Intel Granite Rapids-WS coming for Threadripper 9000WX with up to 86 cores and 336 MB L3 cache

[DragonSlayer101]

The big picture: AMD currently leads the high-end desktop market with its Threadripper 9000WX processors, but Intel is poised to challenge Team Red with its Granite Rapids-WS platform. Recent leaks now hint at key specifications and performance expectations for the upcoming lineup.

According to noted hardware leaker Momomo_us, Granite Rapids-WS will launch with at least 11 SKUs, led by the flagship Xeon 698X with 86 cores and 336 MB of cache. An earlier Open Benchmark listing suggests the chip will support 172 threads and reach clock speeds of up to 4.8 GHz.

The tipster's X post reveals 10 more SKUs:

• Xeon 696X: 2.40GHz, 336MB L3 cache
• Xeon 678X: 2.40GHz, 192MB L3 cache
• Xeon 676X: 2.80GHz, 144MB L3 cache
• Xeon 674X: 3.00GHz, 144MB L3 cache
• Xeon 658X: 3.00GHz, 144MB L3 cache
• Xeon 656: 2.90GHz, 72MB L3 cache
• Xeon 654: 3.10GHz, 72MB L3 cache
• Xeon 638: 3.20GHz, 72MB L3 cache
• Xeon 636: 3.50GHz, 48MB L3 cache
• Xeon 634: 2.70GHz, 48MB L3 cache

698X : 2.00GHz 336M
696X : 2.40GHz 336M

– 188号 (@momomo_us) November 15, 2025

If the leak is accurate, the lineup will include at least six "X" variants with unlocked multipliers for overclocking. These chips would give Intel feature parity with the Threadripper 9000WX family, whose CPUs can be tuned either through BIOS settings or AMD's Ryzen Master utility, offering flexibility for enthusiasts and workstation users alike.

Meanwhile, one of the chips appeared on Geekbench this week, seemingly confirming the leak. The Xeon 654 engineering sample was tested on a Linux system with a reference motherboard and 32 GB of DDR5 memory, showing 18 cores, 36 threads, 72 MB of L3 cache, and 36 MB of L2 cache.

The chip ran at 4.60 GHz, well above the 3.10 GHz default reported in the leak but below the 4.8 GHz previously rumored. It scored 2,634 points in the single-core test and 14,743 in the multi-core benchmark – figures that fall short compared with equivalent Threadripper 9000 processors.

Earlier reports indicated Granite Rapids-WS will include a mainstream lineup with 80 PCIe Gen5 lanes and 4-channel DDR5 support, plus a performance-oriented Expert lineup with 128 PCIe Gen5 lanes and 8-channel memory. Intel has not confirmed an announcement date, but speculation points to CES 2026 in January.

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Intel Granite Rapids-WS coming for Threadripper 9000WX with up to 86 cores and 336 MB L3 cache

 

[Kirby1]

Will it be enough to beat AMD?

No. Definitely not. Does anyone think Intel is capable of that at this point? Certainly not me.

 

[Megalomaniac]

Intel or AMD - I'm invested in both so I win either way.
I'm happy with my shiny new 285K. With my 5090 it runs perfect. I probably won't be buying a new desktop for a long time to come but for my purposes: gaming and internet browsing, I'll be OK for a while.

 

[Megalomaniac]

Will it be enough to beat AMD?

No. Definitely not. Does anyone think Intel is capable of that at this point? Certainly not me.

You don't think Intel - having money poured into it by the Government hedging against China taking over Taiwan (according to them) - can beat AMD?

I think so.

Congresswomen and men buying intel stock think so.

If the government is betting on it, I've learned from Nancy Pelosi, to follow them.

 

[p51d007]

"Most" of the corporations in America, sadly, I don't think they will ever return to the top.
For one, China workers (as opposed to employees) cannot strike, can't demand higher wages
etc.
In the 50/60's corporations looked to Japan for cheap labor. Then Japanese workers started to
want more in wages. So corporations looked to South Korea, Taiwan etc. Then those workers started
to want more wages. Nixon opened "relations" with China in the 70's. Then Carter signed most favored nation status and corporations started shipping everything there.

A lot of corporations, once "on the top" sometimes will lay back and just release minor updates from time to time and stop INNOVATING. With CEO's and stockholders wanting more and more return on the investment, a lot won't spend the money on research and get passed by upstarts.

