SQL Server races against competition
C|Net | at | by Mike
When Microsoft launches its 64-bit version of SQL Server at the end of April, the database will cost the same as the 32-bit version, perform better, and be part of the company's bid to oust Oracle and IBM's DB/2 on high-end systems.
SQL Server is widely regarded as suitable for smaller systems, while larger databases are the province of Oracle or DB/2 running on RISC systems. However, Microsoft has been quietly creeping up the rankings, and in March a prelaunch version of 64-bit SQL Server reached No. 2 in the nonclustered TPC-C benchmark performance table running on an NEC Itanium 2 mainframe.