March 21, 2006

CFdesign v8.0 Now Available for 64-bit Systems

CFdesign v8.0 for 64-bit systems effectively expands the upfront CFD market by allowing extremely large and complex native MCAD models like this computer system assembly to be fully meshed and analyzed in a timeframe that supports pre-prototype decision-making.Increases Scalability and Performance of Industry’s Most Comprehensive Upfront CFD Solution Platform

In conjunction with the opening of National Manufacturing Week, Blue Ridge Numerics announced today its CFdesign® v8.0 upfront CFD software is available for 64-bit computing environments, further simplifying and expediting the use of large, complex MCAD models for early-stage, upfront, flow and thermal simulations.

The 64-bit version of CFdesign v8.0 is designed to run on high-performance 64-bit processors, which improves performance and scalability:

Processing more data per clock cycle

Addressing more memory

Running faster numeric calculations

For fluid flow and heat transfer simulations that are memory-intensive, the performance and scalability benefits are often dramatic. For example:

Large data sets can be loaded entirely into memory, reducing the need for slower disk access.

Complex calculations that take hours to complete on 32-bit systems can be done in minutes.

Models that were simply too big for 32-bit systems are now viable candidates for upfront CFD, giving companies a cost-effective alternative to physical prototyping and testing.

Blue Ridge Numerics director of operations and CFdesign product manager Len Whitehead says the ability to handle larger problems directly in primary memory is one of the major performance benefits, “the 64-bit version of CFdesign decreases swapping when the flow and thermal solvers are executing double precision arithmetic and/or algorithmic calculations which means customers get answers faster.”

Whitehead says customers looking to conduct rigorous flow and thermal simulation with extraordinarily large MCAD models like those commonly found in the aerospace, automotive, and electronics sectors will benefit most. Additionally, “our customers who use the CFdesign Motion Module for turbo machinery, motion-driven flow, or flow-driven motion applications will appreciate the benefits of the 64-bit version.”

The term 64-bit in chips means that the CPU can process 64 different instructions at the same time. A 32-bit chip can process half of that, but the doubling of instructions does not mean that 64-bit chips are faster than 32-bit counterparts.

About Blue Ridge Numerics Blue Ridge Numerics puts comprehensive fluid flow and heat transfer simulation upfront in the product development process where it creates tremendous value for small, medium, and large companies around the world. Our rapidly growing global customer list includes leaders in major vertical industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, electronics, food & drug, HVAC, material processing, medical, military & defense, plumbing, and power generation.

First introduced in 1992, our unique Upfront CFD vision, supported by the proprietary CFdesign technology platform, saves customers money and time by reducing the amount of wind tunnel and flow bench testing necessary to validate new designs. Listed on the Inc. 500 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500, Blue Ridge Numerics is one of the fastest growing technology companies in America and the fastest growing CFD software company in the world.