SC26
Unmatched Performance
Built for demanding CFD simulations and computational workloads
Processor
The brain of your simulation power
What This Means for Your Simulations
This server has 2
physical CPUs installed.
Each CPU has 14 cores and
28 threads, giving you a total of
28 cores and
56 threads.
Why this matters: Think of cores as individual workers - with
28 cores, this server can perform
28 calculations at exactly the same time. CFD
simulations divide your fluid domain into millions of cells, and each core can solve
equations for different cells simultaneously, dramatically reducing solution time.
Perfect for: Medium to large simulations (2-10 million cells),
steady-state aerodynamics, heat transfer analyses, mixing studies, and parametric
studies. This dual-CPU setup provides 3-4x faster solve times compared to standard
8-core workstations, letting you iterate faster and test more design variations.
The 2.6 GHz clock speed determines how fast each
core processes individual calculations. Higher clock speeds improve both single-threaded
operations (mesh generation, post-processing) and the per-core efficiency during parallel
solving.
Industry-standard CPU benchmark • Higher scores = Faster simulations
Memory (RAM)
What This Means
16 GB is
your simulation's "working space" - it holds all active data: mesh geometry,
fluid properties, boundary conditions, and results during solving.
DDR3 provides high-bandwidth data access
essential for CFD solvers that read and update millions of cell values thousands of times
during iterations. This capacity handles
standard to medium simulations with headroom for mesh refinement - significantly more
than typical workstations with 16-32GB. Adequate RAM prevents solver crashes and slow
virtual memory usage.
High-bandwidth memory for lightning-fast data access
Storage
What This Means
This server has
2 storage drives installed.
Each drive is 500 GB, giving you a total
storage capacity of 1000 GB.
SATA SSD storage provides extremely fast
read/write speeds for your simulation files and results.
SSDs are much faster than traditional hard drives - ideal for loading large mesh files
and saving iteration data quickly.
Multiple drives provide redundancy and can be configured for increased performance or
data protection.
Ultra-fast storage for rapid I/O operations
Network Speed
Fast file transfers and remote access. Upload meshes and download results quickly from anywhere.
Monthly Traffic
Generous bandwidth allowance for uploading/downloading large simulation files without limits or overage fees.
Operating System
Pre-installed and ready to use. Compatible with ANSYS, OpenFOAM, and other CFD software.
About This Server
SC26 — 28-Core, 16 GB CFD HPC Node for Fast Solves on Smaller Cases
The SC26 node puts a newer-generation 28-core platform behind smaller CFD work. A pair of Broadwell Xeons delivers 28 cores and 56 threads of high-clocked compute, paired with a lean 16 GB of RAM — built to solve smaller meshes fast in ANSYS Fluent. When your case fits in 16 GB and you want strong parallel power on a modern architecture, SC26 is the leanest route to fast solves.
It is the speed-first, compact tier on our newer Broadwell platform: high core count, a lean memory budget, and a clear path up when your meshes grow.
Specifications
Component | Specification |
|---|---|
CPU | 2 × Intel® Xeon® E5-2690 v4 — 14 cores / 28 threads each (28 cores / 56 threads total), 2.6 GHz base, up to 3.5 GHz turbo, 35 MB cache each (Broadwell-EP) |
Memory | 16 GB RAM |
Storage | 2 × 500 GB SATA SSD |
SC26 pairs 28 high-clocked Broadwell cores (2.6 GHz base, 3.5 GHz turbo, 35 MB cache each) with a lean, cost-effective 16 GB of RAM — a newer architecture and higher core count than the Ivy Bridge nodes, focused on fast solves for smaller cases.
What's included with SC26
Every SC26 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
SC26 is the fast-throughput, small-case tier on our newer Broadwell platform. It suits:
Smaller meshes solved fast — spread across 28 newer-generation cores, a compact case converges quickly.
2D and early-stage 3D simulations — light on memory, quick to run, ideal for rapid iteration.
Parameter sweeps on small cases — more cores means more variants processed per hour.
Training and learning at speed — fast results on modern multi-core hardware.
Compute-bound small cases — where the bottleneck is solve time, not memory.
