Ansys System Requirements 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Ansys software is a crucial tool for engineering simulations and plays an essential role in various industries. Knowing the system requirements for different Ansys releases is essential for optimal software performance. This guide covers the minimum system requirements for Ansys from 2021 to 2025, focusing on supported operating systems, hardware configurations, and more.
Figure 1 reference: www.Ansys.com
Ansys System Requirements 2021
Understanding the system requirements for Ansys 2021 is essential for users aiming to achieve optimal performance and reliability during engineering simulations.
Supported Platforms for Ansys 2021
- Windows: Ansys 2021 supported Windows 10 (64-bit), encompassing Professional, Enterprise, and Education editions. Support for Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 was also included.
- Linux: Supported distributions included Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7.6 to 7.8 and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 12 SP5.
Hardware Requirements for Ansys 2021
- Processor: 64-bit x86 processors from Intel and AMD were required.
- RAM: A minimum of 16 GB was recommended, though complex simulations often required more.
- Storage: Ansys 2021 suggested at least 256 GB of SSD storage for smooth operation.
- Graphics: Compatible NVIDIA GPUs for CUDA support.
Ansys System Requirements 2022
Ansys 2022 brought enhanced system support, building on previous versions while adding early compatibility for Windows 11. The year marked a shift from CentOS to Ubuntu LTS, aligning with changing open-source strategies. This guide outlines the key system requirements for Ansys 2022 to help users optimize their setup.
Figure 2 reference: www.Ansys.com
OS Compatibility for Ansys 2022
- Windows: Continued support for Windows 10, with the addition of early support for Windows 11 (21H2).
- Linux: Expanded support for RHEL 8.1 and CentOS 7.8 and 7.9.
- CentOS Announcement: Starting 2022 R2, support began shifting from CentOS to Ubuntu LTS as CentOS support was being phased out.
Hardware Requirements for Ansys 2022
- RAM: Minimum requirements remained at 16 GB, with 32 GB recommended for large projects.
- Graphics: Continued emphasis on high-performance GPUs with support for CUDA processing
Ansys System Requirements 2023
Ansys 2023 expanded its support to fully include Windows 11 and updated Linux distributions like RHEL 8.7 and Ubuntu 20.04. This release also marked the end of CentOS 8 support, emphasizing improved compatibility with virtual desktop infrastructures and enhanced hardware requirements for advanced simulations.
Figure 3 reference: www.Ansys.com
Expanding System Support for Ansys 2023
- Windows 11: Full support for Windows 11 (22H2) was officially provided.
- Linux: Maintained support for RHEL 8.4 to 8.7 and included newer Ubuntu LTS versions like 20.04.
- End of CentOS 8: CentOS 8 was no longer supported from the 2023 R1 release onward.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure for Ansys 2023
- Enhanced support for virtual environments, including VMware Horizon View and NICE DCV.
Hardware Requirements for Ansys 2023
- CPU: Improved compatibility with AMD Zen4 AVX512 CPU for enhanced performance in specific modules like HFSS.
- RAM and Storage: The recommendations align with increasing demands, suggesting at least 32 GB of RAM for high-end applications.
Ansys System Requirements 2024
Ansys 2024 introduced expanded platform support and new compatibility features, including Rocky Linux as an alternative to CentOS. With continued backing for Windows 10 and 11 and updated Linux distributions, Ansys 2024 aimed to provide robust solutions for advanced simulation needs.
Figure 4 reference: www.Ansys.com
Supported Platforms for Ansys 2024 R1
- Windows: Full support for Windows 10 and Windows 11 editions.
- Linux: Support RHEL 7.8 through 8.8 and new compatibility with Ubuntu 22.04.
- New Linux Support: Introduction of Rocky Linux as an alternative to CentOS, aligning with open-source strategies.
Virtualization and Compilers for Ansys 2024
- Virtual Desktop Infrastructure: Support for VMware and Citrix virtual environments continued.
