CPU Comparison
Intel Xeon 678X vs Intel Xeon 698X
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Xeon 678X is a 48-core, 96-thread Granite Rapids-WS workstation processor built on Intel’s Intel 3 process, featuring eight-channel DDR5/MRDIMM support, 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes, and 192 MB of L3 cache for heavy multi-GPU and memory-bound professional workloads.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Intel AMX (FP16/BF16/INT8) significantly accelerates CPU-based AI inference compared to previous Xeon generations.
- Still slower than a dedicated GPU or accelerator for large-scale training.
- Well suited for local AI workflows, model prototyping, and batch inference where CPU flexibility matters.
- 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
- Strong single-core clocks up to 4.9 GHz support high FPS in CPU-heavy titles.
- Gaming is not the primary design goal; some titles barely scale beyond 16–24 cores.
- Modern high-end desktop CPUs often deliver similar or better gaming performance with much lower power consumption.
- 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
- 48 high-performance Redwood Cove P-cores with HT for demanding multi-threaded workloads.
- Eight-channel DDR5/MRDIMM support provides exceptional memory bandwidth and capacity.
- 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes enable complex GPU and storage configurations without lane bottlenecks.
- Intel 3 process and chiplet architecture deliver strong performance and scalability.
- Full X-series overclocking support via Intel’s OC Mailbox toolkit.
- AMX and AVX-512 accelerate AI and HPC workloads on the CPU.
Cons
- High 300 W base / 360 W turbo power draw requires robust cooling and PSU.
- Very high platform cost; CPU and W890 motherboards are expensive.
- Gaming performance is good but not class-leading; cheaper desktop CPUs are often faster in games.
- Overkill for light or lightly threaded workloads; core count goes unused.
- Single-socket-only design may limit future upgrade paths for some users.
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 678X
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WXRival
Workstation
- AMD EPYC 9654Rival
Server / Workstation
- Intel Xeon w9-3495XRival
Workstation
- Intel Xeon 698XRival
Workstation
- Intel Xeon 696XRival
Workstation
- Intel Xeon 676XAlt
Lower core count (32) with similar platform features at a lower price if you don’t need 48 cores.
- Intel Xeon 658XAlt
24-core Xeon 600 part with the same platform but lower cost and power if you don’t need 48 cores.
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 powerful single-socket workstation CPU with excellent multi-threaded throughput, massive memory and I/O bandwidth, and strong AI acceleration, though power-hungry and overkill for gaming or light tasks.
Best for: Professional workstation users who need 40+ cores, eight memory channels, and 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes in a single socket for simulation, rendering, or AI, and who can fully utilize the CPU and justify its cost and power draw.
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 678X 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 678X or Intel Xeon 698X?
For gaming, the Intel Xeon 678X leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Xeon 678X and Intel Xeon 698X.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Xeon 678X has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Xeon 678X (300 W), Intel Xeon 698X (350 W).
Do Intel Xeon 678X 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 678X (48 cores), Intel Xeon 698X (86 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Xeon 678X posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Xeon 678X (97,699), Intel Xeon 698X (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.