How many datafiles do I need on a new Multi-core CPU?
Previously some Microsoft documentation recommended a 1:1 ratio between CPU cores and datafiles. This recommendation is now obsolete due to the fact modern CPU such as the AMD Magny cours has 12 cores. This would lead to far too many datafiles. The chances of GAM page contention and other issues related to too few datafiles becomes very unlikely after about 16 datafiles. With SAP application we must use multiple data files each of the same size SQL Server allocates space for new data proportional to the free space in each of the files Our recommendation Small sized systems: 4 data files. Systems usually run on dedicated database servers which have between 4 and 8 CPU cores. Medium sized systems: 8 or 16 data files. Systems usually run on dedicated database servers which have between 8 and 16 CPU cores. Large sized systems: A minimum of 16 data files and maximum of 32. Systems which today run on hardware between 16 and 32 CPU cores or up to 64 threads. Xtra large sized systems: 32 Dataf
