Node with 450+ fields, server timeout
I doubt that with some many fields for a single node you'll be able to &quot;speed up that function&quot;. However, whenever time (and budget?) permits, you should consider what's mentioned in the (illuminating) article titled  &quot;Relativity Model for Drupal&quot;. This is an introduction to it (quoted from this linked page):

The Relativity Data Model for Drupal is a zero-custom-code, collection of steps, procedures and methods that strive to help site builders, users and site visitors interact with Drupal in a far easier and more efficient way. This is done by:

Data architecture and data modeling merging as a single step through a documentation procedure.
Customized user interfaces that cater to individual workflows throughout permission roles.
Multi-level relational data structures that relate to other multi-level relational structures.
Mimicking the concept of database joins within Drupal's UI's.
Vastly reducing the size of Drupal sites by a small handful of modules that provide greater power, speed and expansion capabilities.


Note the speed in the last item above ...
The small handful of modules (cfr. the last bullet) is like so (apart from Drupal core):

Chaos tool suite (ctools)
Date
Entity API
Entity reference
Entity connect
Field Group
Token
Pathauto
Views

This same topic is also presented in the video &quot;Revolutionary DRUPAL Data Modeling Concept!! (This will change your Drupal life!)&quot;.