Early benchmark results for Intel’s Granite Rapids-WS workstation platform have begun to surface, offering a first glimpse into its lower-end positioning. The Xeon 654, an 18-core entry-level SKU, represents the baseline of Intel’s next-generation Xeon 6 workstation lineup.
While the chip demonstrates clear progress over prior Xeon generations—especially in per-core efficiency—it still struggles to match AMD’s Zen 5-based workstation offerings in raw performance.
🧩 Xeon 654 Specifications: The Entry Point #
The Xeon 654 belongs to the Mainstream tier of Granite Rapids-WS processors and is designed for Intel’s new LGA 4710 (W890) platform.
Key specifications include:
- CPU Architecture: Redwood Cove P-Cores
- Core / Thread Count: 18 cores / 36 threads
- Clock Speeds: 3.1 GHz base, up to 4.8 GHz boost
- Cache Configuration: 72 MB L3 + 36 MB L2
- Memory Support: 4-channel DDR5
- Expansion: Up to 80 PCIe Gen5 lanes
- Estimated Price: Approximately $1,300 USD
Higher-tier “Expert” Xeon SKUs scale up dramatically, offering 8-channel memory and as many as 128 PCIe lanes, but the Xeon 654 defines the lowest cost of entry into the Granite Rapids-WS ecosystem.
📊 Performance Comparison: Intel vs. AMD Zen 5 #
PassMark benchmark data highlights the strengths and limitations of Intel’s latest workstation silicon when compared to AMD’s Zen 5 competition.
| Metric | Intel Xeon 654 (18C/36T) | AMD Threadripper 9955WX (16C/32T) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Thread Score | ~61,351 | ~67,444 |
| Single-Thread Score | ~3,766 | ~4,510 |
| L3 Cache | 72 MB | 64 MB |
Despite having two additional cores, the Xeon 654 trails the Threadripper 9955WX by roughly 10% in multi-threaded workloads and nearly 20% in single-threaded performance. Even AMD’s mainstream desktop Ryzen 9 9950X surpasses it in single-thread speed, though it lacks workstation-class features such as ECC memory validation and massive PCIe connectivity.
🔁 Generational Leap: Efficiency over Core Count #
Where the Xeon 654 shines is in generational comparison. Its 18-core configuration delivers multi-threaded performance roughly equivalent to Intel’s previous 28-core Xeon W7-3465X (Sapphire Rapids).
This highlights:
- Substantial IPC improvements
- Higher sustained clock speeds
- Better efficiency from Intel’s Intel 3 process
In effect, Intel is extracting more real-world performance from significantly less silicon, an encouraging sign for the Granite Rapids architecture as a whole.
🎯 Market Positioning and Outlook #
Intel’s workstation strategy with Xeon 6 is clearly segmented:
-
Mainstream Tier (Xeon 654 / 656):
Focused on entry-level professional workloads where platform stability, ECC support, and PCIe expansion matter more than outright benchmark leadership. -
Expert Tier (Xeon 6900X series):
Designed to challenge AMD’s top-end Threadripper Pro lineup with up to 86 cores and hundreds of megabytes of cache.
The Xeon 654 is not positioned as a direct competitor to AMD’s Threadripper flagships. Instead, its success will depend heavily on W890 platform pricing, OEM adoption, and overall ecosystem maturity when Granite Rapids-WS launches in early 2026.
In short, the Xeon 654 represents a meaningful step forward for Intel—but not yet a decisive one.