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During a recent pre-briefing, we learned about the new Intel Xeon 600 series processors. The new generation of workstation-grade chips will be launching very soon, with ‘budget' options around the $500 mark, moving all the way up to massively powerful $7,699 versions.
The new Xeon chips are based on Intel's new Granite Rapids architecture and is designed to replace the previous Xeon W-2500 and W-3500 series, which were divided up into two distinct tiers. The new line-up offers a single, scalable line-up, simplifying things for those looking to go with Intel for their next workstation upgrade.
You can see the full specifications for each new Intel Xeon 600 series SKU in the table below:
| SKU | P Cores | Turbo Boost Max (GHz) | All-Core Turbo (GHz) | Base Frequency (GHz) | L3 Cache (MB) | Base TDP (W) | Unlocked | Memory Channels | MRDIMM Speed | PCIe 5.0 Lanes | RCP Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 698X | 86 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 336 | 350 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $7699 |
| 696X | 64 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 336 | 350 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $5599 |
| 678X | 48 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 192 | 300 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $3749 |
| 676X | 32 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 144 | 275 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $2499 |
| 674X | 28 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.0 | 144 | 260 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $2199 |
| 658X | 24 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.0 | 144 | 250 | Yes | 8 | — | 128 | $1699 |
| 656 | 20 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 72 | 210 | No | 4 | — | 128 | $1399 |
| 654 | 18 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 72 | 200 | No | 4 | — | 128 | $1199 |
| 638 | 16 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 72 | 180 | No | 4 | — | 80 | $899 |
| 636 | 12 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 48 | 170 | No | 4 | — | 80 | $639 |
| 634 | 12 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 48 | 150 | No | 4 | — | 80 | $499 |
While not noted in the table, every single chip in the line-up supports DDR5 memory speeds of 6400MT/s and supports Intel vPro Technology. Only a handful of these CPUs will be offered in boxed form as well, including the Xeon 696X, 678X, 676X, 658X and the Xeon 654. As always, the chips listed as ‘unlocked' are overclockable for those with the necessary cooling to squeeze out the extra performance.
In the slides above, you can get a closer look at all of the new features Intel announced.
Each new Xeon 600 CPU is built using the new Intel 3 manufacturing process, as well as Redwood Cove cores. Intel says this has led to improved power efficiency versus the previous generation Sapphire Rapids Xeon processors. Compared to the 60-core Xeon W-3595X, Intel reports up to 9% higher single-thread performance and up to 61% higher multi-thread performance, depending on workload.
Intel is also introducing MRDIMM (Multiplexed Rank DIMM) support with this new line-up, enabling memory speeds of up to 8000MT/s on select SKUs. While MRDIMMs trade maximum capacity for bandwidth, Intel says they deliver meaningful gains for memory-bound workloads such as simulations and data analytics.
Alongside the new Xeon 600 series CPUs is the W890 chipset, which adds new features like WiFi 7, faster USB, PCIe Gen 4 expansion and more.
Systems based on Xeon 600 processors are expected to become available from major OEMs and system integrators starting in March 2026.
KitGuru Says: What do you think of Intel's new Xeon line-up?
