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 SQL on a Xeon processor

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AskSQLTeam
Ask SQLTeam Question

0 Posts

Posted - 2002-06-27 : 09:38:19
Tony writes "We have a perfectly fine application that runs on sql and .Net
Recently we installed on a Xeon single processor machine (which has the capability to go to two processors), Windows2000. ANd it seems that sql server is much slower when compared to running it on a machine with a much smaller processor.
The Xeon machine also shows two cpus ( virtual -hyperthreading I guess) when there really is only one phycical CPU.

IS this performance loss..because sql sees two cpus and .... needs an extra license?

If so Can I shut of Hyperthreading .

Is there an SQL setting that allows me to get back performnace"

setbasedisthetruepath
Used SQL Salesman

992 Posts

Posted - 2002-06-27 : 11:53:00
Two things-

First, a XEON is not a particularly fast processor family, and not usually a suitable choice for single-processor systems.

Second, the performance issue is definitely not licensing. Do you have benchmarks from the old system for comparison? Of the four main components of system performance( CPU, memory, disk, network ), do you know which one(s) is/are affected and to what degree?

Generally, CPU is not the main indicator of database performance; the disk and memory components are. It sounds like you're not comparing apples with apples here. If you could, post a detailed list of the old system's and new system's specifications.

Jonathan Boott, MCDBA
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MichaelP
Jedi Yak

2489 Posts

Posted - 2002-06-27 : 12:29:18
I'm not real familiar with this, but maybe someone could talk about the "Degree of Parallelism" with a "multi cpu box" like this Hyperthreded Xeon?

BTW, if you want a faster DB server, Dual AMD boxes are putting the SMACK down on comparible Dual Xeon boxes.

Michael

<Yoda>Use the Search page you must. Find answer you will.
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Arnold Fribble
Yak-finder General

1961 Posts

Posted - 2002-06-27 : 13:03:06
I think that Intel and MS don't recommend the use of hyperthreading on Windows 2000. As far as I understand it, Windows 2000 doesn't have any concept of the difference between logical and physical processors. Windows .NET Server will support such things properly. How this will interact with SQL Server's ideas about multiprocessor machines I don't know.
As for processor licenses, there was bit of a spat between MS and Intel over that, but I don't recall how it was resolved.
I believe that most, if not all, machines that support Intel processors with hyperthreading have a BIOS option to disable it.


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