Intel Granite Rapids-WS exposed: Intel 3 process, up to 128 cores debut

Well-known whistleblower momomo_us recently exposed the complete product line SKU list of Granite Rapids-WS, showing that Intel is accelerating its deployment in the high-end workstation market. According to its post and subsequent replies, the Granite Rapids-WS series is expected to launch at least 11 models, with the flagship Xeon 698X offering a 336MB cache and a 2.0GHz base clock, and the entry-level Xeon 634 equipped with a 48MB cache and a 2.7GHz base clock.

GNR-WS 🤔

678X: 2.40GHz 192M 676X: 2.80GHz 144M 674X: 3.00GHz 144M 658X: 3.00GHz 144M 656: 2.90GHz 72M 654: 3.10GHz 72M 638: 3.20GHz 72M 636: 3.50GHz 48M 634: 2.70GHz 48M

—No. 188 (@momomo_us) November 15, 2025

Granite Rapids-WS uses Intel 3 process and is equipped with the new W980 platform. Intel 3 is Intel's last-generation FinFET node before it moves to GAA. Its performance is approximately equivalent to TSMC's 5nm. It is an important foundation for promoting high clock speed and high-density core layout. At the architectural level, Granite Rapids-WS continues the modular direction of the Granite Rapids server platform, but the cache configuration is more conservative in exchange for a better balance between power consumption and cost. The three-die design allows Intel to scale up to 128 cores when needed, resulting in a more cost-effective multi-core SKU using only two compute tiles.

Previous reports also mentioned an engineering chip with 86 cores and 172 threads. Its design is speculated to correspond to the high-end model of Granite Rapids-WS and is consistent with the SKU list disclosed by momomo_us. If Intel finally launches a 128-core flagship model, it will approach or even surpass the 96-core Zen 5 configuration of AMD Threadripper 9995WX in terms of core count for the first time.

In addition, the latest GeekBench data exposed this time was discovered by BenchLeaks. It is the first time that Granite Rapids-WS has appeared with actual measured data, showing that this series of products has entered the mature testing stage. The running score results come from the mid-range model "Xeon 654", which provides 18 cores / 32 threads, with a single-core score of 2,634 points, a multi-core score of 14,743 points, and a maximum acceleration clock of 4.77GHz. Compared with the server version, the workstation SKU is locked in the direction of high-clock optimization, making single-core and multi-core performance more explosive.

The launch of Granite Rapids-WS symbolizes Intel's renewed offensive in the workstation field. With the successive exposure of Intel 3 process, three-die architecture and latest benchmark scores, the market expects Intel to once again challenge professional applications such as high-end creation, engineering simulation, chip development and AI workloads.

However, in the server field, AMD still maintains its leading position with the EPYC 9000 series.

Intel’s next-gen Granite Rapids-WS server CPU lineup leaked — Xeon 654 18-core chip posts solid numbers in early Geekbench listing

Further reading: Intel targets AMD Threadripper, launches new Granite Rapids-WS architecture core to compete with rivals