Deciding which hardware to run is a difficult decision but is important in order to guarantee reliability, performance, and efficiency. When building an SQL server, it’s always best to keep in mind the requirements needed for an optimally running server. The best computer hardware to run for an SQL Server depends on many conditions.

Not knowing what load the server will be under runs the risk of underbuilding or overbuilding which can be expensive later on. Because SQL servers like to cache data pages in ram, it’s best to use as much ram as possible and set aside a minimum 4gb for the OS. That also means that 64 bit is a necessity. Make sure that all components are 64 bit compatible, especially the processor. The best server processors are either the Intel Xeon series or the AMD Opteron series. For the storage decide what Disk IO speed is necessary before buying and choose the optimal amount of SSDs or HDDs you need as well as organize the RAID configurations accordingly.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

For power make sure to have 2 power supplies connected to an uninterruptible power supply in case of emergency. Lastly utilize performance baselines in order to monitor the state of your servers. Utilizing all these steps can ensure a durable and fast server for your database needs.