SC97 — Dual-Socket 48-Core Intel CFD HPC Node with 256 GB Memory and 22.5 TB Storage for ANSYS Fluent

The SC97 node brings the proven reliability and highly optimized architecture of Intel Xeon to our dual-socket, high-capacity lineup. Powered by two Intel Xeon 6527P processors, it delivers a highly balanced 48 physical cores and 96 threads with a fast 4.2 GHz boost clock. Memory sits at a spacious 256 GB, and the storage array mirrors our highest-capacity tiers: six 3.75 TB SATA SSDs, providing roughly 22.5 TB of usable space.

This configuration is designed for engineers who prefer Intel’s architecture—which boasts deep historical optimization with ANSYS Fluent, Intel MPI, and advanced AVX-512 vectorization—paired with massive storage. By combining 48 high-frequency Intel cores with 256 GB of memory and bulk SATA storage, SC97 is heavily optimized for moderately large meshes, complex physics, and extended transient campaigns that generate massive amounts of data.

Specifications

Compared to our high-core-count nodes, SC97 focuses on providing a massive compute envelope per core. With 256 GB of memory spread across 48 cores, it provides roughly 5.3 GB of RAM per core. This is an exceptionally healthy ratio that ensures your solver never starves for memory, making it an ideal platform for cases heavily burdened by complex physics, discrete phase models (DPM), or reacting flows.

What this node is built for

SC97 is the Intel-optimized capacity-and-bandwidth tier. It suits:

• Intel-optimized workflows — Cases, proprietary UDFs (User Defined Functions), or workflows that specifically benefit from Intel compilers, Intel MPI, and deep AVX-512 instruction sets.

• Heavy physics on moderate cases — Multiphase, combustion, and moving mesh cases that demand intense compute per cell and rely heavily on a high 5.3 GB per-core memory ratio.

• Larger meshes that don't fit in 128 GB — 256 GB comfortably holds meshes well into the 150–200 million cell range, doubling the capacity of standard workstations.

• Long transient campaigns with large output — 22.5 TB of storage holds months of time-step data, full DOE sweeps, or acoustic simulation results without constant housekeeping.

• Cases that scale perfectly to 48 ranks — Enough parallel spread to be genuinely fast, without pushing past where smaller or highly complex CFD problems stop scaling efficiently.

Understanding the dual-socket layout

A two-socket machine is not simply a bigger one-socket machine. Each processor has its own memory controllers and its own local RAM, and a core reaching data attached to the other socket pays a latency penalty crossing the interconnect between them.

For Fluent this is manageable and worth knowing about. Partitioning the mesh so each socket works mostly on locally-held data — and pinning MPI ranks accordingly — keeps that cross-socket traffic low. Run without any NUMA awareness and you can lose some of the bandwidth advantage the second socket provides. We configure this for you as part of the setup, so in practice it's a detail we handle rather than one you have to manage.

Choosing SC97

Choose SC97 when:

• You specifically require or prefer Intel Xeon architecture for your ANSYS Fluent workloads, or

• Your case needs more than 128 GB of memory and features complex physics that benefit from a healthy 5.3 GB of RAM per core, or

• You're generating far more result data than a standard 2 TB or 4 TB node can comfortably hold.

If your case fits in 128 GB and scales efficiently past 100 cores, one of our higher-core-count nodes (like SC92) will give you more parallel spread. If you require the instantaneous write speeds of NVMe for heavy transient autosaves, an NVMe-equipped tier is a better choice. SC97’s unique advantage is the synergy of Intel’s rock-solid per-core performance, massive memory depth, and enterprise-scale storage capacity.

Storage: capacity over peak speed

Six 3.75 TB SATA SSDs is a different trade-off from the dual NVMe drives in some of our other nodes. Per-drive throughput is lower than NVMe, but total capacity is vastly larger, and six drives working in parallel spread the load well for the write patterns CFD actually produces — periodic autosaves and time-step output rather than sustained peak-rate streaming.

For a long transient run writing thousands of time steps, or a large DOE sweep where every case's full result set needs keeping, capacity is usually the constraint that bites first. SC97 is sized so you never have to pause a run to clear disk space.

How parallel solving works on this node

When you run Fluent in parallel, the solver partitions your mesh across all 48 Intel cores (using algorithms such as METIS), each core solving its share of cells and exchanging boundary data every iteration via MPI. Intel's architecture handles this cross-talk exceptionally well. On a dual-socket node, most of that communication stays on-board rather than crossing a network — a real advantage over two separate machines — while high-bandwidth DDR5 memory feeds the cores. Sensible partitioning and rank placement keep cross-socket traffic to a minimum, which translates directly into faster solve times.

Why rent instead of buy

How it works — you're in full control

SC97 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 SC97 node.

2. Set up your simulation — load your geometry and case, configure your solver settings, and run ANSYS Fluent with all 48 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 SC97 different from SC99?

Both nodes feature 48 cores, 256 GB of RAM, and roughly 22.5 TB of SATA storage. The key difference is the processor architecture: SC97 is powered by Intel Xeon, while SC99 is powered by AMD EPYC. If your specific workflows, compiling habits, or UDFs are heavily optimized for Intel instruction sets, SC97 is the direct equivalent built for you.

Is 5.3 GB of RAM per core beneficial?

Absolutely. While many high-core nodes force you down to 2 GB per core, 5.3 GB gives the solver immense breathing room. It is perfect for cases with complex chemistry, discrete phase tracking, or sliding meshes that require a large memory footprint per cell.

Is SATA storage a bottleneck?

For steady-state cases or transient runs with infrequent saves, no. The 6-drive array distributes write loads efficiently. If you are doing highly frequent saves on massive datasets and need absolute peak write speeds, we can point you to an NVMe-equipped tier. However, for 90% of long-term storage and simulation needs, this massive array is ideal.

How large a mesh can it handle?

With 256 GB of RAM, plan for meshes roughly double what a standard 128 GB workstation holds — comfortably into the 150–200 million cell range for simpler steady single-phase cases. Send us your case for a precise answer.

Is my data kept confidential?

Yes.

Get started with SC97

If you rely on Intel's proven architecture and need massive memory capacity paired with a storage array large enough to house terabytes of results, SC97 delivers the perfect balance of compute and bulk retention.

Contact MR CFD to run your ANSYS Fluent case on SC97 — and we'll help you configure the ideal environment for your simulations.