Images in database vs file system

Question

We have a project coming up where we will be building a whole backend CMS system that will power our entire extranet and intranet with one package. The question I have been

Answer 1

There was a nice research paper published by Microsoft Research called To Blob or not to Blob where they looked at all sorts of variables and impacts.

Their finding in the end:

• up to 256 KB in size, blobs are stored in the database more efficiently than in the file system
• for 1 MB and larger, the file system is more efficient
• in between it's a toss-up

Since that paper was published, SQL Server 2008 has also added the FILESTREAM attribute which makes storing stuff in the file system, but under transactional control, a reality. Highly recommended you check that out!