title: Advantages of SQL Server Enterprise vs. Standard (2008)
body: <p>I'm looking into running a single instance web application on SQL Server 2008.  What are the specific advantages that the Enterprise version has over the Standard version in terms of speed.  I'm not looking at the management and reporting side of things, which I understand Enterprise is much better at, but just at raw speed point of view.  Based on the information <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/editions-compare.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">found here</a>, I've only been able to find a few differences.</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Parallel index operations - Only matters when you're creating or altering indexes.  Does nothing to effect day to day speed.</p></li>
  <li><p>Table and Index Partitioning - Does this really make a difference if everything is on the same disk/raid array?</p></li>
  <li><p>Limited to 4 CPUs - I understand this is number of physical processor sockets, not cores, and I don't plan on needing a server ever that has more than 4 sockets.  If I do, the extra cost of SQL Server Enterprise is going to be negligible.  Or I could just use replication with multiple machines, which Standard edition also supports.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Basically, what it comes down to, is Enterprise really worth the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/pricing.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">extra cash</a> ($8487 + CAL vs. $885 + CAL), for a single instance web application?</p>