--- title: "Simulation Hardware Planning: Workstation, HPC, or Cloud?" description: Plan simulation hardware around real engineering workloads. Compare workstations, HPC clusters, and private cloud for FEM, CFD, performance, and scalability. image: https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Blog%20Artikel%202026/2610_HPC/Blog_IT-Services_und_Infrastruktur_Teaser.jpg --- English - English - German - French [Skip to the main content.](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud#main-content) [![www.cadfem.net](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/01_BASIC/Logos/New%20CADFEM%20Logo/CADFEM_Logo_blue_sRGB_ohne%20Schutzzone%201.svg "www.cadfem.net")](https://blog.cadfem.net/de?c_red=1) [![www.cadfem.net](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/01_BASIC/Logos/New%20CADFEM%20Logo/CADFEM_Logo_blue_sRGB_ohne%20Schutzzone%201.svg "www.cadfem.net")](https://blog.cadfem.net/de?c_red=1) [![](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/Icons/chat.svg) Directcontact](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud#footer-section-contact) - [cadfem.net](https://www.cadfem.net/) - [Cadfem World Conference](https://www.cadfem.net/de/cadfem-informiert/veranstaltungen/cadfem-world-conference.html) - [Ansys Version Dessai](https://www.cadfem.net/fr/nos-solutions/logiciels-de-simulation-ansys-la-gamme-de-produits/ansys-produits-version-dessai.html) - [English](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud) - [Deutsch](https://blog.cadfem.net/de/simulations-hardware-planen-hpc-cloud-workstation) - [Français](https://blog.cadfem.net/fr/materiel-simulation-workstation-cluster-hpc-cloud-prive) Toggle Menu - [English](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud) - [Deutsch](https://blog.cadfem.net/de/simulations-hardware-planen-hpc-cloud-workstation) - [Français](https://blog.cadfem.net/fr/materiel-simulation-workstation-cluster-hpc-cloud-prive) Toggle Menu - [cadfem.net](https://www.cadfem.net/) - [Cadfem World Conference](https://www.cadfem.net/de/cadfem-informiert/veranstaltungen/cadfem-world-conference.html) - [Ansys Version Dessai](https://www.cadfem.net/fr/nos-solutions/logiciels-de-simulation-ansys-la-gamme-de-produits/ansys-produits-version-dessai.html) # Planning Simulation Hardware the Right Way: Workstation, HPC Cluster, or Private Cloud? [Gerhard Zelder](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/author/gerhard-zelder) 26.10.2026 [Digitalization](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/digitalization) [IT Infrastructure](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/it-infrastructure) [Insights](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/insights) LinkedIn Copy link Larger simulation models, more variants, and growing numbers of users can place increasing pressure on an established workstation infrastructure. Simply purchasing faster hardware is no longer enough. What matters is a simulation architecture that aligns computing power, storage, networking, software, and resource management with actual engineering workflows. ![Blog\_Header\_IT-Services\_und\_Infrastruktur](https://blog.cadfem.net/hs-fs/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Blog%20Artikel%202026/2610_HPC/Blog_Header_IT-Services_und_Infrastruktur.jpg?width=1920&height=404&name=Blog_Header_IT-Services_und_Infrastruktur.jpg) ``` © CADFEM Germany GmbH ``` #### **Summary** - Hardware and IT infrastructure should always be selected based on current engineering processes. - Powerful resources and an easy-to-manage infrastructure with flexible access to simulation systems. - Better resource utilization through job scheduling that automatically manages simulation jobs and distributes them optimally across available capacity. ## Why Established Workstation Infrastructures Reach Their Limits Many simulation departments have evolved over time around individual workstations. What may seem convenient often leads to bottlenecks as model sizes and data volumes increase and more users need access. Modern HPC and private cloud concepts offer a sustainable approach: a centralized simulation infrastructure that uses computing resources efficiently while improving reliability in engineering. For simulation engineers, two things matter most: calculations need to run reliably and quickly. Delays caused by unstable systems, insufficient performance, or unplanned downtime have a direct impact on the chances of development projects succeeding. Users typically see only the systems they interact with directly. However, their productivity is largely determined by the underlying IT architecture. For numerical calculations such as FEM and CFD simulations, and especially for coupled multiphysics models, standard IT concepts quickly reach their limits. Hardware performance is only one aspect of a smoothly functioning simulation environment. Storage architecture, network performance, remote visualization, solver configurations, and efficient resource management