Return of Intel’s HEDT: W790, Xeon W-2400 and W-3400 processors

The return of HEDT and Sapphire Rapids processors for workstations

Yesterday, we discussed Intel’s leaked roadmap for 2023, specifically the plans for desktop segment. But in addition to the mainstream LGA 1700 socket, this roadmap also shows new workstation platforms. Alongside the most expensive server-derived platforms, it reveals the W790 platform that should be a more affordable option representing a successor to older HEDT products like the X299 platform, and is therefore of much interest to us.

The top part of the roadmap shown in the tweet, which you may have already seen in a previous report, covers workstation market and shows three segments, with new generations of processors and entire platforms planned to gradually arrive in all of them – this should happen in the first or maybe second quarter of 2023.

The most interesting for us is probably the Mainstream Workstation segment. It may not be entirely clear under this designation, but according to the chipset roadmap, this segment is getting a new platform that replaces both the Xeons W-2200 for workstations and more importantly the currently abandoned but formerly very popular “HEDT” segment, or the line of high-end desktop processors on the X299 platform. These were the more expensive high-end Core i7 and i9 processors that were still considered “consumer” CPUs and relevant for desktop PCs. This X299 platform got its last processors (Core 10th generation Cascade Lake-X) in 2019 and Intel hasn’t refreshed the HEDT segment since.

Unfortunately, it does not seem that HEDT will return in its original, still relatively affordable form (there was a time when the prices of X99/X299 boards were roughly at the price level of today’s AMD B650 or Intel Z790 and the processors were 350–1000 USD). Intel, like AMD, will merge this former HEDT segment with the segment of the cheapest workstations (Mainstream Workstation). But even if it’s in some more expensive form, at least this HEDT will make a comeback in a way and hopefully revive the competitiveness in this area, which has been in a sorry state since the price hikes of the Threadripper 3000 and then the outright cancellation of the Threadripper 5000 outside of the Pro/WRX80 platform.

Intel desktop processor roadmap, November 2022 (source: HXL)

The platform will use the W790 chipset (or PCH), which should provide up to 38 PCIe lanes (4.0 and 3.0) and should generally be very similar to the Z790 chipset. The CPUs used will be ones belonging to the Sapphire Rapids family with Golden Cove architecture (as in Alder Lake, but here it will be a server version with 2MB L2 cache and with AVX-512 / AMX, while on the other hand, the hybrid mixing with small E-Cores is missing). They will be branded as Xeon W-2400, so nominally they are a continuation of the workstation processors, which is why we expect them to be priced higher than the Core i9 processors for the former X299 platform.

Sapphire Rapids-64L

Internally, the Xeon W-2400 processors are referred to as the Sapphire Rapids-64L variant. These processors will not be as powerful as the fastest server Xeons. According to Intel documents leaked with the roadmap, these processors will have a maximum of 24 cores (48 threads) with 45 MB of L3 cache. Intel states that the processors will use Turbo Boost Max 3.0 (i.e. preferred cores) to improve single-threaded performance.

The TDP is listed at 225 W though this is actually supposed to be “base power”. Therefore, it is possible that the power draw will be higher during boost, similar to how it goes with mainstream processors on the LGA 1700 platform. The value of the “PL2”, which is the actual power limit (Maximum Turbo Power), is unfortunately not stated. It could perhaps reach values in the vicinity of 300 W if not higher.

Processors will use the LGA 4677 socket, which should be the same as with the Sapphire Rapids for servers. The difference, however, will be that Sapphire Rapids-64L and boards with the W790 chipset will only provide quad-channel memory – four channels of DD5-4800 including ECC will be supported. The memory will be of the registered type, i.e. designed for servers (and incompatible with the LGA 1700 or AMD AM5 platform).

Mainstream W790 platform with quad-channel DDR5 memory and Xeon W-2400 processors (source: HXL)

The platform will support overclocking. Probably not on all boards and some purely professional boards will not allow it, but some processors (X-labelled models) are unlocked and there will be enthusiast or “prosumer” boards where you’ll be able to overclock like on the Z790 and earlier X299 platform.

The Sapphire Rapids-64 designation itself seems to be derived from the PCI Express controller. The W790 platform will have its PCIe connectivity somewhat cut down, same as the memory controller was. It will provide 64 PCI Express 5.0 lanes brought out from the CPU, but that will likely be enough for most uses. Up to 38 additional PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 lanes can also be sourced from the W790 PCH, as mentioned before (this chipset is connected to the CPU via a PCIe 4.0 ×8 equivalent).

