Exciting developments are on the horizon for Intel enthusiasts, as details about the highly anticipated Xeon 654 CPU have surfaced. This leak, which includes preliminary specs for the entire Granite Rapids Workstation lineup, has tech aficionados abuzz. Expected to launch soon, this new CPU family promises performance enhancements and support for advanced technologies.
Unveiling the Intel Xeon 654 and Granite Rapids Lineup
Intel’s Granite Rapids-WS CPU family is gearing up for a potential launch in the coming months. Reports suggest that the lineup will be divided into two segments: a mainstream family with 4-channel DDR5 memory support and an Expert family boasting 8-channel memory support. The mainstream variants will offer 80 PCIe Gen5 lanes, while the Expert series will feature 128 lanes.
Previously, a powerful 86-core, 172-thread CPU from this series was spotted on the W890 platform, operating at 2.10 GHz. Now, new details have emerged for the Intel Xeon 654, which appeared in the Geekbench 6 database. This chip is equipped with 18 cores, 36 threads, 72 MB of L3 cache, and clocks of up to 4.80 GHz. It scored 2634 in single-core and 14,743 in multi-core benchmarks, though it still falls behind AMD’s Threadripper 9000 due to its engineering sample status.
The Intel Xeon 654 features 18 cores, 36 threads, 72 MB of L3 cache, and clocks reaching up to 4.80 GHz. Despite its impressive specs, its performance is hindered by the engineering sample status.
Insights into the Granite Rapids Workstation Family
Additional insights from sources have disclosed a variety of SKUs, including the Xeon 654. These CPUs will reach their peak performance with the Xeon 698X, featuring 86 cores and 336 MB of cache. The lineup presents several “X” variants that support overclocking, offering flexibility for users seeking customizable performance.
- 698X : 2.00GHz 336M
- 696X : 2.40GHz 336M
- 678X : 2.40GHz 192M
- 676X : 2.80GHz 144M
- 674X : 3.00GHz 144M
- 658X : 3.00GHz 144M
- 656 : 2.90GHz 72M
- 654 : 3.10GHz 72M
- 638 : 3.20GHz 72M
- 636 : 3.50GHz 48M
- 634 : 2.70GHz 48M
While the specific pricing of these CPUs is yet to be determined, it’s anticipated that Intel will aim for competitive pricing against the Threadripper 9000 series. We can look forward to a potential release in late Q4 or around CES 2026.
Intel HEDT/Workstation Processor Families:
| Intel HEDT Family | Granite Rapids | Sapphire Rapids Refresh | Sapphire Rapids | Cascade Lake | Skylake | Skylake | Skylake | Broadwell | Haswell | Ivy Bridge | Sandy Bridge | Gulftown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process Node | Intel 3 | 10nm ESF | 10nm ESF | 14nm++ | 14nm+ | 14nm+ | 14nm+ | 14nm | 22nm | 22nm | 32nm | 32nm |
| Flagship SKU | TBD | Xeon W9-3595X Xeon W7-2595X |
Xeon W9-3495X Xeon W7-2495X |
Core i9-10980XE | Xeon W-3175X | Core i9-9980XE | Core i9-7980XE | Core i7-6950X | Core i7-5960X | Core i7-4960X | Core i7-3960X | Core i7-980X |
| Max Cores/Threads | 86/172? | 60/120 26/52 |
56/112 24/48 |
18/36 | 28/56 | 18/36 | 18/36 | 10/20 | 8/16 | 6/12 | 6/12 | 6/12 |
| Clock Speeds | TBD | 4.8 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 3.00 / 4.80 GHz | 3.10/4.30 GHz | 3.00/4.50 GHz | 2.60/4.20 GHz | 3.00/3.50 GHz | 3.00/3.50 GHz | 3.60/4.00 GHz | 3.30/3.90 GHz | 3.33/3,60 GHz |
| Max Cache | TBD | 105 MB L3 | 105 MB L3 | 24.75 MB L3 | 38.5 MB L3 | 24.75 MB L3 | 24.75 MB L3 | 25 MB L3 | 20 MB L3 | 15 MB L3 | 15 MB L3 | 12 MB L3 |
| Max PCI-Express Lanes (CPU) | 128 Gen 5 | 112 Gen 5 | 112 Gen 5 | 44 Gen3 | 44 Gen3 | 44 Gen3 | 44 Gen3 | 40 Gen3 | 40 Gen3 | 40 Gen3 | 40 Gen2 | 32 Gen2 |
| Chipset Compatiblity | W890 | W790 | W790 | X299 | C612E | X299 | X299 | X99 Chipset | X99 Chipset | X79 Chipset | X79 Chipset | X58 Chipset |
| Socket Compatiblity | LGA 4710? | LGA 4677 | LGA 4677 | LGA 2066 | LGA 3647 | LGA 2066 | LGA 2066 | LGA 2011-3 | LGA 2011-3 | LGA 2011 | LGA 2011 | LGA 1366 |
| Memory Compatiblity | DDR5-6000? | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-4800 | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2800 | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2133 | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max TDP | 350W? | 350W | 350W | 165W | 255W | 165W | 165W | 140W | 140W | 130W | 130W | 130W |
| Launch | 2025? | 2024 | 2023 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2018 | Q3 2017 | Q2 2016 | Q3 2014 | Q3 2013 | Q4 2011 | Q1 2010 |
| Launch Price (Top SKU) | TBD | TBD | $5889 | $979 US | ~$4000 US | $1979 US | $1999 US | $1700 US | $1059 US | $999 US | $999 US | $999 US |