Currently preparations for the next cluster system VSC-3 are under way. Based on the experiences with the already installed clusters VSC-1 and VSC-2, and the discussions at the user meeting in Neusiedl am See the following key features for the tender were found:

• Energy efficiency: In order to keep the costs for cooling as low as possible a heating system with an inlet temperature to the cluster that is as high as possible is desired. Depending on the details the cluster could be cooled only with free cooling or only limited amount of chilling. This means the systems is probably oil or water cooled.
• Single core performance should be better than on VSC-1 / VSC-2.
• Network/Interconnect should be similar to VSC-1 and be appropriate for the number of cores per node.