3.2. CPU architecture

From multicores and hyperthreading, to clock speed, cache, and x86/x64/Itanium platforms, there are numerous aspects to consider when choosing a CPU platform for SQL Server. Making the task somewhat easier are vendors such as Dell and HP that preconfigure systems suitable for SQL Server deployments. Such systems typically support 2 or 4 dual- or quad-core x64 CPUs providing between 4 and 16 CPU cores per server. This level of processing power is usually plenty for most line-of-business SQL Server applications. Moreover, the x64 processing platform in such servers provides flexibility in choosing between 32- and 64-bit Windows and SQL Server.

Despite the processing power and flexibility provided by such servers, it's still ...

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