With 28 cores at 2.6 GHz (turbo to 3.5 GHz), Fluent partitions the mesh across all of them and exchanges boundary data each iteration via MPI — so a well-sized case finishes fast.
Cores first, memory lean
SC26's headline is cores, not capacity. In CFD, cores determine how fast a case solves, while memory sets the largest mesh you can run — roughly 1 GB of RAM per million cells for a typical steady, single-phase case. With 16 GB, SC26 is matched to smaller meshes solved at high speed. It is at its best on cases that use a good share of the 16 GB, where all 28 cores have enough work to contribute.
When your meshes grow, step up the same 28-core platform — SC27 (32 GB), SC28 (64 GB), or SC29 (96 GB) — or move to our higher-memory nodes and the 1 TB high-memory node for large, memory-bound work. Want even more cores at 16 GB? Our 44-core node SC31 pushes parallel throughput further.
Fast SSD storage
The two 500 GB SATA SSDs provide responsive read/write for loading case files, writing data, and handling autosaves — keeping a quick solve from stalling on slow disk I/O.
How parallel solving works on this node
When you run Fluent in parallel, the solver partitions your mesh across all 28 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 — so a well-sized case is solved quickly across the cores.
Why rent instead of buy
Buy hardware | Rent SC26 | |
|---|---|---|
Upfront cost | Capital outlay for a Broadwell dual-CPU server | Pay only for what you use |
Maintenance | Power, cooling, admin on you | Handled for you |
Setup | You buy, install, and maintain it | Connect by remote desktop, full control, extras included |
Flexibility | Stuck with one machine | Move up to more memory when a job needs it |
For fast turnaround on smaller CFD cases, SC26 gives you newer-generation cores — plus a free course, a month of Claude AI Premium, and a consultation hour — with an easy path to higher-memory nodes when your meshes grow.
How it works — you're in full control
SC26 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:
Connect via remote desktop — you get full remote access to the SC26 node.
Set up your simulation — load your geometry and case, configure your solver settings, and run ANSYS Fluent with all 28 cores at your command.
Run and monitor in real time — start, pause, adjust, and watch the solution as it progresses, with complete control throughout.
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
What makes SC26 fast? It pairs 28 cores on a newer Broadwell architecture (2.6 GHz base, 3.5 GHz turbo, 35 MB cache each) with a focused 16 GB of memory — so for smaller cases that fit in 16 GB, SC26 delivers fast solves.
How is SC26 different from SC27? Same 28-core Broadwell platform, but SC26 has 16 GB of RAM versus SC27's 32 GB. SC26 is the leaner, fastest-on-small-cases option; SC27 gives memory headroom for moderately larger meshes. Pick based on whether your case fits in 16 GB.
How large a mesh can it handle? With 16 GB of RAM, plan for smaller meshes — roughly up to the low 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 needs more memory or more cores? Step up the same platform to SC27–SC29 (32–96 GB), or our higher-memory and 1 TB nodes. For even more cores at 16 GB, our 44-core node SC31 pushes throughput further. We will recommend the right tier.
Is my data kept confidential? Yes. Your geometry, case files, and results stay private to you, treated as strictly confidential — and because you run everything yourself over remote desktop, your work stays under your control throughout.
Get started with SC26
If you run smaller CFD cases and want them solved fast — with a free CFD course, a month of Claude AI Premium, and a consultation hour included — SC26's 28 newer-generation cores are built for exactly that.
Contact MR CFD for remote-desktop access to SC26 — and we'll help you confirm it's the right tier for your simulation.
Customize Your Server
Tailor the configuration to match your simulation needs during checkout.
Extra RAM
Need more memory for larger simulations? Add extra RAM modules to boost your server's capacity.
- Choose your RAM size
- ECC memory available
- Installed before delivery
Extra Storage
Store more simulation data and results. Add additional drives to expand your storage capacity.
- NVMe, SSD or HDD options
- Flexible capacity sizes
- RAID configuration available
Choose Your OS
Select your preferred Windows operating system during checkout. We'll install it for you.
- Windows 10 & 11
- Windows Server editions
- Pre-installed & configured
Ready to Accelerate Your Simulations?
Experience SC26 power for your CFD simulations