are equally critical. ## Simulation Workloads Determine the Architecture Many companies begin the process of modernizing their simulation hardware with a simple question: What performance specifications does the new hardware need to meet? However, other questions should come first. Before sizing new systems, the first step should be to analyze existing workflows and compile a list of the simulation applications currently in use. Hardware performance and IT architecture requirements vary considerably depending on the application. While CFD applications often require enormous computing capacity and can still involve long runtimes, large structural FEM models place particular demands on storage configurations and parallelization concepts. The use of modern GPU-based solvers also fundamentally changes how an optimal system architecture needs to be sized. Hardware and IT infrastructure should therefore always be selected based on current engineering processes. The investment horizon also needs to be considered, as simulation hardware is typically purchased for a period of three to five years. Expected future requirements are therefore another important criterion. It is also necessary to consider how model sizes, data volumes, and user numbers are likely to develop. ## When Centralized Simulation Platforms Offer Advantages As requirements in digital engineering continue to grow, there is an ongoing trend toward centralizing simulation resources. Instead of running calculations on individual workstations, computing power and data storage are provided on central servers, for example within a private cloud architecture. This provides more powerful resources and an infrastructure that is easier to manage, while remote graphics technologies continue to give users flexible access to their simulation systems. In this context, a private cloud does not necessarily mean moving data to external data centers. The entire infrastructure can remain within the company while still providing the benefits of centralized provisioning. This is particularly important in regulated development environments with stringent requirements for data security and the protection of proprietary know-how. #### How Well Does Your IT Infrastructure Support Your Simulation Workloads? Compute times, model sizes, solvers, user numbers, and future requirements determine which system architecture makes sense. Our experts work with you to analyze your simulation workloads and identify opportunities to improve performance, availability, and resource utilization. [Analyze your simulation infrastructure with us](https://www.cadfem.net/de/en/about-us/cadfem-contacts/contact-us/consultation.html?autofill=product_name%3AHardware-and-IT-Solutions&cHash=de06e1e2027e8669574e16612fd1749b) ![GZ](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/GettyImages%20Integration/HR/GZ.jpg) ## Improving Utilization of Existing Resources with Job Scheduling The greatest benefit of centralized HPC systems often lies not only in raw computing performance but also in better resource utilization. Modern clusters use job scheduling systems that automatically manage simulation jobs and distribute them optimally across available capacity. Product development processes often require a large number of design studies. Geometries, materials, and boundary conditions are continuously modified, with a new simulation run started for each variation. HPC infrastructures make it possible to process these optimization loops in parallel and access computing capacity outside regular working hours, helping companies make optimal use of their simulation application licenses. echnologies commonly used for technical implementation include cluster technologies, MPI-based parallelization, and high-speed networks such as InfiniBand. These make it possible to distribute individual simulation jobs across multiple compute nodes and process them significantly faster. > The success of a simulation environment is not determined by individual hardware components. What matters is a well-designed architecture that aligns technical requirements, growth expectations, and operational processes and brings them together in a reliable overall system. Gerhard Zelder Head of IT Services ## Why Hardware, Solvers, and Infrastructure Need to Be Considered Together Building a high-performance hardware platform for simulation applications requires specialized knowledge and practical experience that go far beyond traditional IT expertise. Various aspects, including virtualization, CPU and GPU computing, parallelization, job scheduling, and cluster management for different simulation applications, need to be carefully coordinated to create an environment that remains stable over the long term. Ongoing operations are another important consideration. Operating system updates, new solver versions, patches, and configuration changes need to be continuously evaluated and integrated. This is the only way to ensure that the infrastructure remains