Converting to a DATE or using an open-ended date range in any case will yield the best performance. FYI, convert to date using an index are the best performers. More testing a different techniques in article: What is the most efficient way to trim time from datetime? Posted by Aaron Bertrand
From that article:
DECLARE @dateVar datetime = '19700204';
-- Quickest when there is an index on t.[DateColumn],
-- because CONVERT can still use the index.
SELECT t.[DateColumn]
FROM MyTable t
WHERE = CONVERT(DATE, t.[DateColumn]) = CONVERT(DATE, @dateVar);
-- Quicker when there is no index on t.[DateColumn]
DECLARE @dateEnd datetime = DATEADD(DAY, 1, @dateVar);
SELECT t.[DateColumn]
FROM MyTable t
WHERE t.[DateColumn] >= @dateVar AND
t.[DateColumn] < @dateEnd;
Also from that article: using BETWEEN, DATEDIFF or CONVERT(CHAR(8)... are all slower.