- Compilers: Introduction of Intel OneAPI 2023.1.0 and GCC 8.2.
Ansys System Requirements 2025
Looking ahead, Ansys 2025 is anticipated to support advanced platforms such as Windows 12 and newer versions of RHEL and Rocky Linux. The projected system requirements highlight increased reliance on high-core-count CPUs and robust GPUs, ensuring seamless handling of complex simulations.
Expected Platform Developments for Ansys 2025
- Windows: Anticipated support for Windows 12.
- Linux: Continued support for RHEL 9 and expansion into newer Rocky Linux versions.
- Hardware Projections: Increased reliance on high-core-count CPUs and advanced GPUs.
- Memory: Recommendations are expected to move towards a standard minimum of 32 GB, with 64 GB or more for complex simulations.
Figure 5 reference: https://www.ansys.com/blog/hardware-tips-to-accelerate-simulation
In the table below, you can see the Detailed System Requirement Roadmap for Ansys 2021-2025
| Year | Supported Windows OS | Supported Linux OS | Key Notes |
| 2021 | Windows 10 | RHEL 7.6-7.8, SLES 12 SP5 | Initial full Windows 10 support. |
| 2022 | Windows 10, 11 (early) | RHEL 8.1-8.2, CentOS 7.8-7.9 | Shift towards Ubuntu LTS begins. |
| 2023 | Windows 11 (22H2) | RHEL 8.4-8.7, Ubuntu 20.04 | End of CentOS 8 support. |
| 2024 | Windows 10, 11 | RHEL 8.8, Ubuntu 22.04, Rocky Linux | Rocky Linux support was introduced. |
| 2025 | Windows 11, 12 (planned) | RHEL 9.x, Rocky Linux | High memory and multi-core CPU focus. |
Table 1: System Requirement Roadmap for Ansys 2021-2025
Conclusion
The system requirements for Ansys have evolved significantly from 2021 to 2025, highlighting the need for users to adapt their hardware and software environments. Staying updated with these requirements ensures seamless operation and optimal performance of Ansys applications. Ensure hardware upgrades align with Ansys’ increasing RAM and GPU power demands and keep OS versions updated and aligned with Ansys recommendations.
You can have the complete information from Ansys related page.
The below table summarizes the system requirements and key platform notes for Ansys from 2021 to 2025:
| Year | Supported Windows OS | Supported Linux OS | Key Hardware Recommendations | Key Notes |
| 2021 | Windows 10 (64-bit), Windows Server 2016 & 2019 | RHEL 7.6 – 7.8, SLES 12 SP5 | 64-bit x86 processors, 16 GB RAM (min), 256 GB SSD, NVIDIA GPUs | Initial comprehensive support for Windows 10 and various Linux distributions. |
| 2022 | Windows 10, early support for Windows 11 (21H2) | RHEL 8.1, CentOS 7.8 – 7.9 | 64-bit x86 processors, 16 GB RAM (min), 32 GB recommended, NVIDIA GPUs | Shift from CentOS to Ubuntu LTS started. Continued GPU emphasis. |
| 2023 | Windows 11 (22H2) | RHEL 8.4 – 8.7, Ubuntu 20.04 | AMD Zen4 AVX512 CPU, 32 GB RAM (recommended) | End of CentOS 8 support. Enhanced support for VMware Horizon View and NICE DCV. |
| 2024 | Windows 10, Windows 11 | RHEL 7.8 – 8.8, Ubuntu 22.04, Rocky Linux | 64-bit x86 processors, high-performance GPUs | Introduction of Rocky Linux, support for Intel OneAPI 2023.1.0 and GCC 8.2. |
| 2025 | Windows 11, anticipated support for Windows 12 | RHEL 9.x, newer Rocky Linux versions | Multi-core CPUs, 32 GB RAM (min), 64 GB recommended for complex simulations | Projected high reliance on advanced GPUs and high-core-count CPUs. |
Here’s a brief table summarizing the minimum “Ansys System Hardware Requirements”
| Component | Details |
| RAM | Determines model size (DOF).
Minimum: 16GB; 64GB suffices for most tasks; >100GB recommended for complex projects (e.g., EMAG). |
| CPU | Multi-core Intel Xeon/AMD with high clock speed.
Physical cores are preferred over hyper-threading. Most recent architecture suggested for maximum performance. |
| Storage | Minimum: 1TB.
Best setup: NVMe for high-speed solving, SSD for storage. RAID0 can enhance speed but sacrifices redundancy. |
| Graphics | A dedicated workstation GPU is recommended for large models (Quadro or GeForce).
Minimum 1GB VRAM; for Discovery Live, at least 4GB (8GB preferred). |
| GPU Computing | Accelerates some Ansys operations (e.g., solid element solvers).
Recommended: NVIDIA Tesla, with memory for in-core operations. |
| Interconnects | High-speed connections (e.g., Mellanox Infiniband) for clustering setups. |
| Accessories | Suggested: 3D mouse, multiple monitors for efficient multitasking. |
| OS Requirements | 64-bit Windows 10 for most tasks;
Windows Server or Linux needed for >2 CPU sockets or multi-machine clusters. |
| General Specs | Example setup: Full-size workstation tower, latest-gen Intel/AMD CPU, 64GB–256GB RAM, 512GB NVMe + 2TB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit OS. |
Table 3: minimum Ansys System Hardware Requirements
FAQs
- What are the minimum RAM requirements for Ansys 2023? The minimum recommended RAM for Ansys 2023 was 16 GB, with 32 GB or more for larger simulations.
- Will Ansys support Windows 12? Ansys is projected to support Windows 12 starting in 2025, aligning with industry advancements.
- What happened to CentOS support in Ansys? CentOS support was phased out starting with Ansys 2022 R2, replaced by Ubuntu LTS and Rocky Linux.
- Does Ansys 2024 support virtual desktop environments? Yes, Ansys 2024 R1 supports virtual desktop environments such as VMware Horizon View and Citrix Virtual Desktops.
- Which compilers are supported for Ansys 2024? Ansys 2024 supports Intel OneAPI 2023.1.0 and GCC 8.2 for user-programmable features.
- What is the minimum RAM requirement for running Ansys software effectively?
The minimum recommended RAM for Ansys software is 16GB. However, 64GB is typically sufficient for most finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) projects. Complex simulations, such as those involving electromagnetic analysis (EMAG), often require more than 100GB to ensure optimal performance.
- Why is a dedicated graphics card necessary for Ansys applications?
A dedicated workstation graphics card is essential to handle complex model interactions without display lags. Ansys Discovery Live and Explore stages, in particular, require at least 4GB of VRAM (8GB recommended). Integrated graphics do not support the full capabilities of the software and may result in performance issues.
- What type of CPU is recommended for Ansys simulations?
Ansys simulations perform best on the latest multi-core Intel Xeon or AMD processors with high clock speeds. It’s advised to prioritize the number of physical cores over hyper-threading, as the latter does not enhance simulation speed. Choosing the most recent CPU architecture ensures the best performance.
- How should storage be configured for optimal Ansys performance?
A minimum of 1TB of storage is recommended, with an efficient setup involving a high-speed NVMe drive for solving tasks and a larger, slower SSD or HDD for storage. NVMe drives significantly improve read/write performance, crucial for I/O-intensive simulations, while RAID0 can be used to increase speed, albeit at the expense of data redundancy.
- What are the operating system requirements for Ansys software?
Ansys products are supported on 64-bit operating systems, with Windows 10 being the most common for workstations. However, configurations requiring more than two physical CPU sockets or multi-node clusters will need a server-grade OS, such as Windows Server or Linux distributions like Red Hat or SUSE Enterprise.
References for data:
Ansys.com
https://www.ozeninc.com/help-center/ansys-system-hardware-requirements/