E L I T E
C H A N N E L PA R T N E R
simulation@rand.com | RandSIM.com | 888.483.0674
Example
The graph below represents annual computational needs divided by weeks. Most of the time, less than 100
cores are needed, however there are spikes when 256 are needed.
In this situation, we would recommend owning 80% of the capacity and renting the 20% bursts. In the future, as
Cloud options become more affordable, we will probably recommend renting more and owning less.
The Break-Even Point
To determine how much to own and rent, simply sort the computational needs:
Review the Numbers
1. If 256 cores are used between 8 and 10 hours per week, (highlighted in red in the chart below) renting
would cost between $1,000 - $2,000. Owning that capacity would cost approximately $100,000. Renting is
the best option in this scenario.
Understanding and Predicting the ROI of High-Performance Computing