 

[daffy duck]

Ok but who will afford the memory? Imagine the cost of fitting one of these beats with the memory config they deserve.

 

[Squid Surprise]

I’d be VERY hesitant to recommend one of these… but I’ll wait for reviews until I make my decision…
If they can give 9980x performance for less than $5k, that would be great… maybe this will force the next generation of Threadrippers to lower their prices… but I wouldn’t be holding my breath…

 

[SRB]

You don't think Intel - having money poured into it by the Government hedging against China taking over Taiwan (according to them) - can beat AMD?

I think so.

Congresswomen and men buying intel stock think so.

If the government is betting on it, I've learned from Nancy Pelosi, to follow them.

If money alone could solve Intel's problems, they would have done so already. I find it hard to belive they were doing 10++++++++++++++++ due to a lack of funds. Add to that that Geekbench is totally useless, and we have no idea which TSMC node they can afford to make these on, the best you'll wind up with is a chip that is 10% or more (likely more) behind AMD and uses 30% more power and for more money then the same AMD chip. They'll sell to the faithful, but won't move the needle as far as a comeback goes.

 

[Kirby1]

You don't think Intel - having money poured into it by the Government hedging against China taking over Taiwan (according to them) - can beat AMD?

I think so.

Congresswomen and men buying intel stock think so.

If the government is betting on it, I've learned from Nancy Pelosi, to follow them.

Intel stock now is just where it was before it took a huge and sustained dip. I really don't think Intel will compete with AMD on performance again anytime soon. Maybe on price/value but not top tier performance.

 

[wiyosaya]

IMO, Intel will likely keep doing what they have been doing for the past 10+ years: Trying to convince customers that their product is better, yet they will keep producing BS parts, and thus blow any chance of retaking the lead.

As for these HEDT parts, one "mistake," IMO, is that Intel charges a premium for more PCI-e lanes that AMD includes in their base price. Certainly, that will be a consideration for potential customers considering Intel and that marketing quirk is incorporated as part of Intel's BS marketing.

Intel is relying on their prior great performance; however, just like investments, prior results are no guarantee that future performance will be the same or better.

 

[wiyosaya]

You don't think Intel - having money poured into it by the Government hedging against China taking over Taiwan (according to them) - can beat AMD?

I think so.

IMO, you could give Intel all the money in the world, but without changes in the way they approach things, that money will be wasted.

Congresswomen and men buying intel stock think so.

What a unique implication, thinking that congress people actually know what they are doing.

If the government is betting on it, I've learned from Nancy Pelosi, to follow them.

Everyone has luck sometimes. Good luck with your endeavor.

 

[ThomasTECH]

These desktop chips aren't where the money is, Performance GPU clusters for AI data centers is where the money is. This is a statement that AMD is not the only one who can make GREAT CPU processors. Will it land, certainly any improvement is going to hit well for Intel at this point.

 

[Megalomaniac]

IMO, you could give Intel all the money in the world, but without changes in the way they approach things, that money will be wasted.

What a unique implication, thinking that congress people actually know what they are doing.

Everyone has luck sometimes. Good luck with your endeavor.

It's not called "luck" - it's called insider trading.

I don't even bother arguing with people who don't have the level of assets as me so have a nice day. Adios.

 

[Squid Surprise]

It's not called "luck" - it's called insider trading.

I don't even bother arguing with people who don't have the level of assets as me so have a nice day. Adios.

Yet you just did argue with them… and insider trading is illegal - and at that level, even the most powerfully protected politicians would go to jail…

 

[Megalomaniac]

Yet you just did argue with them… and insider trading is illegal - and at that level, even the most powerfully protected politicians would go to jail…

No I didn't.

 

[Squid Surprise]

No I didn't.

True, that’s not arguing, it’s just contradiction.

 

[Kirby1]

It's not called "luck" - it's called insider trading.

I don't even bother arguing with people who don't have the level of assets as me so have a nice day. Adios.

I don't expect Intel's stock to do poorly, but that doesn't mean they are going to be competing at the top tier.

Compared to AMD, Intel is a lazy company. AMD has amazing leadership that's been long term planning for the company for years. Their roadmap has been betting big on future iterations that we haven't seen yet. AMDs biggest plays are not realized yet. Intel has no tricks or surprises, they are playing catch up.