up vote -2 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

What is a good desktop computer or at least configuration i.e. ram, hard drive size, operating system to use as a server for applications such as SQL server 2005 or 2008 and Dynamics GP

link|improve this question
2  
Hi welcome to super user. This is a shopping recommendation and also very broad since the system really depends on what the database will be doing, there is no "one size fits all" system for running SQL. Please expand what you want to do... As it stands this question is close-worthy. – Kyle Dec 16 '11 at 16:40
1  
He might have been a bit vague but I don't see any reason to nerf his question... it's not THAT bad. – OG Chuck Low Dec 16 '11 at 16:52
2  
There are differences as to what his version of SQL will even use based on what license he has. This question can be clarified, but merely by being about SQL server, it is not a pure shopping rec. I vote for OK to stay. – music2myear Dec 16 '11 at 17:39
Actually, this is VERY VAGUE, considering we have no idea the number of users or operations per hour. – surfasb Dec 16 '11 at 18:41
Even then it would be too localized anyway. – slhck Dec 16 '11 at 18:44
feedback

closed as off topic by Kyle, Daniel Beck, Sathya♦ Dec 16 '11 at 17:36

Questions on Super User are expected to generally relate to computer software or computer hardware, within the scope defined in the faq.

3 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

It depends on what you are doing with it.

Microsofts minimums are available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx but the bottom line is they are absurdly low.

In short, if you are wanting to install it to be able to test it out and learn with it on a single user machine, just about any modern system above the netbook class will be sufficient. If you are wanting to use this as a development machine for a single developer, any system capable of running Visual Studio comfortably will happily handle SQL Server (and in fact Visual Studio normally comes with SQL Server Express).

If you are wanting to use this in production of a multiuser application or use it for serious data analysis, then it really becomes a question of what kinds of workload it will be under, and I can't make good recommendations without knowing more about that.

One general comment I can make is that SQL Server is normally (again it depends on the type of work load) very RAM bound, so if you are budget constrained, I would go with a somewhat lower end processor to get more and/or faster RAM.

There are also a couple of detailed discussions of topics related to picking systems for specific workloads for SQL server on Ask.SQLServerCentral.com

link|improve this answer
Top notch answer. – OG Chuck Low Dec 16 '11 at 18:14
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

Any decent desktop computer will work.

Licensing for SQL server can be by CPU and will affect how much memory the SQL instance will use. Limited versions will only use up to a certain amount of RAM and CPU. So depending on what version you're using, purchase a computer that matches what the license will support.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

I'd tell you go with a nice Precision model from Dell if you are looking for pre-made. Warranty's are nice. As for specs on a box?

  • I'd stuff it with RAM 16gb... maybe more if budget allowed
  • Decent CPU would be worth while... you don't NEED dual CPUs but again... if budget isn't a barrier? Do it. Six Cores would be great.
  • OS is really a choice matter. You wanna pay or not? What are you capable of admining properly? I'm a Windows guy myself and I'd just roll 2008 Server but free is hard to argue with if you grok Linux or other XXXix flavors.
  • Drives... again one of the reasons I'd roll a Precision class here is I'd want the SQL stuff on at LEAST a RAID 1 if not better... something like a 1+0 but I'm not sure there... this also depends on what is more important to your SQL operation (ie redundancy or performance). Either way... you want a 6gb SATAIII system drive and then at least an array for the SQL... the Dynamics and stuff... yer getting outta my experience range :( Sorry... hope that helps though.
link|improve this answer
Sorry I left out Size... I'd say you could keep you system drive fairly minimal.. but they are cheap so at least 500gb. The Raids I compose of 10K rpm SATAIIIs if you can or 7200rpm SATAIIIs are fine but 1TB each no less. I also prefer my arrays to have matched drives... not just same size but same model exactly :) – OG Chuck Low Dec 16 '11 at 16:39
1  
I am a major fan of Linux, but there is no SQL Server (remember SQL Server is the official name of Microsoft's SQL offering) for Linux, at least not without running it under a virtual machine which has Windows. You could run other implementations of a SQL RDBMS under Linux such as MySql though. – TimothyAWiseman Dec 16 '11 at 17:34
1  
cough Dell apologist cough. ;) I like HPs, but I recognize more than anything we need peace of mind. I've had good experiences with HPs and know others who have not. I've had bad experiences with Dells and know others who have not. Lenovo's are crap, and I'll stand up to anyone who says otherwise. The point is to get what you're comfortable getting and recognize there is little enough difference between the mainline system builders these days. – music2myear Dec 16 '11 at 17:35
Tim... I didn't actually know that there was no way to run SQL on Linux. I of course realize it is MS but I figured there was probably some way smart people knew to make that happen :) Thanks for the lesson :) – OG Chuck Low Dec 16 '11 at 18:17
1  
As for you Music... lol no harms :) I didn't actually touch Dell's before coming to my shop. Now it's about all we use. I have pretty solid luck with HP and even used to work with them. I think as long as you go with a maker and a warranty vs yourself and trying to explain to your boss why the shit don't work, then you are good to go :) I TOTALLY agree with you in that it's where and WHAT you are comfortable with :) – OG Chuck Low Dec 16 '11 at 18:19
feedback

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.