Calculate traffic amount on interface

I have not deployed any monitoring software yet; however, Cacti is in the works. But is it possible to change ‘five minute input rate / five minute output rate’ time interval from 5 min to secs and get an accurate account of traffic going over a FastEthernet interface? Would I choke the hardware (WS-C3750X-24T-L  ) if I can change this attribute? Would this be a good method to see the load/traffic values in real time? 

ACKGROUD:

The server team has deployed a new SQL server, and the DB devs are complaining that it is slow. I am suspecting that more traffic is going over the interfaces then what the ‘server team’ and ‘db devs’ indicated because they know I would raise a stink. I do not have access to the database server, nor the other end, yet I have access to network gear between the points.

Since I have never faced this type of issue, or problem – I need some direction and/or suggestions on how to troubleshoot this type of issue.

Issue the command load interval 30  on the interface and it will start displaying the input/output rate for 30 secs.

This won't impact the WS-C3750X-24T-S    efficiency of the switch..

For further troubleshooting of the issue check for any output drops/ input errors/crc in the show interface fax/y output.