The world of high-performance computing is about to get a significant boost with the upcoming release of Intel’s Granite Rapids Workstation CPUs. These processors, part of the next-gen Xeon-WS family, are expected to bring substantial advancements to workstation platforms, and new details have emerged revealing what users can anticipate from Intel’s W890 platform.
Unveiling the Intel W890 Platform
Intel’s new W890 platform is set to power the Granite Rapids Workstation CPUs, built around the E2 Socket (LGA 4710). This platform will support processors with up to 350W TDPs and 16 P-Cores, making it a robust choice for both Expert and Mainstream segments. Intel has been closing the gap with AMD’s Threadripper series, with the Granite Rapids CPUs offering 86 cores and 172 threads. However, AMD’s Threadripper 9000 series still holds an edge with 96 cores. It’s a showdown that promises to be intense, especially considering AMD’s efficient Zen 5 architecture and its generous PCIe and cache offerings.
The Granite Rapids Xeon CPUs will also support DDR5 DIMMs and RDIMMs, offering impressive speeds of up to 5200 MT/s and capacities up to 2 TB. These capabilities are crucial for tasks that require high memory bandwidth and storage.
PCIe Lanes and Connectivity Features
The W890 platform is not just about raw power; it also features a comprehensive PCIe lane configuration. Expert CPUs will provide 112 PCIe lanes, including 96 Gen5 and 16 Gen4 lanes, while the Mainstream variant offers 80 PCIe Gen5 lanes. These CPUs will communicate with the W890 chipset via a Gen4 x8 lane DMI interface, ensuring fast data transfer and communication between components.
The platform is further equipped with a variety of connectivity options, such as:
- 1 x Intel Ethernet Controller I226-V (2.5 GbE LAN)
- 9 x USB 2.0/1.1 Links
- 10 x USB 3.2 Links
- 8 x SATA III Links
- 2 x SlimSAS Links (PCIe Gen4x4 Each)
- Server IPMC ASPEED AST2600 Controller
- Nuvoton NCT6126D
Overall, Intel’s W890 platform is shaping up to be a formidable competitor in the workstation market, poised to offer robust performance and options for high-demand applications. Anticipation is building for its release, potentially debuting at 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 |