When you encounter slow SQL Server performance and bottlenecks, you're probably frustrated by the process of figuring out what's causing the problem and what you should do to solve it. Performance problems can stem from a variety of factors, including faulty hardware, inadequate indexing, poorly constructed SQL code, and insufficient memory. But how do you determine which of these factors is causing your specific problem? Until you know the cause, you can't make informed decisions about whether to spend money upgrading hardware or implementing a less expensive fix, such as tuning your SQL code.

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