SC9 — 20-Core, 96 GB CFD HPC Node for Large ANSYS Fluent Meshes

The SC9 node is the practical entry point into large-memory CFD. It pairs 20 cores and 40 threads with 96 GB of RAM — enough memory to load meshes far beyond what the 16–32 GB nodes can hold, with the core count to solve them at good speed. For serious cases that need real memory without the full capacity of the top tier, SC9 hits the mark.

It is the large-case workhorse at a leaner spec: substantial RAM, strong parallel compute, and the headroom to run the simulations that smaller nodes simply turn away.

Specifications

The key here is 96 GB of memory — three to six times the RAM of the entry and mid nodes — paired with 20 cores. That combination loads large meshes those smaller configurations cannot, and solves them with strong parallel throughput.

What this node is built for

SC9 is the large-mesh tier for cases that need real memory but not the maximum. It suits:

• Large meshes — well into the tens of millions of cells, 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 both memory and parallel speed.

• Professional CFD with larger cases — when your work has outgrown the smaller nodes but 96 GB is plenty.

With 20 cores at 2.5 GHz (turbo to 3.3 GHz) and 96 GB of RAM, the large case both fits and runs, then uses every core to solve it.

Where SC9 fits — and when to size up or down

In CFD, 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 — while cores set how fast it solves. With 96 GB, SC9 is built for large meshes without the cost of the top tier:

• Need a little more memory and storage headroom? SC10 offers 128 GB of RAM and ~2 TB of SSD on the same 20-core platform.

• Running very large, memory-bound cases — hundreds of millions of cells, or extremely heavy physics? Our 1 TB high-memory node is the right tool.

• Working on moderate cases? A 16–32 GB node will serve you for less.

Tell us your cell count and physics, and we will match you to the tier that fits — so you pay for exactly the capability your simulation needs.

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 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. With 96 GB of memory behind those 20 cores, large cases load comfortably and all cores contribute to a faster solve.

Why rent instead of buy

For teams running large CFD cases periodically, SC9 provides the memory and cores on demand — with an easy step up to SC10 or the 1 TB node when a case calls for more.

How it works

1. Tell us about your case — mesh size, physics, and timeline. We confirm SC9 is the right fit.

2. Upload your case files securely.

3. We run it on the node with ANSYS Fluent.

4. You receive your results, ready for post-processing.

Frequently asked questions

How large a mesh can SC9 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 SC9 different from SC10? Same 20-core platform, but SC9 has 96 GB of RAM and ~1 TB of SSD, while SC10 has 128 GB and ~2 TB. Choose SC9 when 96 GB comfortably fits your case; step up to SC10 when you want more memory and storage headroom.

How is SC9 different from the 16–32 GB nodes? Those nodes suit compact-to-moderate cases. SC9's 96 GB is what lets it load large meshes they cannot — while keeping 20 cores for good solve speed.

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 SC9

If your CFD cases have grown into large meshes that smaller nodes cannot load, SC9 gives you the memory and the cores to run them — without paying for the top tier.

Contact MR CFD to run your large ANSYS Fluent case on SC9 — and we'll help you confirm it's the right tier for your simulation.