SC4
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 8 cores and
16 threads, giving you a total of
16 cores and
32 threads.
Why this matters: Think of cores as individual workers - with
16 cores, this server can perform
16 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
96 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
SC4 — 16-Core, 96 GB CFD HPC Node for Large ANSYS Fluent Meshes
The SC4 node is a capacity-focused machine for large CFD work, pairing a capable 16-core, 32-thread platform with 96 GB of RAM. That is enough memory to load meshes well beyond the reach of the 16–32 GB nodes, on a solid platform that keeps the solve moving. When your simulation is memory-bound but does not need the very top capacity, SC4 is the practical fit.
It is the large-mesh tier at a leaner spec: substantial RAM for big cases, without the cost of the maximum-memory nodes.
Specifications
Component | Specification |
|---|---|
CPU | 2 × Intel® Xeon® E5-2650 v2 — 8 cores / 16 threads each (16 cores / 32 threads total), 2.6 GHz base, up to 3.4 GHz turbo (Ivy Bridge-EP) |
Memory | 96 GB RAM |
Storage | 2 × 500 GB SATA SSD |
The key here is 96 GB of memory — many times that of the entry and mid nodes — on a capable 16-core platform. That loads large meshes those smaller configurations cannot, and solves them at a solid pace.
What this node is built for
SC4 is the large-mesh, capacity-first tier for cases where memory is the limiting factor:
Large meshes — well into the tens of millions of cells, far past what 16–32 GB nodes can load.
Multiphase flows — VOF, Eulerian, and particle models (DPM/DDPM) that demand more memory per cell.
Combustion and reacting flows — chemistry and species transport that a small node cannot hold.
Conjugate heat transfer and thermal models — coupled fluid-solid domains at realistic scale.
Transient simulations — unsteady cases that need the extra memory.
With 96 GB of RAM behind 16 cores at 2.6 GHz (turbo to 3.4 GHz), the large case both fits and runs, then uses every core to solve it.
Capacity first — and how to choose
In CFD, memory determines 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 — while cores determine how fast it solves. SC4 is built capacity-first: its 96 GB loads large, memory-bound meshes, and its 16 cores solve them at a solid pace.
Need more memory or storage? SC5 offers 128 GB and ~2 TB of SSD on the same 16-core platform.
Want more cores at similar memory for faster solves? The 20-core SC9 (96 GB) or SC10 (128 GB) step up the core count.
Running very large, memory-bound cases? Our 1 TB high-memory node is the right tool.
Working on moderate cases? A 16–64 GB 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 large 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 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. With 96 GB of memory behind those 16 cores, large cases load comfortably and all cores contribute to the solve.
Why rent instead of buy
Buy hardware | Rent SC4 | |
|---|---|---|
Upfront cost | Capital outlay for a dual-CPU, high-RAM server | Pay only for what you use |
Maintenance | Power, cooling, admin on you | Handled for you |
Software setup | You install and license | Connect by remote desktop, full control, extras included |
Utilization | Idle hardware still costs money | You pay only when you compute |
Flexibility | Stuck with one machine | Move between tiers as each job demands |
For teams running large CFD cases periodically, SC4 provides the memory on demand — with an easy step up to SC5, a 20-core node, or the 1 TB node when a case calls for more.
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:
Connect via remote desktop — you get full remote access to the SC76 node.
Set up your simulation — load your geometry and case, configure your solver settings, and run ANSYS Fluent with all 6 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
How large a mesh can SC4 handle? With 96 GB of RAM, count on large meshes — well 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 SC4 different from SC5? Both are 16-core platforms. SC4 has 96 GB of RAM and ~1 TB of SSD; SC5 has 128 GB and ~2 TB. Choose SC4 when 96 GB fits your case; step up to SC5 for more memory and storage headroom.
How is SC4 different from the 20-core nodes? SC9 and SC10 offer the same kind of memory on a 20-core platform for faster solves. SC4 is the 16-core option — capacity-focused, typically more economical, when the extra cores are not essential.
When would I need the 1 TB node instead? For very large, memory-bound simulations where even 96–128 GB is not enough. We will tell you honestly which tier your case needs.
Is my data kept confidential? yes
Get started with SC4
If you run large, memory-bound CFD cases that smaller machines cannot load, SC4 gives you 96 GB of RAM on a capable 16-core platform to run them.
Contact MR CFD to run your large ANSYS Fluent case on SC4 — 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 SC4 power for your CFD simulations