Technical Inquiry: Recommended SQL Server Version for Windows 10 Pro (Build 19045) with Intel Core i7-13700

Question

Dear Microsoft Support Team / Systems Architecture Specialist,

I am writing to seek an official recommendation regarding the most optimal and stable SQL Server version for my current hardware and software environment.

Below are the detailed specifications of my system, extracted directly from System Information (msinfo32):

• OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
• Version: 10.0.19045 Build 19045 (22H2)
• System Type: x64-based PC
• Processor: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13700, 2100 Mhz, 16 Core(s), 24 Logical Processor(s)
• System Model: ASUS H610M-A
• Installed Physical Memory (RAM): 32.0 GB
• Current Database Environment: SQL Server 2022 Express Edition

Our Scenario & Consideration: We are currently evaluating an upgrade from our existing SQL Server 2022 Express Edition to a commercial/full-featured edition to fully leverage our 32GB RAM and 24 logical processors (since Express limits us to 1.4GB RAM and 4 Cores).

We are currently torn between two choices:

1. SQL Server 2022 Standard Edition
2. SQL Server 2025 Standard Edition

Given that Windows 10 Pro is approaching its End of Support, but our hardware (i7-13700) fully supports hybrid-core architecture (P-cores/E-cores) and is capable of upgrading to Windows 11 Pro in the future, could you please provide your official technical insight on:

1. Which SQL Server version (2022 vs 2025) offers the best thread scheduling, performance stability, and compatibility on this specific setup right now?
2. Are there any known architectural or regression risks if we deploy SQL Server 2025 Standard on this specific Windows 10 Pro Build 19045 workstation?

Thank you for your time and professional guidance. I look forward to your response.

Best regards, [Tên của bạn]Dear Microsoft Support Team / Systems Architecture Specialist,

I am writing to seek an official recommendation regarding the most optimal and stable SQL Server version for my current hardware and software environment.

Below are the detailed specifications of my system, extracted directly from System Information (msinfo32):

• OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
• Version: 10.0.19045 Build 19045 (22H2)
• System Type: x64-based PC
• Processor: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13700, 2100 Mhz, 16 Core(s), 24 Logical Processor(s)
• System Model: ASUS H610M-A
• Installed Physical Memory (RAM): 32.0 GB
• Current Database Environment: SQL Server 2022 Express Edition

Our Scenario & Consideration:
We are currently evaluating an upgrade from our existing SQL Server 2022 Express Edition to a commercial/full-featured edition to fully leverage our 32GB RAM and 24 logical processors (since Express limits us to 1.4GB RAM and 4 Cores).

We are currently torn between two choices:

1. SQL Server 2022 Standard Edition
2. SQL Server 2025 Standard Edition

Given that Windows 10 Pro is approaching its End of Support, but our hardware (i7-13700) fully supports hybrid-core architecture (P-cores/E-cores) and is capable of upgrading to Windows 11 Pro in the future, could you please provide your official technical insight on:

1. Which SQL Server version (2022 vs 2025) offers the best thread scheduling, performance stability, and compatibility on this specific setup right now?
2. Are there any known architectural or regression risks if we deploy SQL Server 2025 Standard on this specific Windows 10 Pro Build 19045 workstation?

Thank you for your time and professional guidance. I look forward to your response.

Best regards,
Yael

Answer 1

As Windows 10 is out of support, there is no recommended or supported version of SqlServer for it to host. The most current version of SqlServer released before Windows 10 retirement was SqlServer 2022 and would be the most tested and compatible.

You should plan on upgrading your o/s to a supported version, then you could host a supported SqlServer 2025. SqlServer licenses allows down rev, so you could buy a SqlServer 2025 license and use it for a SqlServer 2022 install, but getting the down rev key requires contacting Microsoft sales and support.

Answer 2

If you want an "official" recommendation, you need to open a support case. This is a public forum monitored by expert volunteers like me. You may also see persons labelled "Microsoft external staff". They are people who provide support on Microsoft's behalf, but I would not consider them as "official".

My own private recommendation is the same as I would expect anyone speaking for Microsoft to give you: Go for SQL 2025. This is not based on anything related to your configuration, but on the general experience that in the long run it is always better to be on the most recent version. Yes, running a newer version may mean that you run into some regression issue. However, it is far more likely when you are an older version that you run into something which already has been fixed. And furthermore, at some point, you will need to upgrade anyway to stay supported.

However, you still need to test your software before you upgrade to make sure that there are no surprises. Not that I would be particularly worried, but it all depends on how critical SQL Server is to you. I recommend that you initially keep the database on its current compatibility level, and that you make sure that you have Query Store enabled. When you have been running with SQL 2025 for, say, two weeks, you change the compatibility level to 170. If you now see queries that all of a sudden are slower, you can easily force the old plan through Query Store. You should still investigate what is going on, but forcing the old plan solves the urgent situation in production.

I would also recommend that you upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible.