ANSYS Workbench hardware optimization

DenEnc · March 13, 2018, 18:59

Hi everybody!

I'm using Workbench for my PhD in Orthodontics and I'm a real noob because I'm an auto-didact in using this software.

I just bought a high performance laptop with the following config:

- CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K 3.60 GHz (HC-HT, 12M..
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4 2.666MHz CL15 (2x16.384MB)
- SSD (M.2): 1.0 TB Samsung 960 PRO NVMe
- HDD: 1.0 TB Hybrid SSHD Firecuda S.ATA III
- RAID: No RAID
- Display: 15,6" FullHD 1.920x1.080 120Hz G-SY..
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6,0 GB GDDR5

My idea was to use the HDD to run windows and all other software while using the SSD to run only Workbench.

My simulations are really huge (>300gb files) and the out-of-core simulation is assured even with bigger size of RAM. So, I thought that keeping 1tb SSD would have been the best solution, 'cause on the university workstation it worked pretty well.
However, on my laptop when the solving process starts, everything gets stucked because the HDD becomes 100% active and freezes any other task, while the activity for SSD is around 1-2%.

I tried installing ANSYS directly on SSD and nothing changed. Does somebody know if there is any setting to make only the SSD working for ANSYS without installing windows directly on the SSD?

Jeggi · March 14, 2018, 02:27

I guess this is what you are looking for: https://superuser.com/questions/2378...-disk-location

Christophe · March 15, 2018, 21:58

Generally would say it's a bad idea to run large simulations on a laptop. Probably don't have enough memory anyways. I would use one of ANSYS's cloud partners to "rent" a cluster spot in AWS or Azure if you're not going to either simplify your model or buy a better workstation. You can get really good deals on used equipment.

I think if you put your Workbench file in a folder in the secondary drive, and start it from there it will put the scratch folder there. You can also change scratch file location in ANSYS mechanical settings, if you're doing a structural (I assume??).

evcelica · March 19, 2018, 13:17

Christophe is correct. You should save the whole project file to the SSD. Then that folder in the SSD will then be your "working directory". It does not matter where ANSYS is installed, just where you are working on the file from.
You may need to set a paging file for the SSD if there is not already one made, as Jeggi shows.

DenEnc · March 19, 2018, 16:10

Thank you everybody,

moving paging file to SSD solved the issue I had, but now another one issue is blocking me from getting a solution.

The ANSYS file is running on SSD with 980gb space available and my laptop has 32gb RAM, but during the solution it crashes reporting error for not enough memory available for out-of-core solving.
It says that 31gb of space are available and the solution requires 41gb, but shouldn't out-of-core solver swap on disk to get the amount of extra space needed for solution when RAM is not enough?

On the university workstation it works like this, but now on my laptop it crashes even if there is plenty of space (900gb!!) available on the SSD.

Could somebody please explain why?

DenEnc · March 19, 2018, 16:14

I'm quoting the error message I get each time, I also tried to increase both workspace and database memory size but nothing changed.

*** ERROR *** CP = 372.266 TIME= 21:11:15
There is not enough memory for the Distributed Sparse Matrix Solver to
proceed using the out-of-core memory mode. The total memory required
by all processes = 40186 MB. The total physical memory that is
available on the system = 31079 MB. Please decrease the model size,
or run this model on another system with more physical memory.

flotus1 · March 19, 2018, 17:44

I am no expert, but that sounds pretty straightforward: even for out-of-core execution, you need a certain amount of physical RAM. How much RAM does the workstation at your university have?

DenEnc · March 19, 2018, 17:49

64gb.. if it's as you say that's really bad, don't have enough money right now for other 32gb of RAM

evcelica · March 20, 2018, 13:10

Change the solver type from "Program controlled" to PCG, or Iterative.
The Direct solver that the program is choosing uses a lot more RAM than the iterative solver.
It is in the tree on the left, under:
ANALYSIS SETTINGS
SOLVER CONTROLS
SOLVER TYPE
ITERATIVE

You could also try to increase the size of your paging file, but I don't think that is your problem now.

