Processor advice for MS Sql Servers

[Mario Gomes]

I am currently in the process of choosing new servers for our MS SQL Server servers, and with the licencing costs of the enterprise version single core performance is critical.

This would be a virtualized environment with Hyper-v and all flash nvme.

We are currently considering dual Intel 6254 Xeons machines, mainly because of the high clock speed per core. On the AMD side we are looking on dual Epyc 7402 or the 7542 because of they higher clock speeds.

Any insight, or real world experience with these to platforms with MS SQL server would be greatly appreciated.

 

[StevenDTX]

I cant help you with a CPU choice, but don't forget, running SQL in a VM also requires Software Assurance in addition to the per-core licensing.

 

[Mario Gomes]

Hi Steven,

SA is "only" required when you license for maximum virtualization(all server cores) , but granted it has many advantages like:

• License Mobility
  
• 3 passive SQL Server instances
  
• Software updates
• 24x7 support

 

[chaoscontrol]

Why do you need to high core speed instead of many cores? Especially with SQL.

 

[Mario Gomes]

Why do you need to high core speed instead of many cores? Especially with SQL.

Because with MSRP of $7,128 per core SQL Server Enterprise Edition the licencing costs are way more important than the cost of the processor, so the more performance you can squeeze per core the better.

 

[BackupProphet]

Also, SQL Server can be faster on faster cores. Especially for simple `select entity WHERE id = $id` This has to do with scanning a btree data structure works best with one thread