Quick Verdict
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.
Overview
Launch
2026
Status
LaunchedGeneration
6th Gen Xeon 600 (Granite Rapids-WS)
Market
Workstation / HEDT
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.
Intel’s Xeon 698X sits at the top of the new Xeon 600 workstation stack. It uses the same Granite Rapids-WS compute dies as Intel’s server Xeon 6 parts, but in a single-socket client workstation platform. With 86 P-cores, no E-cores, and up to 4.
8 GHz turbo, it targets highly parallel workloads like rendering, simulation, and AI development. The eight-channel memory controller supports DDR5-6400 and MRDIMM-8000 with up to 4 TB capacity, and 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes enable multi-GPU and storage-heavy configurations.
Power delivery is rated at 350 W base and up to 420 W turbo, requiring robust cooling and a high-end W890-class motherboard. This is not a gaming chip, but for workloads that scale with cores and bandwidth, it is one of the most capable single-socket workstation CPUs available.
Specifications
Performance
Intel claims up to 61% higher multi-threaded performance vs the previous 60-core Xeon W9-3595X at the same 350 W TDP, but no single standardized score is available. Real-world productivity depends heavily on workload scaling and memory subsystem usage.
Strong virtualization potential due to high core count, eight-channel memory, and extensive I/O, but no official benchmark score is available.
Not designed or benchmarked for gaming; no official gaming scores. High core count does not translate into gaming performance, and latency/clock behavior is tuned for workstation, not game, workloads.
Intel 3 improves efficiency over prior generations, but 350–420 W power levels are still high; efficiency comparisons vs AMD Threadripper Pro depend on specific workloads and platform configurations.
- •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.
- •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.
Architecture
Intel 3
Process Node
Granite Rapids-WS
Codename
86C / 172T
Core Config
336 MB
L3 Cache
350 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
Granite Rapids-WS brings Intel’s server-class Granite Rapids architecture to the single-socket workstation space for the first time, using Redwood Cove+ performance cores on the Intel 3 process.
CPU Design
The Xeon 698X uses the XCC (extreme core count) configuration with two compute tiles, each containing multiple Redwood Cove+ P-core clusters and shared L3 cache, connected via a high-speed coherent fabric. All 86 cores are performance cores; there are no efficiency cores. Hyper-Threading yields 172 threads, and the chip supports Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, which can boost favored cores up to 4.8 GHz.
Memory Subsystem
An integrated eight-channel memory controller supports DDR5-6400 and MRDIMM-8000 with ECC, providing up to 4 TB capacity per CPU. This is a significant upgrade from the four- or six-channel designs of earlier workstation platforms and improves bandwidth for memory-bound HPC and data workloads.
PCIe & I/O
128 PCIe 5.0 lanes are exposed directly from the CPU, enabling configurations with multiple high-end GPUs, fast NVMe storage arrays, and specialized accelerators without relying on chipset expansion. This is particularly useful for multi-GPU rendering, AI inference, and high-throughput storage servers.
Overclocking
Unlike most Xeons, the X-series Xeon 600 parts are fully unlocked for overclocking. Intel and partners have already used the Xeon 698X to set multiple overclocking world records, demonstrating headroom in frequency and power delivery, although sustained daily use at extreme clocks requires robust cooling and power supply.
- 43% more cores (86 vs 60) and 43% more threads (172 vs 120).
- L3 cache increased from 112.5 MB to 336 MB, improving performance on large data sets.
- Memory subsystem upgraded from six-channel DDR5-4800 to eight-channel DDR5-6400/MRDIMM-8000.
- PCIe lanes increased from 48–64 to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes.
- Migration from Sapphire Rapids to Granite Rapids-WS architecture with Intel 3 process and Redwood Cove+ cores.
Key Highlights
- 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.
- 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.
History
The Xeon 698X represents Intel’s effort to reassert itself in the high-end workstation market after several generations of relative stagnation versus AMD’s Threadripper and Threadripper Pro lines. Granite Rapids-WS brings server-class silicon—originally designed for dual-socket Xeon 6 servers—into a single-socket client workstation form factor, replacing the Sapphire Rapids-based Xeon W-2500 and W-3500 families. By doing so, Intel is able to offer up to 86 full-performance cores, eight-channel memory, and 128 PCIe 5.
0 lanes in a single CPU, directly challenging AMD’s Threadripper Pro 9000WX series. Early leaks and benchmarks showed the 698X with 86 cores and 336 MB of L3 cache appearing on Geekbench and retailer listings, confirming Intel’s strategy to push core counts and I/O beyond what previous HEDT platforms offered. Officially launched in early 2026 alongside the W890 chipset, the Xeon 600 family, and particularly the 698X, is positioned as a no-compromise workstation platform for AI development, simulation, and content creation, where memory capacity, bandwidth, and PCIe lanes are as important as raw core count.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- 43% more cores (86 vs 60) and 43% more threads (172 vs 120).
- L3 cache increased from 112.5 MB to 336 MB, improving performance on large data sets.
- Memory subsystem upgraded from six-channel DDR5-4800 to eight-channel DDR5-6400/MRDIMM-8000.