Leaker, nicknamed HXL, also published a slide with an overview of the Xeon W-2400 processor models – Xeon w3-24xx, Xeon w5-24xx and Xeon w7-24xx, as these models are branded. As you can see, Intel will be introducing a slightly altered naming that will be very similar to the Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 scheme used for PC and laptop processors. Intel states that the first four models in the table below (in bold typeface) will be sold in boxed retail package, which probably means availability on the open market for DIY PC builders as well. So these will be the successors to the Core i9 Extreme from the X299 platform. The subset of SKUs that will be available boxed matches the subset of the models (marked X) that allow overclocking.

However, within the Sapphire Rapids-64L processor platform with a four-channel memory controller, the highest category will be the Xeon w7. The highest class Xeon w9 SKUs are missing and will be available only on more expensive platforms.

Highest workstation price tier: 1S and 2S Xeons with eight-channel memory

With the Sapphire Rapids, the high-end and “workstation” platform will be quite complicated, as there will be two other platforms in addition to the previous “mainstream workstations” with the Sapphire Rapids-64L.

A notch higher would be the “Expert Workstation 1S” with Sapphire Rapids-112L processors. This platform uses single-processor boards that will also use the LGA 4677 socket and the W790 chipset (its capabilities should be the same here). This will be somewhat confusing, as this platform will already have eight-channel memory (also supporting DDR5-4800 ECC RDIMMs), and will therefore be similar to AMD’s Threadripper Pro platform. These processors are designated Xeon W-3400.

They will have a maximum of 56 cores (112 threads) with up to 105 MB of L3 cache. Their TDP is supposed to be up to 350 W, but this is “base power” again, so the maximum power draw during load will probably be even higher.

This platform will provide 112 PCI Express 5.0 lanes coming from the CPU (plus 38 PCIe 3.0 / 4.0 lanes from the W790 chipset) in addition to the eight-channel DDR5-4800 memory (again, these boards will be using registered modules). Overclocking will be enabled on selected boards tailored in this direction. So it will still be a platform partially aimed at enthusiasts, but the prices involved here will probably be really high.

Expert W790 platform with octo-channel DDR5 memory and Xeon W-3400 processors (source: HXL)

Again, a list and specifications of the processors have leaked too. The SKUs that will be unlocked for overclocking are X-marked and as before, these X SKUs are also the ones Intel will be selling in boxed packages on the open market. Unfortunately there is one exception: the top of the line Xeon w9-3495X model with 56 cores will not be available in a box package, despite being one of the overclockable SKUs. As such, this model may be reserved for the OEM market meaning it would only be available for purchased in pre-built workstations. The Xeon w9-3475X with 36 cores will be the highest performance SKU available in a boxed package. The models that will be available in the retail box package are shown in bold typeface in the table.

2S platform uses server processors

To make matters even more complicated, Intel will have a third variant, the “Expert Workstation 2S” with Sapphire Rapids-SP processors. This one is already a dual processor platform and according to the designation, it will actually use ordinary Sapphire Rapids server processors (Xeon Platinum / Gold / Silver / Bronze) in LGA 4677 socket, also with up to 56 cores and with eight-channel DDR5-4800 ECC memory. These processors will also have 350W “base power”. Overclocking will no longer be possible on this platform though.

2S expert platform with Xeon Scalable server processors (source: HXL)

For this platform, a single processor will provide 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes, for a total of 160 lanes (from two processors combined). The reason you are not getting 112 lanes times two is perhaps because the remaining 32 lines are used to facilitate interconnection with the other processor, similarly to how it’s done on AMD Epyc server processor 2S platform.

The 2S boards will no longer use the W790 chipset, instead relying on the C741 server chipset. Ironically, this PCH is a bit weaker, being connected just via PCIe 3.0 ×8 interface and providing a maximum of 20 PCIe 3.0 lanes (however, SATA ports consume some of these lines due to the way the connectivity blocks are shared on Intel chipsets).

Again, you can see the processors that Intel is preparing in the above table. Or at least, these are the models intended for service in 2S workstations. It’s possible that Intel will make even more variants for servers, as the company likes to offer dozens of different SKUs for datacenters.

Release of high-end/WS platforms will be in the first half of 2023

The highest tier dual-processor platform should probably be the first to come out, according to the roadmap. According to Intel, “production” has already started this quarter, but the official release will probably not be until the first quarter of 2023. The medium tier single-processor “Expert” W790 platform with Sapphire Rapids-112L / Xeon W-3400 processors is expected to have production started sometime in February, and will thus probably come to market a few months later, perhaps towards the end of spring.

The lowest-cost mainstream W790 platform with quad-channel memory and Sapphire Rapids-64L/Xeon W-2400 processors is expected to go into production sometime in the first weeks of Q1 2023. Its actual availability date could be late Q1 or early Q2 2023.

Source: HXL (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš


  •  
  •  
  •  
Flattr this!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *