Intel Unleashes Flagship 28 Core, Xeon W-3175X HEDT CPU, Delidded and Overclocked To 4.3 GHz – First HEDT Platform To Feature 192 GB DDR4 Memory Support

Intel has finally launched their flagship Xeon W-3175X high-end desktop processor which is now available for sale. The processor is the highest core count chip ever released by Intel for the HEDT platform and also the most expensive one with a retail price of $2999 US which is $1000 US more than their X299 flagship, the Core i9-9980XE.

Intel Xeon W-3175X, 28 Core Flagship HEDT CPU Now Available For $2999 US

Intel's Xeon W-3175X processor was first shown at Computex 2018 and has seen various delays since its announcement. Previously suggested to launch around the end of Q4 2018, the chip is now launching at the end of January 2019. Also, during this time, Intel didn't give any info on the pricing of this part, only to be unveiled at the very last moment for their ultra-premium product.

The Intel Xeon W-3175X processor is the first 28 core high-end desktop processor that Intel has launched. Its direct competitor is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX which features 32 cores and retails for $1000 US less. Intel suggests that their chip is well optimized for many applications as that is the single main factor that determines the final performance of a highly threaded CPU. There are many independent reviews out now that acknowledge that and you can check them out in the links below:

• Intel Xeon W-3175X 28 Core CPU Review @ PCWorld
• Intel Xeon W-3175X 28 Core CPU Review @ Anandtech
• Intel Xeon W-3175X 28 Core CPU Review @ Tomshardware

See more

It’s not the number of cores; it’s how you use them. Our unlocked, 28-core Xeon W-3175X processor delivers unprecedented levels of single threaded, multi-threaded capability to the pro-creator audience. #IamIntelhttps://t.co/gY0IzxftBz

— Gregory M Bryant (@gregorymbryant) January 30, 2019

Coming to the specifications, the Xeon W-3175X rocks 28 cores and 56 threads. The base clock is set at 3.1 GHz while the maximum single core turbo frequency is rated at 4.3 GHz. The chip has a TDP of 255W and other specs include a 38.5 MB cache, 68 PCIe lanes (44 directly from the CPU), a fully unlocked design for overclocking, six-channel DDR4 memory support including ECC memory.

Why It’s Different: With the most cores and threads, CPU PCIe lanes, and memory capacity of any Intel desktop processor, the Intel Xeon W-3175X processor has the features that matter for massive mega-tasking projects such as film editing and 3D rendering. Other key features and capabilities:

• Intel Mesh Architecture, which delivers low latency and high data bandwidth between CPU cores, cache, memory, and I/O while increasing the number of cores per processor
  – a critical need for the demanding, highly-threaded workloads of creators and experts.
• Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, a precision toolset that helps experienced overclockers optimize their experience with unlocked processors.
• Intel Extreme Memory Profile, which simplifies the overclocking experience by removing the guesswork of memory overclocking.
• Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (Intel AVX-512) ratio offset and memory controller trim voltage control that allows for optimization of overclocking frequencies regardless of SSE or AVX workloads, and allow maximization of memory overclocking.
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 that delivers frequencies up to 4.3 GHz.
• Up to 68 platform PCIe lanes, 38.5 MB Intel Smart Cache, 6-channel DDR4 memory support with up to 512 GB at 2666 MHz, and ECC and standard RAS support power peripherals and high-speed tools.
• Intel C621 chipset-based systems designed to support the Intel Xeon W-3175X processor allow professional content creators to achieve a new level of performance.
• Asetek 690LX-PN all-in-one liquid cooler, a custom created solution sold separately by Asetek, helps ensure the processor runs smoothly at both stock settings and while overclocking.
• With the Intel Xeon W-3175 processor, build the “Infiltrator Demo” in Unreal Engine up to 1.52x faster compared with the Intel Core i9-9980XE processor.

Intel HEDT/Workstation Processor Families:

Intel HEDT Family	Granite Rapids	Sapphire Rapids Refresh	Sapphire Rapids	Cascade Lake	Skylake	Skylake	Skylake	Broadwell	Haswell	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge	Gulftown
Process Node	Intel 3	10nm ESF	10nm ESF	14nm++	14nm+	14nm+	14nm+	14nm	22nm	22nm	32nm	32nm
Flagship SKU	TBD	Xeon W9-3595X Xeon W7-2595X	Xeon W9-3495X Xeon W7-2495X	Core i9-10980XE	Xeon W-3175X	Core i9-9980XE	Core i9-7980XE	Core i7-6950X	Core i7-5960X	Core i7-4960X	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-980X
Max Cores/Threads	86/172?	60/120 26/52	56/112 24/48	18/36	28/56	18/36	18/36	10/20	8/16	6/12	6/12	6/12
Clock Speeds	TBD	4.8 GHz	4.8 GHz	3.00 / 4.80 GHz	3.10/4.30 GHz	3.00/4.50 GHz	2.60/4.20 GHz	3.00/3.50 GHz	3.00/3.50 GHz	3.60/4.00 GHz	3.30/3.90 GHz	3.33/3,60 GHz
Max Cache	TBD	105 MB L3	105 MB L3	24.75 MB L3	38.5 MB L3	24.75 MB L3	24.75 MB L3	25 MB L3	20 MB L3	15 MB L3	15 MB L3	12 MB L3
Max PCI-Express Lanes (CPU)	128 Gen 5	112 Gen 5	112 Gen 5	44 Gen3	44 Gen3	44 Gen3	44 Gen3	40 Gen3	40 Gen3	40 Gen3	40 Gen2	32 Gen2
Chipset Compatiblity	W890	W790	W790	X299	C612E	X299	X299	X99 Chipset	X99 Chipset	X79 Chipset	X79 Chipset	X58 Chipset
Socket Compatiblity	LGA 4710?	LGA 4677	LGA 4677	LGA 2066	LGA 3647	LGA 2066	LGA 2066	LGA 2011-3	LGA 2011-3	LGA 2011	LGA 2011	LGA 1366
Memory Compatiblity	DDR5-6000?	DDR5-4800	DDR5-4800	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2800	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2133	DDR3-1866	DDR3-1600	DDR3-1066
Max TDP	350W?	350W	350W	165W	255W	165W	165W	140W	140W	130W	130W	130W
Launch	2025?	2024	2023	Q4 2019	Q4 2018	Q4 2018	Q3 2017	Q2 2016	Q3 2014	Q3 2013	Q4 2011	Q1 2010
Launch Price (Top SKU)	TBD	TBD	$5889	$979 US	~$4000 US	$1979 US	$1999 US	$1700 US	$1059 US	$999 US	$999 US	$999 US

Der8auer has also already delidded the chip, revealing that Intel is using regular TIM instead of solder design. We can see a dual PCB design as was used on the X299 processors. The chip was overclocked to 4.30 GHz across all 28 cores with a voltage supply of 1.15V as can be seen in the video below.

You can see some interesting performance numbers from the chip as well as temperatures before and after using liquid metal thermal paste below.

Massive New Motherboards and Massive Memory Support From Manufacturers For Intel's New Ultra-Premium Chips

Of course, a new Intel would always be accompanied by their partners introducing new products and platforms. The Xeon W-3175X processor required new motherboards and beefier memory as it features a six-channel DRAM controller and requires a lot of power to boot (255W TDP). As such, ASUS and Gigabyte have already showcased their new motherboards, the ROG Dominus Extreme and the Gigabyte SKL-SP 1S which are based around the C621 chipset.

In addition to that, G.Skill has also introduced their new Hexa-Channel Massive Capacity DDR4 memory kits with up to 4000 MHz speeds (CL17 timings) and 192 GB capacities. These kits will come with 12 DIMMs, each with 16 GB memory. The memory kits will be available in Trident Z Royal RGB series, in either gold or silver colors, and will start from 3200 MHz, 3600 MHz, and the aforementioned 4000 MHz kits. The memory kits are available now and utilize the best Samsung B-dies for overclocking and the best stability.

The Road from Quad- to Hexa-Channel: Boosting Memory Bandwidth

As computing technology improves, the amount of processed data also increases, leading to a demand for more memory channels and higher bandwidth. For the first time, this new platform introduces hexa-channel memory support to the larger consumer market, which was previously only found in server-class systems.

While operating under 6-channels, the extreme performance DDR4-4000 CL17 96GB (8GBx12) memory kit reaches a blazing fast read bandwidth speed of 122GB/s – a substantial increase over currently available quad-channel platforms. See below for a screenshot of the bandwidth result from the AIDA64 memory benchmark:

192GB Super Massive Memory Kit Capacity
Using high-capacity 16GB modules, this platform allows a maximum of 192GB memory capacity with a kit of 16GBx12. Being the first of its kind, G.SKILL propelled the full 192GB to an extreme DDR4-4000 speed with CL17-18-18-38 timings. The screenshot below shows the 12-module Trident Z Royal 192GB memory kit being stress tested and validated on the Asus ROG Dominus Extreme with the Xeon W-3175X processor:

The platform and the hexa-channel memory won't come cheap though so expect to be paying a really high premium for this platform. The motherboards aren't listed yet but Intel has assured that OEMs will be offering pre-built PCs featuring their Xeon W-3175X CPU today. The prices for the Intel C621 chipset based motherboards and their availability is also not confirmed yet but we will make sure to keep you updated once more information is recieved.

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