diff --git a/Exec/science/massive_star/GNUmakefile b/Exec/science/massive_star/GNUmakefile
index d0935d2ec2..a20e2b8f32 100644
--- a/Exec/science/massive_star/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/science/massive_star/GNUmakefile
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ USE_MPI    = TRUE
 
 USE_GRAV   = TRUE
 USE_REACT  = TRUE
+
+USE_SIMPLIFIED_SDC = TRUE
+
 USE_NSE_TABLE    = TRUE
+SCREEN_METHOD = chabrier1998
 
 BL_NO_FORT := TRUE
 
diff --git a/Exec/science/massive_star/inputs_2d.nse b/Exec/science/massive_star/inputs_2d.nse
index aaf817f357..a28828c5cd 100644
--- a/Exec/science/massive_star/inputs_2d.nse
+++ b/Exec/science/massive_star/inputs_2d.nse
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ amr.n_error_buf     = 2 2 2 2 # number of buffer cells in error est
 amr.grid_eff        = 0.7     # what constitutes an efficient grid
 
 amr.check_file      = chk     # root name of checkpoint file
-amr.check_int       = 50     # number of timesteps between checkpoints
+amr.check_int       = 10     # number of timesteps between checkpoints
 amr.plot_file       = plt     # root name of plot file
 castro.plot_per_is_exact = 0
 amr.plot_per = 0.2
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ castro.max_subcycles = 16
 
 # problem initialization
 
-problem.model_name =  "15m_500_sec.aprox19.hse.20.0km"
+problem.model_name =  "15m_500_sec.aprox19.hse.10.0km"
 
 problem.perturb_model = 1
 problem.velpert_amplitude = 5.e6