Intel’s next-gen workstation platform, Granite Rapids-WS, is starting to take shape, and the latest leak gives us a clearer look at what to expect, including a new 18-core chip that’s already been spotted in benchmarks.
The star of the latest leak is the Intel Xeon 654, a mid-range Granite Rapids-WS CPU tested in Geekbench 6 on a reference GNR-WS platform with 32 GB DDR5. According to the listing, the chip features:
- 18 cores / 36 threads
- 72 MB L3 cache + 36 MB L2 cache
- Base clock around 3.1 GHz
- Boost clocks hovering near 4.8 GHz in practice
In this early engineering sample state, the Xeon 654 scores 2,634 points (single-core) and 14,743 points (multi-core) in Geekbench 6. That’s not mind-blowing compared to AMD’s latest Threadripper 9000 chips, but it’s important to remember this is pre-release silicon on a non-final platform.
A Full Granite Rapids-WS Stack: From 18 Cores to 80+ Monsters
The leak, sourced from well-known leaker momomo_us, also reveals a broader lineup of Granite Rapids-WS SKUs. Highlights include:
- Xeon 698X – up to 336 MB cache, 2.0 GHz base
- Xeon 696X / 678X / 676X / 674X / 658X – multiple “X” variants likely aimed at high-end and overclockable workstation configs
- Xeon 654 / 656 / 638 – mid-range options with 72 MB cache
- Xeon 636 / 634 – lower-cache models with 48 MB
Earlier leaks showed an 86-core / 172-thread Granite Rapids-WS chip running at up to 4.8 GHz, very likely the Xeon 678X. That suggests Intel is pushing core counts hard in this generation, with workstation parts potentially catching or even surpassing AMD’s 96-core Threadripper 9995WX at the very top end.
Platform, Features, and Positioning
Granite Rapids-WS will reportedly slot into the W980 platform, and the family will be split into:
- Mainstream WS:
- 4-channel DDR5
- 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes
- Expert WS:
- 8-channel DDR5
- 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes
That positions it as a direct competitor to Threadripper 7000/9000 in high-end workstations, content creation, simulation, and other professional workloads that demand heaps of PCIe bandwidth and memory throughput.
One interesting detail: Granite Rapids-WS seems to offer less cache than some of the equivalent server parts. That’s likely Intel’s tuning of BOMs and pricing for the workstation market, which is more cost-sensitive than data centers.
When Is It Coming?
Current expectations point to a late Q4 2025 or CES 2026 launch window for Granite Rapids-WS, assuming Intel’s schedule holds. With Intel 3 process, high core counts, PCIe 5.0, and DDR5 across the board, Granite Rapids-WS looks like Intel’s most serious Threadripper challenger in years, and the Xeon 654 is shaping up to be a solid mid-tier option in that stack.
