Error - There is insufficient system memory to run this query.

Hello,

We receive this error after running a complex query. Could someone please shed some light on what this means exactly?

One of our developer said we needed to purchase a server with more memory, but would SQL Server not simply just run slower by using virtual memory instead of physical RAM?

I know there is a limit and servers must be upgraded as the processing requirements increase, due to data set size increases for example, but we have just been told to "purchase more power because after a while as you process more rows, SQL Server will require more resources"

Any comments on this would be really appreciated.the "complex query" may be written inefficiently. if you post the code, i am sure someone will help you. see Bretts sticky on the top of the page.|||The query is not important, meaning we wish to understand the specific cause of the error. Whilst executing the query, we observed that tempDB was only ~20% full and there was plently of virtual memory available. Does SQL Server require a certain amount of Physical RAM available even though there is an abundance of Virtual available.

Thanks.|||the "complex query" may be written inefficiently. if you post the code, i am sure someone will help you. see Bretts sticky on the top of the page.

Sean,
he will not post the code.Forget it.This is not the first time that he is not posting the code. http://www.dbforums.com/showthread.php?t=1211545|||I am perfectly happy if people choose not to reply, however I must point out that your previous comment was grossly inappropriate.

The code is in no way relevant to my question, which was further explained in my second reply. Whether or not the portion of code in question is complex or not is immaterial. I do not require assistant with optimizing this particular portion of SQL code, so please do not request I rewrite my question. I intentionally did not provide the code, as to take attention away from the real underlying issue.

I will also point out that as general courtesy both in an online and offline environment, should you not agree with another person's viewpoint or method of which they have gone about something, the mature response is to not get involved and leave it to those who may, should any chose to do so.

Thank You.|||I assume you have done a Google on the error message, and tried to exclude other causes of the message?|||It is not inappropriate or irrelevant. Bad sql can cause all kinds of trouble.