RAM vs Second processor? 1

[MDA]

Hi all,

I am trying to decide if it is better to upgrade a SQL server box from 512mB to 1gb or instead add a second PIII 933 Mhz processor to the box?

I know SQL server will cache all queries, which makes them run faster but not sure if this is made up for by the faster processor?

Can only do one though? Which is best and why?

Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

Regards,

MDA

 

[jisoo22]

The 2nd processor would be best. Any server box benefits from dual processors much more then additional RAM.

Good Luck,
Jisoo22

 

[Maruis]

Hi
Depending on the size of your database I would strongly suggest to go with the RAM first. If possible go for both.

It will be a give and take situation depending on the preformance and load on your system. Do an analyses first before you decide. The preformance analyses will point you in the right direction. Hope this Helps

Maruis
"I sleep at home not on my Job!"

 

[garwain]

I'd open the task manager on the server and look to see whether the CPU usage is running near 100% or if the ram is at 100%. and upgrade whichever is running higher.

If both are maxed out then I think I'd go for the second processor to distribute the processing, which in theory should lighten the load on the ram a bit then get more ram later. (maybe there is another server or 2 that arn't suffering as heavy a load that you could borrow some ram from?)

 

[bjverzal]

Based on the information provided by the original poster, the determination of which is better cannot be made. To say that you will always benefit from a second processor is not true. The same can be said about memory. If for example the system is memory constrained and is swapping (paging), a second CPU will buy you absolutely nothing. If you've got processor threads waiting for CPU resources and 1GB of memory free, buying memory is a waste.

The post by garwain seems the most accurate. You have to determine what problem you are seeing, before you determine what the solution is. Intel would love for you to purchase a CPU. Memory manufacturers would love to get 512MB worth of you money. You manager and accountants want the best investment.

Look at the performance tools on the server. See where the bottleneck is. If memory - get memory (as much as you can afford). If CPU - get CPU's (as many as you can afford and the server can hold).

Remember this - applications rarely get smaller. Databases usually grow bigger. Where I'm at, when I started over a year ago, our database was around 185GB. It is now around 220GB. Not what I call a large database, but it is growing.

Good luck,

Bill.

 

[MDA]

Thanks all, as always - I know I can rely on this site for great advice.

Regards,

MDA