Will all cores be used on an i7 when running SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard

central-processing-unitmulti-coresql-server-2008

I have a server with an Intel Core i7 processor (4 cores). If I view processor activity in Task Manager I see that there are 8 cores. I believe that this is because of hyperthreading (please correct me if I'm wrong).

SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard will use a maximum of 4 CPUs when compared to SQL Server Enterprise which uses a maximum of 8 CPUs.

My question: Will the standard version of SQL Server fully utilize all available CPUs on this server? i.e. Will it see 4 or 8 CPUs?

Best Answer

The limit in SQL Server 2008 Standard for processors is per socket, not per core. For more info, check out the SQL Server 2008 page at Microsoft.com. Specifically, the "SQL Server 2008 R2 Editions Overview" PDF document. From the document:

With increasing hardware innovations, Microsoft continues to be the only major database vendor who does not price per core for multi-core processors

Yes, SQL Server 2008 Standard will use all 8 cores. It could use a hundred cores on a single-socket license if such a CPU existed.

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Iis – Which CPU configuration for new servers (IIS7 / Windows Server 2008)

I'd be inclined to choose the 2x nelaheim processors configuration. You've said you'll be running a lot of websites which can translate to a lot of web application threads, and 2 4 core processors translates to a lot of multi-tasking ability, and the throughput on the newest intel processors is much improved over their older processors. You should also see some very good memory performance from that architecture too, which should help with serving website content nice and quickly.

How to get Windows Server 2008 VM to use multiple cores

This is a common issue in the worl of PtoV, VtoP etc, but I always forget the resolutions that have worked for me.

One that springs to mind is deleting the ACPI device from Device Manager

But here is something thats looks similar to your issue, given that your event log shows all cpus.

http://www.storagecraft.com/support/forum/only-1-processor-showing-task-manager

Browse to c:\windows\system32
Right click on HAL.DLL
Click the version tab
Click Internal Name.  Here it will tell you definitly which HAL you are running.

You want halmacpi, not halaacpi

Best Answer

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