SC18 — 24-Core, 64 GB CFD HPC Node for Fast ANSYS Fluent Solves

The SC18 node brings the fastest cores in our dual-Xeon range to larger CFD work at a sensible memory budget. It pairs 24 cores and 48 threads of high-clocked compute with 64 GB of RAM — strong parallel performance for cases that fit comfortably in memory, on the most capable Ivy Bridge platform in the lineup. As the entry point to our flagship 24-core family, SC18 is the choice when you want top-tier solve speed without paying for maximum memory.

It is the high-performance, moderate-memory tier: flagship cores, 64 GB of RAM, and a clear path up to more memory when your meshes grow.

Specifications

SC18 uses the most capable Ivy Bridge CPUs in the lineup: 24 cores total at 2.7 GHz base (3.5 GHz turbo) with 30 MB of cache per CPU — the highest core count, clock, and cache of the dual-Xeon nodes — paired with a practical 64 GB of memory.

What's included with SC18

Every SC18 rental comes with extras to help you get the most from it:

• A comprehensive CFD course, free — a full training course to sharpen your simulation skills, included at no extra cost.

• One month of Claude AI Premium — AI assistance to support your engineering, scripting, and problem-solving.

• One hour of free CFD consultation — direct time with our CFD engineers to help set up, troubleshoot, or optimize your case.

These come standard with the node — practical support alongside the compute.

What this node is built for

SC18 is the high-performance, larger-case tier for work that fits in 64 GB. It suits:

• Larger meshes solved fast — into the tens of millions of cells, with 24 high-clocked cores keeping solve times down.

• Design iteration and parameter sweeps — more cores means more variants processed per hour.

• Moderate multiphase and thermal cases — physics that needs more than a small node but fits within 64 GB.

• Transient simulations — unsteady cases that benefit from the strong cores.

• Deadline-driven professional CFD — when turnaround matters and the case fits in memory.

With 24 cores at 2.7 GHz (turbo to 3.5 GHz) and 64 GB of RAM, larger cases load comfortably and solve fast across all cores.

Where SC18 fits — and when to size up

In CFD, cores set how fast a case solves, and memory sets the largest mesh you can run — roughly 1 GB of RAM per million cells for a typical steady, single-phase case, more for complex physics. SC18 delivers top-tier cores at 64 GB — built for speed on cases that fit.

• Need more memory? SC19 (96 GB) and SC20 (128 GB, ~2 TB storage) offer more headroom on the same flagship 24-core platform.

• Running very large, memory-bound cases? Our 1 TB high-memory node is the right tool.

• Working on smaller cases? A lower-memory node will serve you for less.

Tell us your cell count and physics, and we will match you to the tier that fits.

Fast SSD storage

The two 500 GB SATA SSDs deliver responsive read/write for loading case files, writing data, and handling autosaves — keeping a fast solve from being held up by slow disk I/O.

How parallel solving works on this node

When you run Fluent in parallel, the solver partitions your mesh across all 24 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. With 64 GB of memory behind 24 high-clocked cores, larger cases load comfortably and solve fast.

Why rent instead of buy

For high-performance solves on larger CFD cases, SC18 gives you flagship cores — plus a free course, a month of Claude AI Premium, and a consultation hour — with an easy step up to SC19, SC20, or the 1 TB node when you need more memory.

How it works — you're in full control

SC76 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 SC76 node.

2. Set up your simulation — load your geometry and case, configure your solver settings, and run ANSYS Fluent with all 6 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 large a mesh can SC18 handle? With 64 GB of RAM, count on larger meshes — into the tens of millions of cells for simpler steady single-phase cases, with complex physics (multiphase, combustion, many transported scalars) needing more memory per cell and so supporting a somewhat smaller mesh. As a guide, allow about 1 GB of RAM per million cells. Send us your case for a precise estimate.

How is SC18 different from SC19 and SC20? All three use the flagship 24-core E5-2697 v2 platform; they differ in memory: SC18 has 64 GB, SC19 96 GB, and SC20 128 GB (plus more storage). Step up when your meshes need more memory.

What makes SC18 fast? The 24-core E5-2697 v2 pair is the highest core count, clock (2.7/3.5 GHz), and cache (30 MB per CPU) in the dual-Xeon lineup — so for cases that fit in 64 GB, SC18 delivers strong solve speed.

Is my data kept confidential? Yes. Your geometry, case files, and results are treated as strictly confidential and used only to run your simulation.

Get started with SC18

If you want high-performance solves on larger CFD cases — with a free CFD course, a month of Claude AI Premium, and a consultation hour included — SC18 is built for exactly that.

Contact MR CFD to run your ANSYS Fluent case on SC18 — and we'll help you confirm it's the right tier for your simulation.