Intel’s next workstation push just got a little clearer — and a little messier. Leaks and retailer listings circulating ahead of CES 2026 have sketched a lineup that’s technically interesting but strategically awkward: the entry Xeon 654 (an 18‑core part) posts respectable scores, yet it still trails AMD’s current Threadripper silicon in real-world benchmarks.
The numbers you need to know
Early PassMark/Geekbench‑style results for the Xeon 654 put its single‑thread score at roughly 3,766 and multi‑thread around 61,351. That multi‑thread tally is roughly on par with a 28‑core Xeon W7‑3465X (around 61,600), which sounds impressive until you remember the 3465X carries many more cores.
The awkward comparison comes when you look sideways at AMD: a 16‑core Threadripper 9955WX posts higher scores in both single‑thread and multi‑thread workloads. In short, Intel’s per‑core improvements have noticeably closed gaps inside its own family, but they don’t yet outperform Zen 5 on a core‑for‑core basis.
At the same time, leaked retailer price lists (take with a grain of salt) show Granite Rapids‑WS stretching from a budget entry like the Xeon 634 (around $541) up to an 86‑core Xeon 698X priced near $8,294. The midrange Xeon 654 surfaced at roughly $1,300 in those listings.
What Granite Rapids‑WS looks like on paper
Intel appears to split the Granite Rapids‑WS line into two clearly defined segments: a mainstream family with four DDR5 memory channels and roughly 80 PCIe Gen5 lanes, and an “expert” family with eight memory channels and up to 128 PCIe Gen5 lanes. These chips are said to fit a new high‑pin count socket (reportedly an E2 LGA with ~4,710 pins) and have a platform TDP ceiling around 350W — the sort of specs that matter to workstation builders who need memory bandwidth and lots of lanes.
The Xeon 654 specifically is reported as an 18‑core (36‑thread) part with about 72 MB of L3 and a 3.1 GHz base clock on early samples (boosts supposedly head toward 4.77–4.8 GHz on final silicon). But test chips in the wild often run below final clocks, so expect retail samples to be a touch faster.
Why these leaks matter — and why they don’t settle anything
There are two separate stories here: one technical, one strategic. Technically, Granite Rapids shows decent per‑core gains versus older Intel workstation parts. Matching the multi‑thread output of a 28‑core Xeon with 18 cores demonstrates improved IPC and efficiency within Intel’s P‑core roadmap. Strategically, though, Intel is launching this generation while AMD’s Threadripper family already rides Zen 5 — a newer microarchitecture with strong single‑thread and multi‑thread scaling.
That architectural mismatch helps explain the odd result where a 16‑core Threadripper can outpace an 18‑core Xeon in both ST and MT tests. It’s not just core counts; it’s core quality and IPC. Intel has more modern core designs queued for 2026 (Lion Cove, Cougar Cove, Coyote Cove), but Granite Rapids ends up looking like a bridge product rather than a clean comeback.
Pricing leaks complicate the narrative. Retailer listings that surfaced list an 86‑core Xeon 698X with 336 MB of L3 cache at about $8,294 — undercutting AMD’s top Threadripper PRO SKUs on paper — but prices and even some specs in early listings can be wrong. Still, if Intel can underprice comparable AMD SKUs while offering strong platform features (lots of PCIe Gen5 lanes, high memory channel counts on the expert variants), there will be buyers whose workloads prefer the Intel platform.
What workstation buyers should consider now
If you need absolute single‑thread or best overall performance today, AMD’s Threadripper family (Zen 5) remains the go‑to. If platform feature set (PCIe lanes, memory channel flexibility) or price‑to‑features matter more, Granite Rapids‑WS could be competitive depending on final SKUs and retail prices.
For anyone shopping for high‑end desktops or compact workstations, it’s also a reminder that CPU generations cross markets these days — laptop and desktop chips borrow momentum from server and workstation roadmaps, and vice versa. Apple’s moves in laptop silicon, for example, continue to shake up expectations about what modern CPUs can deliver in power‑constrained envelopes; if you’re watching laptop performance as part of your buying calculus, see reporting on Apple’s rumored budget MacBook and the recent MacBook Air deals for the broader context around CPU competition and value (Apple's Rumored Budget MacBook and MacBook Air deals deep dive). You can also check current MacBook pricing and availability — the Apple MacBook link is handy if you’re comparison‑shopping.
Intel’s Granite Rapids‑WS chips are likely to be formally announced at CES 2026, with retail availability following on a staggered timeline. Until then, treat synthetic leaks and retailer listings as useful signals rather than airtight promises: they show direction, not destiny.
If you like following the shifting battleground of workstation silicon, the next few months — retail samples, final clocks, and official pricing — are where the real story will be decided.