CPU Comparison
Intel Xeon 674X vs Intel Xeon 698X
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Xeon 674X is a 28-core, 56-thread workstation processor built on Intel’s Granite Rapids-WS architecture, targeting creators, engineers, and data scientists who need high core counts, eight-channel DDR5/MRDIMM memory, and massive PCIe 5.0 expansion in a single-socket platform.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Strong CPU-based inference and data preprocessing for ML pipelines.
- Supports Intel AMX and DL Boost for accelerated AI workloads on CPU.
- Best used with GPU accelerators for training; excels at orchestration and preprocessing.
- AMX supports BF16, INT8, and native FP16, important for PyTorch/TensorFlow inference.
- No integrated GPU or dedicated NPU; AI acceleration is CPU-only via AMX and AVX-512.
- Best suited for CPU-based inference, small-to-medium model training, and data preprocessing rather than large-scale GPU training.
Content Creation
Gaming
- High boost clocks up to 4.9 GHz help in CPU-heavy games.
- Not designed as a gaming CPU; platform cost and power are hard to justify for pure gaming.
- Best paired with a high-end GPU where CPU bottlenecks are minimal at high resolutions.
- Not targeted at gaming; no official gaming benchmarks.
- High core count does not benefit most games, and many games won’t use more than a fraction of the available threads.
- Single-threaded performance is competitive, but gaming-focused CPUs will provide better value and often higher effective FPS per dollar.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 28 high-performance P-cores with strong per-core throughput.
- Eight-channel DDR5/MRDIMM with up to 4TB capacity for large models and datasets.
- 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes for multi-GPU, NVMe, and high-speed networking.
- Enterprise RAS features (ECC, vPro, VROC, VMD) for stability and manageability.
- Designed for single-socket workstations with high I/O demands.
Cons
- High power consumption (270W base, up to 324W turbo) requires robust cooling.
- Expensive CPU and platform; total cost of a Xeon 600 workstation is very high.
- No integrated graphics; a discrete GPU is mandatory.
- Not unlocked for enthusiast overclocking.
- Overkill for gaming or light content creation.
Pros
- 86 cores and 172 threads for highly parallel workloads.
- 336 MB L3 cache improves performance on large data sets.
- Eight-channel DDR5/MRDIMM memory with up to 4 TB capacity.
- 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes for multi-GPU and storage-heavy configurations.
- Intel 3 process and Redwood Cove+ cores improve performance and efficiency over Sapphire Rapids.
- AMX with native FP16 acceleration for AI inference.
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking, supported by Intel and partners.
Cons
- Very high power consumption (350 W base, up to 420 W turbo) requiring robust cooling and power supply.
- Expensive, with street prices around $8,300–$8,500 for the CPU alone.
- New platform (W890 chipset, LGA4710) with early-adoer considerations and limited long-term platform history.
- No integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.
- Gaming and lightly threaded workloads see little benefit relative to cheaper, lower-core-count CPUs.
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Xeon 674X
- Intel Xeon 676XRival
Workstation
- Intel Xeon 698XRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WXRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WXRival
Workstation
- Intel Xeon w9-3495XRival
Workstation
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285KAlt
Better choice for gaming and light productivity with much lower power consumption, though fewer cores and less I/O.
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950XAlt
High-end desktop CPU with excellent gaming and creator performance; more power-efficient but no ECC or eight-channel memory.
- Intel Xeon w7-2495XAlt
Previous-gen Xeon W workstation CPU with 24 cores; may be cheaper on the used market but with slower I/O and memory.
Intel Xeon 698X
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WXRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WXRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970XRival
HEDT/Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon w9-3595XRival
Workstation (previous gen)
- Intel Xeon 696XRival
Workstation (same gen, lower core count)
Our Verdict on Each
A potent workstation CPU with best-in-class I/O and memory bandwidth, ideal for users who can leverage its 28 cores and 128 PCIe lanes, though power efficiency and platform cost are high.
Best for: Building a single-socket workstation for 3D rendering, simulation, or AI/ML orchestration where you need many cores, lots of memory, and several GPUs or high-speed NICs.
Read the full reviewAn extremely powerful workstation CPU with best-in-class core count, memory capacity, and I/O for the Xeon 600 platform, best suited for professional workflows that can saturate its 86 cores and 128 PCIe lanes.
Best for: Professional workstations for rendering, simulation, AI development, or data processing that can leverage 86 cores, eight-channel memory, and 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes in a single socket.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Xeon 674X or Intel Xeon 698X?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Xeon 698X comes out ahead with a score of 9/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Xeon 674X or Intel Xeon 698X?
For gaming, the Intel Xeon 674X leads with a gaming performance score of 70/100 among Intel Xeon 674X and Intel Xeon 698X.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Xeon 674X has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Xeon 674X (270 W), Intel Xeon 698X (350 W).
Do Intel Xeon 674X and Intel Xeon 698X use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCLGA4710 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Xeon 698X has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Xeon 674X (28 cores), Intel Xeon 698X (86 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Xeon 674X posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Xeon 674X (38,400), Intel Xeon 698X (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.