reliable over the long term and supports the digital engineering requirements of innovative product development. ## Conclusion Anyone looking to assess the performance of a simulation environment should begin by analyzing the actual use cases, computing workloads, and future development goals. Only on this basis can a decision be made as to whether workstations, HPC clusters, or a private cloud architecture represent the most appropriate solution from both a technical and economic perspective. ![Portrait\_Gerhard\_Zelder\_Blog](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Autoren%20Bilder/Portrait_Gerhard_Zelder_Blog.png) ### Author ##### Gerhard Zelder CADFEM Germany GmbH +49 (0)8092 70050-87 [gzelder@cadfem.de](mailto:gzelder@cadfem.de) ![Portrait\_KKU\_Blog](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Autoren%20Bilder/Portrait_KKU_Blog.jpg) ### Editorial ##### **Klaus Kuboth** CADFEM Germany GmbH +49 (0)8092 7005-279 [kkuboth@cadfem.de](mailto:kkuboth@cadfem.de) Contact the editorial team Subscribe to newsletter ## You may also find these articles of interest. [![IT-Services and Infrastructure | © CADFEM Germany GmbH](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Blog%20Artikel%202026/2610_HPC/Blog_IT-Services_und_Infrastruktur_Teaser.jpg)](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud) [Digitalization](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/digitalization) [IT Infrastructure](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/it-infrastructure) [Insights](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/insights) #### [Planning Simulation Hardware the Right Way: Workstation, HPC Cluster, or Private Cloud?](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud) [Gerhard Zelder](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/author/gerhard-zelder) | 26.10.2026 [Read more](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud) [![Lightning-fast electronic cooling calculations for informed design decisions. | © Synopsys, Inc.](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Blog%20Artikel%202026/2610%20Decision%20Engine/Blog_Decision%20Engine_Teaser.png)](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-as-a-decision-engine) [Digitalization](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/digitalization) [Insights](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/insights) #### [Simulation as a Decision Engine for Engineering Innovation](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-as-a-decision-engine) [Marc Vidal](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/author/marc-vidal) | 09.10.2026 [Read more](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-as-a-decision-engine) [![© CADFEM / Adobe Stock](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Blog%20Artikel%202026/2609%20Analog%20Astronaut/Blog_Astronaut_AdobeStock_402438380_640x360jpg.jpg)](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/analogue-astronaut-rocket-simulation-ansys) [Structures](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/structures) [Fluids & Thermal Management](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/fluids-thermal-management) [Digitalization](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/digitalization) [Use Case](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/tag/use-case) #### [Analog Astronaut & Mission Simulant](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/analogue-astronaut-rocket-simulation-ansys) [Alexander Kunz](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/author/alexander-kunz) | 29.09.2026 [Read more](https://blog.cadfem.net/en/analogue-astronaut-rocket-simulation-ansys) [![](https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/01_BASIC/Logos/New%20CADFEM%20Logo/CADFEM_Logo_blue_sRGB_ohne%20Schutzzone%201.svg)](https://www.cadfem.net/de/en/home.html) - [Legal notice](https://www.cadfem.net/en/legal-notice) - [GTC](https://www.cadfem.net/en/agb) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.cadfem.net/en/privacy-policy) - [Terms of use](https://www.cadfem.net/en/terms-of-use) - [Manage cookie settings](https://www.cadfem.net/en/cookie-note) © 2026 CADFEM Germany GmbH *Return to Top* ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Gerhard Zelder", "url" : "https://blog.cadfem.net/en/author/gerhard-zelder" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-26T10:33:28.166Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-26T10:33:16.000Z", "headline" : "Simulation Hardware Planning: Workstation, HPC, or Cloud?", "image" : [ "https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/topics/GLOBAL_Blog/Blog%20Artikel%202026/2610_HPC/Blog_IT-Services_und_Infrastruktur_Teaser.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.cadfem.net/en/simulation-hardware-planning-workstation-hpc-cloud", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.cadfem.net/hubfs/CADFEM_Logo_blue_sRGB_ohne%20Schutzzone%201-1.png" }, "name" : "CADFEM Germany GmbH" } } ```