Modeling ice sheet instabilities is a numerical challenge of potentially high real-world relevance. Yet, differentiating between the impacts of model physics, numerical implementation choices, and numerical errors is not straightforward. Here, we use an idealized North American geometry and climate representation (similarly to the HEINO (Heinrich Event INtercOmparison) experiments - ) to examine the process and numerical sensitivity of ice stream surge cycling in ice flow models. Through sensitivity tests, we identify some numerical requirements for a more robust model configuration for such contexts. To partly address model-specific dependencies, we use both the Glacial Systems Model (GSM) and the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM). We show that modeled surge characteristics are resolution dependent, though they converge (decreased differences between resolutions) at finer horizontal grid resolutions. Discrepancies between fine and coarse horizontal grid resolutions can be reduced by incorporating sliding at sub-freezing temperatures. The inclusion of basal hydrology increases the ice volume lost during surges, whereas the dampening of basal-temperature changes due to a bed thermal model leads to a decrease. Copyright: