Stata can be purchased in three different editions. Please note that all editions of Stata have the same set of functions, commands, and statistical methods. The differences are in how big datasets each edition can handle (BE vs SE vs MP) and how fast your analysis can be processed (BE/SE vs MP).
BE was named IC in previous versions of Stata.
- Stata MP is the fastest version of Stata and supports multicore/multiprocessor computers with parallel computing/processing of your analysis.
- Stata SE is for large datasets.
- Stata BE is for mid-sized datasets.
Stata/MP is the fastest and largest version of Stata. Most computers today can take advantage of the advanced multiprocessing of Stata MP. This includes the Intel i3, i5, i7, i9, Xeon, Celeron, and AMD multi-core chips. On dual-core chips, Stata MP runs 40% faster overall and 72% faster where it matters, on the time-consuming estimation commands. With more than two cores or processors, Stata MP is even faster.
When purchasing Stata MP please specify how many cores your computer has, or how much parallel computing you would like to utilize on your computer/server by specifying Stata MP2, Stata MP4, Stata MP8, Stata MP16, Stata MP32, or Stata MP64. If your computer/server has 8 cores, you can purchase a Stata MP license for 8 cores, 4 cores, or 2 cores (Stata MP8, Stata MP4, or Stata MP2).
Stata MP can also analyze more data than any other edition of Stata. Stata MP can analyze 10 to 20 billion observations given the current largest computers and is ready to analyze up to 1 trillion observations once computer hardware catches up.
Stata MP, Stata SE, and Stata BE differ only in the dataset size that each can analyze.
- Stata MP can analyze up to 120000 variables, 65532 independent variables, and up to 20 billion observations.
- Stata SE can analyze up to 32767 variables, 10998 independent variables, and up to 2 billion observations.
- Stata BE can analyze up to 2048 variables, 798 independent variables, and up to 2 billion observations.
* Variables are the number of columns/fields in your dataset. Independent variables are the number of explanatory variables in your model. For example, if you are doing a linear regression, the number of regressors are independent variables.
Please note that all the above editions of Stata have the same complete set of features and functions, and include PDF documentation.