Microsoft SQL Server/System Requirements

This software is available on Microsoft Windows, its 32-bit editions are different to the 64-bit editions^[1].

32-bit editions of SQL Server 2005

Minimum processor: PIII 600 (1 GHZ or faster recommended).

Minimum OS:

Enterprise

• Windows Server 2003 (Standard, Enterprise or Datacenter) with SP1 or later.
• Windows Small Business Server 2003 (Standard or Premium) with SP1 or later.
• Windows 2000 (Server, Advanced Server, Datacenter Server) with SP4 or later.

In short: all OS after Windows XP.

Standard

All of Enterprise, but also non server Windows OS.

Windows Professional with SP4 and Windows XP with SP2 or later.

Workgroups

All of standard and Windows XP Media and Tabled Edition.

Express

All of the above + Windows Home Edition with SP2 or later and Windows Server 2004 Web Edition with SP1 or later.

Developer

1+2+3 + 4.5 Windows Home Edition with SP2.

Memory Requirements

• Enterprise, Development Standard and Workgroup: 512 min, 1 GB more recommended.
• Express: 192 min, 512 or more recommended.

Harddisk requirement

350 MB full and 390 for sample.

Internet

• Explorer SP1 required for all installations (Required for Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and HTML Help.
• IIS Required for XML applications and for Reporting Services.
• TCP/IP must be enabled.

64-bit editions of SQL Server 2005

Processor

• IA64 Minimum: 1 GHZ or faster Itanium.
• X64 minimum: 1 GHz or faster AMD Opteron, AMD Athlon 64, Intel Xenon with Intel EM64T support or PIV with EM64T support.

References

1. ↑ https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx