Intel Revs Up Desktop Workstations With Powerful New Xeon 600 Series

Intel Returns to Desktop Workstation Market with Xeon 600 Series

The Xeon 600 series, codenamed Granite Rapids-WS, marks a significant shift for Intel as it moves away from the previous Sapphire Rapids-WS series and towards a unified branding under Xeon 600. This new lineup boasts improved single-threaded performance of up to 9% and multi-threaded performance of up to 61%, according to Intel’s claims.

The enhanced Redwood Cove microarchitecture is also used in its Meteor Lake mobile chips, contributing to the gains. One of the most striking features of Xeon 600 series is its massive core count, with some SKUs reaching an unprecedented 86 cores. This is particularly notable when compared to AMD’s Threadripper 9000 range, which currently tops out at 96 cores but has not seen a similar level of performance per dollar.

The flagship Xeon 698X boasts an impressive 86 cores and 172 threads, making it one of the most powerful consumer-grade CPUs on the market. This is complemented by its robust memory support, with up to 4TB of memory capacity and 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes. The massive core count allows for enhanced multithreading capabilities, making Xeon 600 series a compelling option for workstations requiring intense processing power.

Intel’s Xeon 600 series introduces several new features that were previously absent from its Sapphire Rapids-WS lineup. Multiplexed Rank DIMMs (MRDIMMs) are designed to increase memory bandwidth in HPC applications by using a multiplexer chip to combine the bandwidth of two ranks of memory chips, effectively doubling transfer rates. This is complemented by Open Image Denoise 2.4, an AI-powered image denoising tool that leverages the AMX accelerators inside Xeon 600 cores.

This allows for faster and more efficient upscaling of images using Topaz Labs Video Upscaler. The AMX accelerator also supports FP16 instructions, enabling Intel to offer improved performance in applications such as data analysis, development, and AI. Advanced instruction sets provide a competitive edge over AMD’s Threadripper range, particularly when it comes to workstations requiring high-performance processing.

While Intel has not released any official benchmarks yet, Jonathan Patton, a spokesperson for Intel, stated that the company is aiming to be “very competitive within the market” by offering better performance per dollar for workstation spend. OEMs such as Dell, Lenovo, and Supermicro will also offer workstations based on this new lineup.

The Xeon 600 series will be supported by a range of motherboards, including the W890 chipset, which is set to launch in late March. Pricing starts at around $400 for the 12-core Xeon 634 and goes up to $7,699 for the flagship Xeon 698X. Individual SKUs will also be available in boxed retail units.

The return of Intel to the desktop workstation market is a significant development that has the potential to shake up the industry. With its powerful Xeon 600 series, Intel is offering a compelling alternative to AMD’s Threadripper range, particularly when it comes to performance per dollar. The new lineup provides a competitive edge for workstations requiring intense processing power and advanced features such as AI-powered image denoising and improved multithreading capabilities.

Competing against AMD’s Threadripper 9000 range requires Intel to demonstrate its capabilities in benchmark tests. However, the company is confident that its Xeon 600 series will offer better performance per dollar for workstation spend. With its robust feature set and competitive pricing, Intel’s return to the desktop workstation market promises to be a significant development for the industry.

Intel’s strategy focuses on offering a unified branding under Xeon 600, providing a clear direction for OEMs and users alike. The company aims to be “very competitive within the market” by leveraging its advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities. With the Xeon 600 series, Intel is poised to make a significant impact in the desktop workstation market.

As workstations continue to rely on powerful processors for demanding applications, Intel’s return to this space is well-timed. The company’s focus on performance per dollar and advanced features such as AI-powered image denoising positions it for success in this highly competitive market. With its Xeon 600 series, Intel has solidified its position as a leader in the desktop workstation market.