How should tempdb data files be configured?

A common starting principle is to use multiple equally sized tempdb data files when allocation contention or workload characteristics justify it, with identical autogrowth settings. Modern SQL Server setup provides guidance and defaults based on logical processor count.

The exact number of files should be determined from workload and contention evidence; continuously adding files is not a universal optimization.

tempdb should also have adequate preallocated space and storage performance so routine workload does not depend on frequent autogrowth.