Intel Unveils New Xeon W-2500 and W-2600 Processors for Workstations: Up to 60 Cores

Intel has launched its latest Xeon W-2500 and W-2600 series processors, known as the 'Sapphire Rapids Refresh,' designed to enhance workstation performance. These new processors bring an increase in both clock speeds and core counts while keeping the price competitive, and in some cases, even lowering it.

The Xeon W-2500 and W-2600 series, compatible with Intel W790 motherboards, boast significant improvements. The core count for the Xeon W-2600 series now reaches up to 60 cores, with the top-tier Xeon W9-3595X featuring 60 cores and a base power of 385W—an increase from its predecessor. The Xeon W-2500 series also sees upgrades, with the flagship Xeon W9-2595X now offering 26 cores and a power rating of 250W.

These processors support up to 4TB of DDR5-4800 memory across eight channels, and users will benefit from 64 to 112 PCIe lanes, depending on the model. Intel has also introduced eight unlocked CPUs within this lineup, catering to those who require workstation-grade capabilities with the flexibility to overclock.

Despite only modest improvements in core count and clock speeds, Intel’s new Xeon W 'Sapphire Rapids Refresh' processors are expected to power the next generation of workstations from leading manufacturers like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Supermicro. Additionally, motherboard manufacturers such as ASRock and Gigabyte are preparing to support these CPUs with new W790 platforms or BIOS updates.

The top-of-the-line Xeon W9-3595X is priced at $5,889 in quantities of 1,000 units, maintaining the same price as its predecessor. The Xeon W7-2595X is slightly more affordable at $2,039, a reduction from its previous version.