Intel Launches Fishawk Falls: A New Line of High-Performance Workstation Processors

Intel has unveiled its new lineup of workstation processors under Fishawk Falls. The Xeon W processor range consists of 15 different chips that cater to different budget and performance needs. The Xeon W-3495X is the top-tier processor in the series, offering 56 cores and costing $5,889, while the W3-2423 is the most affordable option with eight cores and a price tag of $359. Among these models, eight are overclockable, providing additional power and customization options. Intel’s return to the High-End Desktop (HEDT) market with these new processors marks their re-entry to the segment after previously relinquishing it to AMD following the launch of the Core i9-10980XE in 2019. This news is especially significant for professionals seeking high-performance desktop processors for their workstation applications.

Although AMD’s Threadripper Pro processors, such as the 64-core 5995WX, are currently the leading CPUs for workstations, Intel’s newly introduced Fishawk Falls processors may present some competition in the market. One aspect where the Fishawk Falls processors excel is their support for up to 112 PCIe 5.0 lanes and eight channels of DDR5 memory, which is a unique feature that could make them appealing to workstation users. In contrast, AMD’s Threadripper Pro still depends on PCIe 4.0 and DDR4. While AMD still holds an edge in core count, Intel’s latest connectivity options may give them an advantage in specific workloads. Therefore, these new features from Intel can potentially change the dynamics of the workstation processor market.

The underlying architecture of Intel’s latest Xeon W processors, the Xeon W-3400 and Xeon W-2400, is based on the Golden Cove microarchitecture. The Xeon W-3400 processors use a multi-chipset XCC Sapphire Rapids design, while the Xeon W-2400 processors use a single MCC die. In contrast to Intel’s mainstream desktop processors, which utilize smaller e-cores, all the new Xeon-W processors are equipped with large performance cores. This difference in core size is a critical factor since larger performance cores are more adept at faster and more efficient processing, especially for high-performance workstation tasks. Intel’s emphasis on large performance cores reflects its commitment to catering to the needs of professionals who require powerful processors for their workstations.

Intel’s new processor lineup boasts cores that feature hyperthreading, enabling more efficient utilization of computing units. The performance of the new Xeon W processors is enhanced by up to 105 MB of Level 3 cache, supporting their cores. The processors’ performance is better than that of the previous Xeon W generation, with up to 28% faster single-threaded and up to 120% faster multi-threaded operations, according to Intel. However, no benchmark comparisons were provided against AMD’s Threadripper processor, leaving the actual performance of Intel’s chips in comparison to their competitors unknown. Independent tests are still unavailable, but more information will be required to make a fair comparison between the two processor brands.

The latest workstation processors from Intel, namely the Intel Xeon W-2400 and Xeon W-3400, are currently open for pre-orders, and they are anticipated to be available in the market by March 2023. These processors come in unlocked models with an “X” in their name, which enables them to be overclocked without any imposed limitations

On the other hand, it is worth noting that the new Intel Xeon W-2400 and W-3400 workstation processors come with a high price tag. The entry-level Xeon w5-2445, which is unlocked, is available for $1039, while the top-of-the-line Xeon w9-3475X with 36 cores is priced at a staggering $3739.  As a result, these processors are primarily targeted at professionals and are likely unaffordable for most enthusiasts and home users.

The new Intel Xeon desktop workstation platform has been designed to provide professional PC users worldwide with top-quality workstation platforms for more than 20 years, combining high-performance computing with reliable stability. The aim of the platform is to help unlock the creativity and innovation of professional creators, artists, engineers, designers, data scientists, and power users. The platform has been designed to handle the most challenging workloads of today and those of the future. Roger Chandler, the vice president and general manager of Creator and Workstation Solutions in the Client Computing Group at Intel, has emphasized that the new platform will enable professionals to unleash their full potential.

The Xeon W-3400 and Xeon W-2400 processors are designed to meet the high performance demands of professionals in the computing industry. These processors offer state-of-the-art platform technologies, including DDR5 RDIMM memory, PCIe Gen 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6E, which are capable of handling even the most intensive future workloads. Additionally, the processors are equipped with features like support for Intel vPro enterprise technology, ECC memory, and RAS technologies to ensure maximum workstation uptime, thereby minimizing disruptions to professional workflows.

Intel has announced the release of their latest Xeon W processors, which are designed to replace previous Xeon generations. While Intel did release the Xeon W-3300 processors in 2021, which were based on the Ice Lake architecture and intended for customers requiring greater CPU cores or PCIe bandwidth, the existing Xeon W product stack – including the W-3200 and W-2200 families based on Cascade Lake silicon – has been used for everyone else. Therefore, the upcoming release of the Xeon W-3400/2400 series is a significant upgrade to Intel’s workstation lineup. This new release represents a major overhaul of the existing Xeon workstation stack, and is highly significant for Intel’s future in this market.