CPU Comparison

Intel Xeon 698X vs Intel Xeon w9-3595X

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Xeon 698X is an 86-core, 172-thread workstation processor based on the Granite Rapids-WS architecture, built on Intel 3 and designed for single-socket workstations that need massive core counts, eight-channel DDR5/MRDIMM memory, and 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes.

Top pick
Intel · Xeon 600
Intel Xeon 698X
86C / 172T4.8 GHz350 W
9
Full review
Intel · Xeon W
Intel Xeon w9-3595X
60C / 120T4.8 GHz385 W
8.2
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Workstation / HEDT
Workstation
Segment
Workstation / High-End Desktop (HEDT)
Workstation
Generation
6th Gen Xeon 600 (Granite Rapids-WS)
Xeon W-3500 (Sapphire Rapids Refresh)
Launched
2026
2024
Status
Launched
Launched
Codename
Granite Rapids-WS
Emerald Rapids (Sapphire Rapids Refresh for Workstations)
Series
Xeon 600
Xeon W
Family
Xeon 600 Workstation (Granite Rapids-WS)
Intel Xeon W
Predecessor
Intel Xeon w9-3595X (Sapphire Rapids-WS)
Intel Xeon w9-3495X (Q1'23)
Successor
Platform ongoing (Xeon 600)

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
86
60
Threads
172
120
Base Clock
2 GHz
2 GHz
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz
4.8 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
336 MB
112.5 MB
TDP
350 W
385 W
Architecture
Architecture
Granite Rapids-WS (Redwood Cove+ P-cores)
Sapphire Rapids Refresh (Emerald Rapids-based workstation variant)
Process Node
Intel 3
Intel 7
Memory
Memory Type
DDR5 / MRDIMM
DDR5-4800 (ECC RDIMM)
Memory Speed
DDR5-6400; MRDIMM-8000
DDR5-4800
Memory Channels
Octa (8)
Octa (8)
Max Memory
4096 GB
4096 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
FCLGA4710
FCLGA4677
PCIe Version
PCIe 5.0
5.0
PCIe Lanes
128
112
Integrated GPU
None
None
Unlocked
Yes
Yes

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Xeon 698X0
Intel Xeon w9-3595XBest88

Gaming

Intel Xeon 698X0
Intel Xeon w9-3595X

Virtualization

Intel Xeon 698X0
Intel Xeon w9-3595XBest90

Efficiency

Intel Xeon 698X0
Intel Xeon w9-3595XBest62

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Xeon 698XVery Good (CPU-based AI & AMX workloads)
  • 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.
Intel Xeon w9-3595XStrong
  • Intel AMX accelerates matrix operations for AI inference and training on CPU.
  • Intel Deep Learning Boost (VNNI) supported.
  • Lacks integrated NPU; relies on CPU and GPU acceleration.

Content Creation

Intel Xeon 698XExcellent (for parallelized workloads)
Blender / Cinema 4D / V-RayAdobe Premiere Pro / After Effects (multi-instance)DaVinci Resolve (Studio)Autodesk Maya / 3ds MaxHoudini / Simulation Tools
Intel Xeon w9-3595XVery Good
Adobe Premiere ProDaVinci ResolveAfter EffectsBlenderCinema 4DMayaHoudiniV-RayArnold

Gaming

Intel Xeon 698XNot applicable
  • 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.
Intel Xeon w9-3595XAdequate
  • Single-core boost is competitive but many mainstream desktop CPUs match or exceed it at far lower power.
  • No integrated graphics means a discrete GPU is mandatory.
  • Not designed or optimized for gaming; professional workloads are the target.

Industry Impact

Gaming
Low
Workstations
High
High
Content Creation
High
High
Virtualization
High
High

Best CPU by Use Case

3D Rendering & VFX
Excellent
Scientific & Engineering Simulation
Excellent
AI Development & Inference
Very Good
Large-Scale Data Processing
Excellent
Virtualization & Multi-VM Workstations
Excellent
3D Rendering
Excellent
CAD and Simulation
Excellent
AI Training & Inference
Very Good
8K Video Editing
Very Good
Multi-VM Virtualization
Excellent
Scientific Computing
Excellent
Software Compilation
Very Good
Large Dataset Analytics
Very Good

Target Audience

Gamers
Content Creators
Targeted
Targeted
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Targeted
Targeted
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Students

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Xeon 698X

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.
Intel Xeon w9-3595X

Pros

  • 60 Performance-cores and 120 threads for massive parallelism.
  • 112 PCIe 5.0 lanes for extensive expansion.
  • Eight-channel DDR5-4800 ECC with up to 4 TB capacity.
  • Unlocked multiplier for performance tuning.
  • Intel AMX and DL Boost for AI acceleration.
  • Intel vPro Enterprise and remote management features.
  • Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.8 GHz on favored cores.
  • VT-x/VT-d virtualization support.

Cons

  • High power draw: 385 W base and 462 W max turbo require serious cooling.【turn4fetch0】
  • No integrated graphics.
  • Single-threaded performance lower than many desktop CPUs.
  • W790/LGA4677 platform has limited long-term upgrade path.
  • Strong competition from AMD’s Threadripper PRO line in many creator workloads.

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Xeon 698X

  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX

    Workstation

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX

    Workstation

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

    HEDT/Workstation

    Rival
  • Intel Xeon w9-3595X

    Workstation (previous gen)

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Xeon 696X

    Workstation (same gen, lower core count)

    Rival

Intel Xeon w9-3595X

  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX

    Workstation

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

    Workstation

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

    Workstation

    Rival
  • Intel Xeon w9-3495X

    Workstation

    Rival
  • Intel Core i9-14900K

    High-End Desktop

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X
    Alt

    Strong multi-threaded performance on TRX50 with lower cost if you can forgo WRX90 enterprise features.

Our Verdict on Each

Intel Xeon 698XRecommended

An 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 review

A top-end workstation processor with massive core count and I/O expansion, ideal for well-threaded pro workloads, but it demands serious power and cooling and faces strong competition from AMD’s Threadripper PRO line.

Best for: Professional workstations for rendering, simulation, AI development, or multi-GPU setups where Intel’s platform features and software ecosystem are preferred.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Xeon 698X or Intel Xeon w9-3595X?

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 698X or Intel Xeon w9-3595X?

For gaming, the Intel Xeon 698X leads with a gaming performance score of 0/100 among Intel Xeon 698X and Intel Xeon w9-3595X.

Which uses less power?

The Intel Xeon 698X has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Xeon 698X (350 W), Intel Xeon w9-3595X (385 W).

Do Intel Xeon 698X and Intel Xeon w9-3595X use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Intel Xeon 698X: FCLGA4710, Intel Xeon w9-3595X: FCLGA4677), so each needs a compatible motherboard.

Which has more cores?

The Intel Xeon 698X has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Xeon 698X (86 cores), Intel Xeon w9-3595X (60 cores).

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Intel Xeon 698X posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Xeon 698X (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.