- PCIe lanes increased from 48–64 to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes.
- Migration from Sapphire Rapids to Granite Rapids-WS architecture with Intel 3 process and Redwood Cove+ cores.
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Recommended for the right buyer
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.
Avoid if…
- Gaming-focused builds where fewer, faster cores and lower cost are better.
- Light or lightly threaded office workloads that cannot use the available cores.
- Users sensitive to power draw, heat, or noise, given the 350–420 W CPU power range.
- Budget-conscious buyers who do not specifically need the Xeon 600 platform’s I/O and memory capacity.
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The Xeon 698X is Intel’s first 86-core workstation CPU, bridging the gap between server and client workstation platforms.
It uses the same Granite Rapids compute dies as Intel’s server Xeon 6 processors, but in a single-socket client workstation configuration.
Intel and ASUS have already used the Xeon 698X to set 10 overclocking world records, demonstrating the platform’s headroom.
AMX on Xeon 600 adds native FP16 matrix operations alongside BF16 and INT8, important for PyTorch and TensorFlow inference.
The Xeon 600 platform consolidates Intel’s workstation lineup under a single brand, replacing the split Xeon W-2500/W-3500 families.
Retail listings price the Xeon 698X around $8,300–$8,500, making it one of the most expensive workstation CPUs.
Support for MRDIMM-8000 gives it some of the highest memory bandwidth among workstation CPUs.
The chip uses an XCC (extreme core count) configuration with two compute tiles, similar to Intel’s high-end server Xeons.
Despite being a Xeon, the Xeon 600 X-series parts are fully unlocked for overclocking, a rare feature in this segment.
The Xeon 698X can address up to 4 TB of memory per socket, enabling very large in-memory datasets for simulation and data analytics.
People Also Ask
Is the Intel Xeon 698X good for gaming?
It can run games, but it is not designed for gaming. Most games do not benefit from 86 cores, and you would get better gaming value from a high-end desktop CPU with fewer, faster cores and a lower price.
How much power does the Xeon 698X use?
Intel specifies a processor base power of 350 W and a maximum turbo power of 420 W, so you need a robust power supply and cooling solution.
How much memory does the Xeon 698X support?
It supports up to 4 TB of DDR5 or MRDIMM memory across eight channels, with speeds up to DDR5-6400 and MRDIMM-8000.
What socket does the Xeon 698X use?
It uses the FCLGA4710 socket, paired with Intel W890-series chipsets for the Xeon 600 workstation platform.
Is the Xeon 698X unlocked for overclocking?
Yes. Unlike most Xeons, the Xeon 600 X-series models, including the 698X, are fully unlocked for overclocking.
What is the difference between Xeon 698X and Xeon 696X?
The 698X has 86 cores and 172 threads, while the 696X has 64 cores and 128 threads. Both share 336 MB L3 cache, 350 W TDP, and similar I/O, but the 698X offers higher multi-threaded performance for workloads that scale well with cores.
Does the Xeon 698X have integrated graphics?
No. You must use a discrete GPU for display output.
What process node is the Xeon 698X built on?
Intel markets it as built on Intel 3 process technology, which is the node used for Granite Rapids-WS/Xeon 600.
Is the Xeon 698X a server or workstation CPU?
It is officially a client workstation processor in the Xeon 600 family, but it shares silicon with Intel’s server Xeon 6 lineup and is used in high-end workstations and some servers.
How does the Xeon 698X compare to Threadripper 9995WX?
The 9995WX has 96 cores and 192 threads with higher boost clocks and more L3 cache, often leading in multi-threaded benchmarks, but the 698X offers 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes and competitive core counts at a lower price point in many regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Xeon 698X support ECC memory?
Yes, it supports DDR5 ECC RDIMMs and MRDIMMs with ECC, which is important for data integrity in professional and scientific workloads.
Can I use the Xeon 698X in a dual-CPU configuration?
No. It is a single-socket (1S) only processor; Intel lists Max CPU Configuration as 1.
What chipsets work with the Xeon 698X?
It is designed for the Intel W890 workstation chipset, using the LGA4710 socket.
How many PCIe lanes does the Xeon 698X provide?
It provides 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes directly from the CPU.
Is the Xeon 698X suitable for small-form-factor builds?
No. Its 350–420 W power envelope and large LGA4710 socket require full-size workstation cases and robust cooling.
What kind of workloads benefit most from 86 cores?
Rendering, simulation, large-scale data processing, compilation of big codebases, and multi-VM environments benefit most from the high core count.
Does the Xeon 698X have any efficiency cores?
No. All 86 cores are performance (Redwood Cove+) cores; there are no efficiency cores.
What is the max turbo frequency of the Xeon 698X?
The max turbo frequency is up to 4.8 GHz using Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0.
Can I overclock the Xeon 698X on a regular motherboard?
You need a motherboard with robust power delivery and BIOS support for Xeon 600 overclocking; not all W890 boards are designed for extreme OC.
What is the typical price of the Xeon 698X?
Intel’s recommended customer price is around $8,469, but street prices from retailers have been listed around $8,300–$8,500.