sql server (alternate): I know there are several parameters that can be set regarding server
performance like memory and CPU.
Is there any performance benefit to changing those settings from the
default settings which essentially look like they are "all processors"
and "all memory"?
In other words, can I increase database performance by telling SQL
server to use more of the available resources?
The server currently runs at about 2GB of memory (OS included) and
there is 8GB of memory available. What I am trying to figure out is if
there is a way to load the entire database into memory and maybe speed
up queries.

Most of the SQL performance information I've been able to find online
all relates to improving performance or monitoring performance but I
can't seem to find anything on how I can use extra resources to boost
performance--guess I'm sort of looking for the equivalent of
SQL-Server nitrous-oxide.

Thanks,

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Have a look at the different versions of SQL under Books Online

The Standard version does not support 8Gb memory - you may also want to
check how many logical and physical CPUs you have, and whether the base OS
is using all of them.

There is no "hidden-switch" to make SQL run faster by using more resources -
Performance increases are best made by good design, not by bigger resources.

Steven