August 21, 2008 at 8:29 am
I've actually solved this but thought I would post up my findings as I couldnt find anything searching around the web.
Problem - SQL Express only uses 1 core of a quad core cpu although it will use both cores in a dual core cpu.
I tried manually selecting 2 processors (cores) in SQL 2005 > Server Properties > Processors - Does not work (I restarted SQL for these changes to take effect)
I tried a combination of the above and setting the affinity on the sqlservr.exe process to cpu 1 and cpu 2 - Does not work
Solution - (If using Win server 2008) > Administrative tools > System configuration > Boot > Advanced options > Number of processors = 2 > Reboot 🙂
Windows now sees the cpu as a dual core and SQL Server automatically adjusts it settings. Ran a few reports and sure enough both cores kick in and run in parallel !
Why Microsoft dont allow you to do this within SQL Express settings is beyond me. Once I have £3k for the workgroup version I can turn the cores back on again but until then ...
Hope this info helps a few people
August 21, 2008 at 11:17 am
I wonder if it's the type of CPU you're using. I've installed SQL Express on a quad-core "Core 2 Extreme" machine, and it ran on all four cores.
Also, you should shop around more on Workgroup Edition. I bought my copy for $300 US from an approved Microsoft vendor (don't remember which one). That's a lot less than £3k.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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August 21, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I would be looking for the 1 cpu licence version. I know the workgroup version + 5 clients is around £600 but I have 50+ users.
The CPU is a quad core xeon E5430 2.66, I tried literally everything and it would only run on the 1 core. Very frustrating!
August 22, 2008 at 10:49 am
The Xeon may be reporting itself to SQL as 4 CPUs instead of 4 cores on 1 CPU. I'm not sure how all of that works, inside SQL.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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