SC112 — 16-Core Server-Platform CFD HPC Node with 8-Channel Memory for ANSYS Fluent

The SC112 node pairs a solid 16-core configuration with server-class memory bandwidth. It runs a single Intel Xeon 6517P — 16 cores and 32 threads, 4.0 GHz all-core turbo (4.2 GHz peak) — with 72 MB of L3 cache and eight DDR5-6400 memory channels behind it. That's four times the memory path of the dual-channel desktop-platform nodes with the same core count. Paired with 128 GB of RAM and 2 × 1.88 TB NVMe SSD, it's the tier to choose when you want every one of those 16 cores actually fed with data rather than waiting on it.

Sixteen cores on a narrow memory bus spend a lot of their time idle. SC112 gives each core a wide path to RAM, so the core count translates into real throughput on bandwidth-hungry CFD cases.

Specifications

The number that matters most here isn't the peak turbo — it's the 4.0 GHz all-core figure, the clock the node holds with every rank loaded, which is what a full parallel Fluent job actually sees. Behind it sit eight memory channels of DDR5-6400, giving roughly 400 GB/s of bandwidth for 16 cores to share — around 25 GB/s per core, versus a small fraction of that on a dual-channel platform.

What this node is built for

SC112 is the balanced server tier: 16 cores with the bandwidth and cache to keep them working. It suits:

• Bandwidth-sensitive solves on moderate core counts — coupled solvers, large steady cases, heavy per-cell physics; cases where 16 cores on a narrow bus would stall.

• Sustained, long-running jobs — an all-core clock held under full load matters more over a multi-day transient run than a peak that only appears on one core.

• Cases with sizeable working sets — 72 MB of L3 plus 2 MB of dedicated L2 per core keeps a good share of each partition's active data on-chip.

• AVX-512 workloads — vectorized solver kernels get full-width execution on this chip.

• Transient, LES, and DES runs writing heavy data — NVMe storage keeps large data files and frequent autosaves from slowing down the solve.

Bandwidth vs. clock speed: choosing SC112

SC112 has the same core count as our desktop-platform 16-core tiers but a different balance: a lower peak clock, far more memory bandwidth, ECC memory, and a uniform cache across all cores rather than an asymmetric split. Choose SC112 when:

• Your case is limited by how fast data reaches the cores rather than by single-thread speed, and

• You want consistent performance across all 16 ranks through a long run, on server-grade hardware with ECC.

If your case is compute-bound and gated by single-thread speed, a high-clock desktop-platform tier will finish it sooner despite less bandwidth. If it scales past 16 cores, our 24-core node offers more parallel breadth on the same 8-channel platform. And if you want even wider memory bandwidth at this core count, our 12-channel node goes further still. As a rough guide, Fluent needs about 1 GB of RAM per million cells for a typical steady, single-phase case, so with 128 GB, SC112 handles meshes well beyond what a 32 GB node can hold.

Tell us your cell count, physics, and where your case actually bottlenecks, and we'll point you to the right tier.

Fast NVMe storage

The two 1.88 TB NVMe SSDs give substantially higher read/write throughput than SATA SSDs, plus nearly 3.76 TB of combined capacity. That means faster loading of large case and data files, quicker autosaves, and room to keep a full DOE sweep's output on disk without constantly clearing space.

How parallel solving works on this node

When you run Fluent in parallel, the solver partitions your mesh across all 16 cores (using algorithms such as METIS), each core solving its share of cells and exchanging boundary data each iteration via MPI. On a single node, that communication runs through fast on-board channels rather than a network, keeping parallel overhead low. Between those exchanges, each core is pulling cell data from memory — and with eight channels rather than two, the cores aren't queuing behind each other for access, so a 16-way partition runs at closer to its theoretical speed.

Why rent instead of buy

For engineers who want 16 cores backed by real memory bandwidth and ECC rather than a high peak clock on a desktop platform, SC112 delivers that balance — and you can still move to a higher-core or higher-clock tier when a job calls for it.

How it works — you're in full control

SC112 is yours to drive directly. You connect to the node over a secure remote desktop connection and run everything yourself, exactly as you would on a local workstation:

1. Connect via remote desktop — you get full remote access to the SC112 node.

2. Set up your simulation — load your geometry and case, configure your solver settings, and run ANSYS Fluent with all 16 cores at your command.

3. Run and monitor in real time — start, pause, adjust, and watch the solution as it progresses, with complete control throughout.

4. Keep your results — post-process on the node or download your solution and data files whenever you're ready.

You have full authority over the node for the duration of your rental: we provide the hardware and the support, and you run the simulations your way.

Frequently asked questions

How is SC112 different from our desktop-platform 16-core nodes? Same core count, different platform. SC112 has eight memory channels instead of two, ECC memory support, a uniform cache across all cores, and an all-core clock that holds under load. The desktop-platform tiers have a higher single-core peak and a larger total cache. SC112 wins on bandwidth-bound cases and sustained runs; the others win where single-thread speed is the limit.

How does it compare to our 24-core node? Same 8-channel platform and a similar clock, but 16 cores instead of 24 and 72 MB of cache instead of 144 MB. SC112 is the right pick when your case doesn't scale efficiently past 16 ranks; the 24-core node goes further when it does.

Is 4.0 GHz slow compared to a 5.7 GHz node? On a single thread, yes. But 5.7 GHz figures are single-core peaks — under a full 16-rank parallel load, real sustained clocks come down. SC112's 4.0 GHz is the all-core number, held with every core working.

How large a mesh can it handle? With 128 GB of RAM, plan for meshes well into the tens to low hundreds of millions of cells for simpler steady single-phase cases, fewer for transient or multiphase physics (about 1 GB of RAM per million cells is a good starting estimate). Send us your case for a precise answer.

What if I need more cores or memory than this? We offer many-core and high-memory nodes for cases that scale further or need more capacity — we'll recommend the right tier, or a multi-node setup, for your specific case.

Is my data kept confidential? Yes.

Get started with SC112

If you want 16 cores that stay fed — server-grade memory bandwidth, ECC, and a clock that holds under full load — SC112 is built for exactly that.

Contact MR CFD to run your ANSYS Fluent case on SC112 — and we'll help you choose between bandwidth, clock speed, and core count for your simulation.