SC12 — 20-Core CFD HPC Node for Faster ANSYS Fluent Solves

The SC12 node is built for speed on moderate cases. It steps up to a higher-end pair of Xeon CPUs — 20 cores and 40 threads in total — so ANSYS Fluent can spread your mesh across more cores and reach a converged solution faster. Paired with 32 GB of RAM, it is the tier to choose when your case fits in memory comfortably but you want it solved in less time.

Where a lower-core node simply runs the job, SC12 runs it faster — which means more design iterations per day and shorter turnaround on the simulations you run most.

Specifications

The headline here is cores: 20 physical cores versus 16 on the standard tier, on a higher-clocked chip (2.8 GHz base, 3.6 GHz turbo) with more cache per CPU. More cores plus more cache means more parallel throughput — faster solves on the same class of case.

What this node is built for

SC12 is the compute-forward tier: maximum parallel throughput for cases that fit within 32 GB of memory. It suits:

• Moderate meshes you want solved fast — spread across 20 cores, a case that fits in 32 GB converges noticeably quicker than on a 16-core node.

• Larger parameter sweeps and design studies — more cores means more work done per hour, so you iterate faster.

• Steady and transient runs that are compute-heavy but fit in memory — where the bottleneck is solve time, not RAM.

• Time-sensitive work — when turnaround matters and the case is moderate in size, the extra cores pay off directly in wall-clock time.

With 20 cores at 2.8 GHz (turbo to 3.6 GHz), Fluent partitions your mesh across all of them and exchanges boundary data each iteration via MPI — and more cores sharing the work means each iteration finishes sooner.

Cores vs. memory: choosing SC12

SC12 and the standard 32 GB node both carry 32 GB of RAM, so they handle the same mesh sizes. The difference is cores: SC12 has 20 versus 16, on a stronger CPU. Choose SC12 when:

• Your case fits comfortably in 32 GB, and

• You want it solved faster, or you are running many cases and want more throughput.

If instead your bottleneck is memory — very large meshes, heavy multiphase or combustion, transient cases with many transported scalars — then more cores will not help; you need more RAM, and our high-memory node (1 TB) is the right tool. As a rough guide, Fluent needs about 1 GB of RAM per million cells for a typical steady, single-phase case, so with 32 GB, SC12 is matched to moderate meshes solved quickly, not the largest cases.

Tell us your cell count, physics, and what matters most — speed or capacity — and we will point you to the right tier.

Fast SSD storage

The two 500 GB SATA SSDs give 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, which matters more on a high-throughput node like this.

How parallel solving works on this node

When you run Fluent in parallel, the solver partitions your mesh across all 20 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. The more cores available — as long as each still has enough cells to stay busy — the faster the overall solve, which is exactly what SC12's 20 cores are for.

Why rent instead of buy

For engineers who want faster turnaround on moderate CFD work without owning a server, SC12 delivers the cores — and you can still scale to a higher-memory node when a case calls for it.

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 is SC12 different from the 16-core 32 GB node? Same 32 GB of RAM — so the same mesh sizes — but more cores: 20 versus 16, on a higher-clocked CPU with more cache. SC12 solves a given case faster. Pick it when your case fits in 32 GB and you want shorter run times or more throughput.

Will more cores always make my run faster? Up to a point. Fluent scales well as long as each core has enough cells to stay busy relative to the data it exchanges with neighbors. For moderate-to-larger meshes that fit in 32 GB, SC12's 20 cores deliver a real speed-up. For very small cases, the difference is smaller. We will help you size it right.

How large a mesh can it handle? With 32 GB of RAM, plan for moderate meshes — into the low-to-mid tens 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 my case is too big for it? For large, memory-bound simulations we offer higher-memory nodes (up to 1 TB RAM). We will recommend the right tier so you get the capacity — or the speed — your case actually needs.

Is my data kept confidential? Yes

Get started with SC12

If your moderate CFD cases run too slowly and you want them solved faster, SC12's 20 cores are built for exactly that.

Contact MR CFD to run your ANSYS Fluent case on SC12 — and we'll help you choose between speed and capacity for your simulation.