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement from being returned as part of the results.
Which means that when you do not need the number of rows affected to be returned from the SPROC then write that at the beginning of the SPROC. Why? because it will reduce the traffic and the execution time of your SPROC.