Workstation CPUs • Intel Xeon 6 • Granite Rapids-WS
Intel Xeon 698X (Granite Rapids) — 86 Cores / 172 Threads: Specs, Platform, and Workstation Build Guidance
Intel Xeon 698X is a Granite Rapids workstation CPU with 86 performance cores and 172 threads, designed for heavily parallel professional workloads that also need high memory capacity and serious I/O.
Key takeaways
- Confirmed: 86C/172T, Intel 3, workstation segment, and Intel’s listed price point for this SKU. Intel specs
- Platform focus: Xeon 600 workstation positioning highlights big memory options and up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes for multi-GPU and fast storage. Intel launch
- Buy it when: your workflows truly scale with cores/threads and you routinely hit RAM or I/O ceilings.
Xeon 698X quick specs
CPU (SKU-level)
- Model: Intel Xeon 698X
- Cores / Threads: 86 / 172
- Former code name: Granite Rapids
- Lithography: Intel 3
- Segment: Workstation
- Recommended customer price (Intel): $7,699
Source: Intel product specifications page. intel.com
Connectivity (platform positioning)
- PCIe: up to 128 lanes PCIe 5.0 (workstation Xeon 600 messaging)
- CXL: positioned with CXL support (platform capability)
- Target builds: multi-GPU, fast NVMe, high-speed networking
Source: Intel workstation Xeon 600 launch messaging. newsroom.intel.com
Memory (platform positioning)
- DDR5: workstation Xeon 600 positioning highlights high DDR5 speeds and high capacities
- MRDIMM: referenced in launch coverage as enabling higher DDR5 speeds on supported platforms/SKUs
- Capacity: Intel messaging highlights very high memory ceilings (platform-dependent)
Platform memory claims vary by motherboard, DIMM type, and population rules. Confirm against your board’s QVL and vendor guide.
Confirmed for Xeon 698X vs platform capabilities
Confirmed for this exact SKU
- 86 cores / 172 threads
- Former code name: Granite Rapids
- Intel 3 lithography
- Workstation segment listing and Intel’s published price
Source: Intel product specs
Workstation Xeon 600 platform positioning
- Up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes (platform messaging)
- High-end memory configurations (capacity and DIMM type dependent)
- Multi-GPU / high I/O workstation designs
Source: Intel launch and launch coverage: Tom’s Hardware
Who Xeon 698X is for
Xeon 698X is built for professional pipelines that can keep dozens of cores busy and also benefit from high memory capacity and robust I/O. If your work is consistently blocked by CPU time, RAM ceilings, or PCIe lane scarcity, this class of processor can meaningfully reduce turnaround time.
Best-fit workloads
- CPU rendering (batch frames, high sample counts, heavy scene complexity)
- Simulation (CAE/FEA, CFD, structural workloads that scale with cores and memory bandwidth)
- Large builds and compiles (big codebases, CI runners, parallel toolchains)
- Data processing (ETL, feature engineering, large in-memory transforms)
- Multi-GPU workstations where the CPU must feed GPUs while also managing fast storage and networking
When it’s not the right tool
- Your workload is primarily GPU-bound and CPU utilization stays low.
- Your applications stop scaling beyond ~32–48 cores due to architecture, memory behavior, or licensing.
- You don’t need high RAM ceilings or extensive I/O, and a smaller workstation CPU would deliver better cost/performance.
How to budget up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes on a real workstation
“128 lanes” is only valuable if you plan the topology. The goal is to avoid lane oversubscription (devices sharing bandwidth unexpectedly) and to keep your most critical devices on direct CPU lanes.
Example lane allocation for a 3–4 GPU workstation
CPU PCIe 5.0 lanes (illustrative layout) GPU #1 x16 (primary compute/graphics) GPU #2 x16 GPU #3 x16 GPU #4 x16 (optional, if your board supports true x16 wiring) NVMe AIC (4x M.2) x16 (high-speed scratch / cache array) NIC (100–200GbE) x16 (optional, for shared storage / render nodes) Onboard M.2 slots 4 x4 (OS + project + cache) HBA / RAID / capture x8–x16 (workflow dependent) Total: 96–128 lanes depending on devices and wiring
Three rules that prevent “fast CPU, slow system” builds
- Confirm physical wiring: a x16 slot is not always electrically x16. Check the motherboard block diagram.
- Keep scratch storage close: put your highest-IO NVMe on direct CPU lanes where possible.
- Plan bifurcation: if you use NVMe AIC cards, ensure the board supports the required PCIe bifurcation modes.
Intel’s workstation Xeon 600 messaging highlights up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes for workstation-class I/O. newsroom.intel.com
Xeon 698X vs Threadripper Pro: what to compare first
For high-end workstation buyers, the first comparison should be your bottleneck: threads, memory capacity/bandwidth, or I/O topology. Benchmarks matter, but platform fit decides whether you get stable performance day after day.
| Decision lever | Why it matters | How to evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Memory ceiling | Large datasets can force paging to storage, crushing performance. | Board max RAM, DIMM type, and stability at your target capacity. |
| Memory bandwidth | Very high core counts can stall if RAM can’t feed them. | Channel count, supported DDR5 speeds at your DIMM population, MRDIMM availability where applicable. |
| I/O wiring | Multi-GPU + lots of NVMe exposes lane and topology limits. | Slot electrical widths, PCIe generation, bifurcation, and chipset uplinks. |
| Licensing | Some pro software scales poorly or charges per core. | Check vendor licensing and test your real scenes/datasets. |
Background: Xeon 600 workstation launch coverage and positioning. Tom’s Hardware • TechRadar Pro
Buyer checklist for a stable Xeon 698X workstation
Platform readiness
- Motherboard block diagram: confirm true slot wiring (x16/x8) and how M.2 slots share lanes.
- BIOS maturity: early workstation platforms improve quickly via updates; plan for initial tuning.
- Device compatibility: check GPU support lists, NIC firmware notes, and NVMe AIC requirements.
Memory planning
- Target capacity first: choose RAM based on your peak dataset size, not just speed.
- Population rules: DDR5 speeds can drop depending on DIMM count per channel; follow the vendor guide.
- MRDIMM only if supported: confirm board support and validated kits before designing around it.
Power and cooling
- CPU cooler selection: use workstation/server-grade cooling designed for sustained all-core loads.
- Chassis airflow: multi-GPU builds need front-to-back airflow and careful cable management.
- PSU headroom: plan for peak GPU draw + transient spikes; don’t size “exactly.”
Xeon 698X SKU details: intel.com • Workstation family positioning: newsroom.intel.com
FAQ
How many cores and threads does the Xeon 698X have?
Intel lists the Xeon 698X at 86 cores and 172 threads. Source
Is Xeon 698X a Granite Rapids CPU?
Yes. Intel identifies this processor under “products formerly Granite Rapids.” Source
Does the platform support 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes?
Intel’s workstation Xeon 600 launch messaging highlights up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes as a platform capability. Source
Does MRDIMM support apply to every configuration?
MRDIMM support and achievable DDR5 speeds depend on the specific CPU tier, motherboard, BIOS, and validated memory kits. Confirm with your board vendor and QVL. Background coverage: ServeTheHome