New leaks have brought Intel’s 18-Core Xeon 654 CPU into the spotlight, offering insights into what the entry-level Granite Rapids-WS chip could deliver. As Intel gears up for the launch of its Granite Rapids-WS CPU family, there’s a lot of anticipation surrounding its performance potential.
Intel Xeon 654 CPU: A Closer Look
Expected to hit the market within months, Intel’s Granite Rapids-WS family will feature both mainstream and expert CPU segments. The mainstream options provide 4-channel DDR5 support and 80 PCIe Gen5 lanes, while the expert line expands to 8-channel memory and 128 PCIe Gen5 lanes. The Intel Xeon 654, an entry-level option in this lineup, boasts 18 cores, 36 threads, and significant cache capabilities. Early samples indicate clock speeds peaking at 4.8 GHz, although current benchmarks show reduced performance due to lower clock speeds.
Performance Comparisons and Industry Expectations
The Intel Xeon 654, with its 18 powerful cores, matches the multi-thread performance of the 28-core Xeon W7-3465X and achieves 18% better single-thread performance. However, AMD’s Zen 5 Threadripper, with 16 cores, still holds a speed advantage in both single-thread and multi-thread benchmarks. Even mainstream AMD chips like the Ryzen 9 9950X outperform the Xeon 654, indicating room for improvement in Intel’s offering. Nevertheless, this new Xeon iteration surpasses its predecessor, marking a step forward in Intel’s workstation capabilities.
The Intel Granite Rapids-WS “Xeon 600” family is poised for a launch soon, with a potential announcement at CES 2026; the retail availability, however, might follow months later.
While these processors are set to challenge AMD’s Threadripper series, Intel needs to advance its architecture to keep pace with AMD’s Zen 5 technology. Future advancements, such as the introduction of Cougar Cove and Coyote Cove architectures, are anticipated in 2026, which could redefine Intel’s competitive edge in the workstation sector.
Intel HEDT/Workstation Processor Families Overview
| 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 |