March 13, 2018, 18:59	ANSYS Workbench hardware optimization	#1
DenEnc New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 8	Hi everybody! I'm using Workbench for my PhD in Orthodontics and I'm a real noob because I'm an auto-didact in using this software. I just bought a high performance laptop with the following config: - CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K 3.60 GHz (HC-HT, 12M.. - RAM: 32 GB DDR4 2.666MHz CL15 (2x16.384MB) - SSD (M.2): 1.0 TB Samsung 960 PRO NVMe - HDD: 1.0 TB Hybrid SSHD Firecuda S.ATA III - RAID: No RAID - Display: 15,6" FullHD 1.920x1.080 120Hz G-SY.. - Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6,0 GB GDDR5 My idea was to use the HDD to run windows and all other software while using the SSD to run only Workbench. My simulations are really huge (>300gb files) and the out-of-core simulation is assured even with bigger size of RAM. So, I thought that keeping 1tb SSD would have been the best solution, 'cause on the university workstation it worked pretty well. However, on my laptop when the solving process starts, everything gets stucked because the HDD becomes 100% active and freezes any other task, while the activity for SSD is around 1-2%. I tried installing ANSYS directly on SSD and nothing changed. Does somebody know if there is any setting to make only the SSD working for ANSYS without installing windows directly on the SSD?

March 14, 2018, 02:27		#2
Jeggi Member Jógvan Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 12	I guess this is what you are looking for: https://superuser.com/questions/2378...-disk-location flotus1 and DenEnc like this.

March 15, 2018, 21:58		#3
Christophe Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 62 Rep Power: 11	Generally would say it's a bad idea to run large simulations on a laptop. Probably don't have enough memory anyways. I would use one of ANSYS's cloud partners to "rent" a cluster spot in AWS or Azure if you're not going to either simplify your model or buy a better workstation. You can get really good deals on used equipment. I think if you put your Workbench file in a folder in the secondary drive, and start it from there it will put the scratch folder there. You can also change scratch file location in ANSYS mechanical settings, if you're doing a structural (I assume??). DenEnc likes this.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Workbench 18.2 Installation Error Ubuntu 16.04	turbostudent	ANSYS	1	October 3, 2019 11:13
ANSYS Optimization failing to update Results component.	harmollo1	ANSYS	1	March 21, 2019 16:30
Ansys Workbench Fracture and Cracking Behavior using Solid65	jackhero	Structural Mechanics	0	December 25, 2017 01:45
Can you help me with a problem in ansys static structural solver?	sourabh.porwal	Structural Mechanics	0	March 27, 2016 18:07
Gambit vs. Ansys workbench mesh generating	sanlee39	Main CFD Forum	2	April 8, 2013 07:09

March 19, 2018, 13:17		#4
evcelica Senior Member Erik Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Earth (Land portion) Posts: 1,188 Rep Power: 23	Christophe is correct. You should save the whole project file to the SSD. Then that folder in the SSD will then be your "working directory". It does not matter where ANSYS is installed, just where you are working on the file from. You may need to set a paging file for the SSD if there is not already one made, as Jeggi shows.

March 19, 2018, 16:10		#5
DenEnc New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 8	Thank you everybody, moving paging file to SSD solved the issue I had, but now another one issue is blocking me from getting a solution. The ANSYS file is running on SSD with 980gb space available and my laptop has 32gb RAM, but during the solution it crashes reporting error for not enough memory available for out-of-core solving. It says that 31gb of space are available and the solution requires 41gb, but shouldn't out-of-core solver swap on disk to get the amount of extra space needed for solution when RAM is not enough? On the university workstation it works like this, but now on my laptop it crashes even if there is plenty of space (900gb!!) available on the SSD. Could somebody please explain why?

March 19, 2018, 16:14		#6
DenEnc New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 8	I'm quoting the error message I get each time, I also tried to increase both workspace and database memory size but nothing changed. * ERROR * CP = 372.266 TIME= 21:11:15 There is not enough memory for the Distributed Sparse Matrix Solver to proceed using the out-of-core memory mode. The total memory required by all processes = 40186 MB. The total physical memory that is available on the system = 31079 MB. Please decrease the model size, or run this model on another system with more physical memory.

March 19, 2018, 17:44		#7
flotus1 Super Moderator Alex Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 3,427 Rep Power: 49	I am no expert, but that sounds pretty straightforward: even for out-of-core execution, you need a certain amount of physical RAM. How much RAM does the workstation at your university have?

March 19, 2018, 17:49		#8
DenEnc New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 8	64gb.. if it's as you say that's really bad, don't have enough money right now for other 32gb of RAM

March 20, 2018, 13:10		#9
evcelica Senior Member Erik Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Earth (Land portion) Posts: 1,188 Rep Power: 23	Change the solver type from "Program controlled" to PCG, or Iterative. The Direct solver that the program is choosing uses a lot more RAM than the iterative solver. It is in the tree on the left, under: ANALYSIS SETTINGS SOLVER CONTROLS SOLVER TYPE ITERATIVE You could also try to increase the size of your paging file, but I don't think that is your problem now.