News Intel Xeon Granite Rapids-W CPU specs allegedly leaked — up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes and eight-channel memory support

[Admin]

Intel reportedly preps two Xeon W 'Granite Rapids-W' platforms for mainstream and expert HEDT workstations.

Intel Xeon Granite Rapids-W CPU specs allegedly leaked — up to 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes and eight-channel memory support : Read more

 

[thestryker]

Intel's strategy of allowing the workstation segment to languish just seems weird. By the time these launch there will have been two new core designs on the market (or at least volume production with PTL). I can't imagine there are that many organizations interested in less efficient and capable parts in this segment which would indicate they're still simply catering to those companies who need to buy Intel parts already.

The place it makes sense to do a GNR based part is Xeon D because those tend to be highly validated and the current is ICL based.

 

[endocine]

At least bring back a mainstream CPU with more than 16 PCIe lanes

 

[DS426]

This is like reading about 3rd Gen AMD Epyc.

Slow, steady pace, Intel does it. Are we a hi-tech, innovative company, or a predictable or meh tech business like IBM? Hmm.

 

[DS426]

Intel's strategy of allowing the workstation segment to languish just seems weird. By the time these launch there will have been two new core designs on the market (or at least volume production with PTL). I can't imagine there are that many organizations interested in less efficient and capable parts in this segment which would indicate they're still simply catering to those companies who need to buy Intel parts already.

The place it makes sense to do a GNR based part is Xeon D because those tend to be highly validated and the current is ICL based.

Surprisingly, in the IT world, Intel still seems to have a lot of momentum on their history. I still can't seem to convince some of the other top software vendors, including security companies, that even a 50/50 perception between the two companies is reasonable in this day and age; their "partnership" with Intel seems to equate to a lack of innovation in anything outside that wheelhouse.

The investment in this previous one-horse-race shows the lack of care for customers, innovation, competition, and so on.

 

[usertests]

At least bring back a mainstream CPU with more than 16 PCIe lanes

I want to see mainstream CPUs go to quad-channel (on future sockets).

As for the lanes, aren't most technically coming with 24-28 lanes?

 

[thestryker]

I want to see mainstream CPUs go to quad-channel (on future sockets).

As for the lanes, aren't most technically coming with 24-28 lanes?

12th-14th generation Intel has 20 (x16 PCIe 5.0, x4 PCIe 4.0 for M.2), Ultra 200 has 24 (x16 PCIe 5.0, x4 PCIe 5.0 for M.2 and 4.0 for M.2) and Zen 4/5 have 28 PCIe 5.0 (x16, x4 for M.2/PCIe, x4 for M.2/PCIe (800 series chipsets reserved for USB 4) and x4 for chipset). Chipsets have mixed lanes and varies depending on which one: Intel 24/14 and AMD 22/12.

X99 era Intel had 8 PCIe off the chipset with 40/28 from the CPU (yay the days of mixed PCIe lane counts depending on SKU) and X299 was 24 off the chipset with 44 from the CPU.

While I don't think it makes sense to have quad channel memory and higher PCIe counts for every SKU there's definitely a HEDT sized hole in the market. The jump in cost from a 9950X/285K based system to TR/Xeon W is absolutely absurd, and even more so when you look back at X79/X99/X299 versus desktop of the time. I'd like to see something with 40/44 CPU lanes and quad channel memory make a return, but I just don't think AMD/Intel see enough of a market to create another socket.

 

[usertests]

I'd like to see something with 40/44 CPU lanes and quad channel memory make a return, but I just don't think AMD/Intel see enough of a market to create another socket.

I want the mainstream sockets (e.g. AM6) to expand, not another socket size between AM5/AM6 and TR/Epyc. I want quad-channel to make bigger APUs with greater memory bandwidth viable on desktop sockets. Maybe that's also necessary for the core counts that are being pushed (Intel may technically give us 52 cores: 16P + 32E + 4LPE). AMD didn't even make its socket larger like Intel did, they could do that to allow for bigger/more chiplets and more pins to add the memory channels. If DIY is a shrinking market, going bigger and more premium could make sense.

On the other hand, maybe we'll end up buying mega APUs like Strix Halo soldered to motherboards. We'll have to live with that, hopefully with expandable memory using CAMM/LPCAMM.

Take the current lane counts, add 4, and you have at least another x4 PCIe/M.2 device. I think most people have modest storage/device needs.

 

[JayNor]

Granite Rapids-D was announced at MWC last year. MWC-2025 would be a reasonable place to launch it... March 3-6.