# Updating number of CPUs in UM7.3 for ACCESS-ESM1.5

**URL:** <https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668>\
**Category:** Earth System\
**Tags:** help, access-esm\
**Created:** [3 July 2025 05:14 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668 "2025-07-03T05:14:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dkhutch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/dkhutch/32/510_2.png) [@dkhutch](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/dkhutch)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 05:14 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/1 "2025-07-03T05:14:45Z")

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Hi,  
I am looking to update some older runs using ACCESS-ESM1.5 that are currently running with 384 CPUs. I understand the new releases are using 432 CPUS, with the UM changing from 192 CPUs to 240 CPUs. I would like to update my old settings to take advantage of this optimisation… just wanted to check if you don’t mind, which input settings I should pay attention to?

I’m guessing the settings in `atmosphere/namelists` and `config.yaml` are the key places, but is there anything else I should look for?

#help

Thanks, Dave

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**Author:** ![dkhutch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/dkhutch/32/510_2.png) [@dkhutch](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/dkhutch)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 05:24 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/2 "2025-07-03T05:24:13Z")

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… Just poked around and saw that in um\_env.yaml there are the following fields (in my older version):

```auto
UM_ATM_NPROCX: '16'
UM_ATM_NPROCY: '12'
UM_NPES: '192'

```

And that in the new release, these are updated to:

```auto
UM_ATM_NPROCX: '16'
UM_ATM_NPROCY: '15'
UM_NPES: '240'

```

Is there anywhere else I need to specify this change, other than `config.yaml`?

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**Author:** ![Aidan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/aidan/32/42_2.png) [@Aidan](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/Aidan)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 05:32 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/3 "2025-07-03T05:32:23Z")

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Hey,

I’ve discussed already with Spencer about updating ESM1.5 with these changes and making a new release.

~~I know I’ve asked this before, but could you make a topic on the forum and ask this question (or you can make the message into a topic).~~ It’s good when people ask for stuff and we can say YES!, and it helps to bump up the priorities, and others can also chime in if they need it too.

Thanks!

Edit: for clarity/correction

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**Author:** ![dkhutch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/dkhutch/32/510_2.png) [@dkhutch](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/dkhutch)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 06:08 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/4 "2025-07-03T06:08:27Z")

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I’m confused… this is a topic on the forum.

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**Author:** ![Aidan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/aidan/32/42_2.png) [@Aidan](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/Aidan)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 06:21 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/5 "2025-07-03T06:21:35Z")

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So sorry. Yes you are correct. Oops!

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**Author:** ![spencerwong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/spencerwong/32/1894_2.png) [@spencerwong](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/spencerwong)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 23:26 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/6 "2025-07-03T23:26:02Z")

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Hi @dkhutch, that’s correct! The only changes needed should be the the ones you’ve listed in the `config.yaml` and `um_env.yaml`.

Cheers,  
Spencer

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**Author:** ![dkhutch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/dkhutch/32/510_2.png) [@dkhutch](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/dkhutch)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 23:35 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/7 "2025-07-03T23:35:09Z")

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Awesome, thanks for confirming Spencer!

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**Author:** ![dkhutch](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/dkhutch/32/510_2.png) [@dkhutch](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/dkhutch)\
**Post date:** [3 July 2025 23:38 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/8 "2025-07-03T23:38:30Z")

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@gpontes @HIMADRI_SAINI @BenjaminAnthonisz  
Just to update people I know who are still running ACCESS-ESM with 384 CPUs:  
If you update these settings in um\_env.yaml and also update the CPUs in config.yaml to 240 CPUs, then the whole thing runs significantly faster. This is a feature of the new releases…

To give you some numbers, my runtimes have decreased from a typical 1:15 to 1:05, and the typical service units have actually decreased from around 970 SUs per year to ~930 SUs per year. So the model runs faster and costs less KSU…

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**Author:** ![Aidan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/aidan/32/42_2.png) [@Aidan](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/Aidan)\
**Post date:** [4 July 2025 07:06 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/9 "2025-07-04T07:06:53Z")

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> [@dkhutch](#):
>
> So the model runs faster and costs less KSU…

All thanks to @spencerwong.

Does this lead to different answers @spencerwong? I can’t recall.

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**Author:** ![spencerwong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/spencerwong/32/1894_2.png) [@spencerwong](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/spencerwong)\
**Post date:** [7 July 2025 23:28 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/10 "2025-07-07T23:28:58Z")

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The processor change didn’t change answers (I think for ~20 years) with the preindustrial configuration when we made the change. However, @manodeep has since found a couple of examples where the UM’s layout did change answers some time into the run, and so it’s hard to be certain especially in long runs.

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**Author:** ![atteggiani](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/atteggiani/32/212_2.png) [@atteggiani](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/atteggiani)\
**Post date:** [15 July 2025 03:10 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/updating-number-of-cpus-in-um7-3-for-access-esm1-5/4668/11 "2025-07-15T03:10:22Z")

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