SC120 — 12-Core High-Clock CFD HPC Node with 128 GB Memory for ANSYS Fluent

The SC120 node sits between raw core count and raw clock speed. It runs a single 12-core, 24-thread CPU at up to 4.5 GHz, so Fluent gets more parallel capacity than an 8-core node while still keeping a strong per-core clock. Paired with 128 GB of RAM and 2 × 1.88 TB NVMe SSD, it's the tier to choose when your case benefits from more than a handful of cores but you don't want to give up per-core speed or memory headroom to get there.

Where a many-core node maximizes how many pieces a mesh can be split into, and a smaller high-clock node maximizes how fast each piece finishes, SC120 gives you a step up in both directions at once — more cores than our high-clock tier, more clock speed than our many-core tier.

Specifications

The headline here is balance: 12 cores gives Fluent more MPI ranks to spread a mesh across than an 8-core node, while 4.5 GHz keeps each of those ranks running well above the per-core speed of many-core nodes. 128 GB of memory carries over unchanged, so it fits the same large cases regardless of how the cores are split.

What this node is built for

SC120 is the balanced tier: solid parallel capacity without sacrificing per-core speed or memory. It suits:

• Cases that scale past a handful of cores but not into the dozens — 12 MPI ranks give Fluent more to work with than an 8-core node, without spreading the case so thin that per-core speed stops mattering.

• Large meshes that need memory as much as parallel capacity — 128 GB fits cases a 32 GB node can't load, independent of core count.

• Parameter sweeps and design studies — enough cores to run meaningful parallel jobs, still fast enough per core that each run doesn't drag.

• Solves with both serial-bottlenecked steps and parallel-friendly steps — a stronger per-core clock helps the parts of a case that don't split across cores well, while 12 cores still carry the parts that do.

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

Clock speed, core count & memory: choosing SC120

SC120 sits between two other approaches. Choose it when:

• Your case scales well across roughly a dozen cores but doesn't need — or won't gain much from — twenty or more, and

• You still want each core running fast rather than trading all your clock speed away for parallel breadth.

If your case doesn't scale past a handful of cores at all, or you want the single fastest core available, SC121's higher per-core clock will solve it quicker. If your case scales efficiently across many more cores, a many-core node will out-solve SC120 on wall-clock time by splitting the work further. SC120 is the middle path — more parallel headroom than a small high-clock node, more per-core speed than a many-core node. 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, SC120 comfortably covers meshes well beyond what a 32 GB node can hold.

Tell us your cell count, physics, and how well your case scales with core count, 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 multiple case variants or 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 the available cores (using algorithms such as METIS), each core solving its share of cells and exchanging boundary data each iteration via MPI. With 12 cores sharing the mesh, each carries a moderate slice of the work — more than it would on an 8-core node, less than on a many-core node — and the 4.5 GHz clock keeps each of those slices moving quickly through every iteration.

Why rent instead of buy

For engineers whose cases need more parallel capacity than a small high-clock node but don't need — or don't benefit from — the full spread of a many-core node, SC120 delivers both without a heavy trade-off in either direction.

How it works — you're in full control

SC120 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 SC120 node.

2. Set up your simulation — load your geometry and case, configure your solver settings, and run ANSYS Fluent with all 12 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 SC120 different from SC121? More cores (12 vs. 8) at a somewhat lower clock (up to 4.5 GHz vs. up to 5.5 GHz), with the same 128 GB of memory and NVMe storage. SC120 gives more parallel capacity; SC121 gives more per-core speed.

How is SC120 different from a many-core node? Fewer cores, but a faster per-core clock and four times the memory of a 32 GB node. SC120 wins when your case doesn't need to scale past a dozen or so cores, or when memory is the bigger constraint.

Will more cores always speed up my solve? Only up to the point where your case actually scales — Fluent needs enough cells per core to stay efficient. For cases that scale well into the dozen-core range, SC120's 12 cores are a real step up from an 8-core node; beyond that, a many-core tier will do more.

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 even more cores or memory? We offer many-core and high-memory nodes for cases that need to scale further or hold larger meshes — we'll recommend the right tier, or a multi-node setup, for your specific case.

Is my data kept confidential? Yes.

Get started with SC120

If your cases need more than a handful of cores to scale well, but still benefit from a fast per-core clock and plenty of memory, SC120 is built for exactly that.

Contact MR CFD to run your ANSYS Fluent case on SC120 — and we'll help you choose between clock speed, core count, and memory for your simulation.