Intel cancels part of its next-gen Diamond Rapids Xeon lineup, report claims — Xeon 7 will drop models with 8 memory DIMMs to focus only on 16-channel CPUs for extra memory throughput

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Up to 1.6 TB/s mixed with 2nd-gen MRDIMM.

A photo of Intel CPUs; Clearwater Forest, Granite Rapids, and a Gaudi 3 accelerator.
(Image credit: Intel)

Things are heating up again on the server side of CPUs, with both Intel and AMD gunning for the crown. Just yesterday, we covered Granite Rapids-WS, the next launch in the Xeon series, and today we have confirmation from Intel on how Diamond Rapids will shape up. Xeon 7 was originally set to include two lineups: one with 8-channel memory and one with 16-channel, but the former has now been cancelled. Diamond Rapids will therefore be exclusively 16-channel.

Speaking to ServeTheHome, an Intel spokesperson clarified: "We have removed Diamond Rapids 8CH from our roadmap. We're simplifying the Diamond Rapids platform with a focus on 16-channel processors and extending its benefits down the stack to support a range of unique customers and their use cases."

The existing Granite Rapids server chips, along with AMD's competing EPYC Turin lineup, top out at 12-channel memory, which will be upgraded to 16-channel with next-gen products from both companies. Previously, when we first reported on Diamond Rapids earlier this year, both the 8CH and 16CH options were said to be on the table. Now, the pivot to only 16-channel memory could result in improved performance, with approximately 1.6 TB/s of memory bandwidth — up from ~844 GB/s.

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Hassam Nasir
Hassam Nasir
Contributing Writer

Hassam Nasir is a die-hard hardware enthusiast with years of experience as a tech editor and writer, focusing on detailed CPU comparisons and general hardware news. When he’s not working, you’ll find him bending tubes for his ever-evolving custom water-loop gaming rig or benchmarking the latest CPUs and GPUs just for fun.

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • thestryker
    This is a seemingly odd move given the volume the lower SKUs sell. That means no intermediate socket for DMR at all. I don't see how ceding the volume market makes for a good business decision as companies buying in this area aren't suddenly going to be able to double or triple CPU budgets. This also limits multi-socket capability which has been Intel's biggest platform advantage.

    About the only thing that makes sense to me is that perhaps Intel is using Coyote Cove as the basis for a new Xeon which will be coming sooner rather than later. The whole Xeon line has been a mess since AMD brought 64 cores to the table and has maintained core count superiority until GNR/Turin (Zen 5 being superior to Redwood Cove). Making that market wait even longer for a true architecture improvement seems like bad business.
    Reply
  • User of Computers
    thestryker said:
    This is a seemingly odd move given the volume the lower SKUs sell. That means no intermediate socket for DMR at all. I don't see how ceding the volume market makes for a good business decision as companies buying in this area aren't suddenly going to be able to double or triple CPU budgets. This also limits multi-socket capability which has been Intel's biggest platform advantage.

    About the only thing that makes sense to me is that perhaps Intel is using Coyote Cove as the basis for a new Xeon which will be coming sooner rather than later. The whole Xeon line has been a mess since AMD brought 64 cores to the table and has maintained core count superiority until GNR/Turin (Zen 5 being superior to Redwood Cove). Making that market wait even longer for a true architecture improvement seems like bad business.
    From what I have heard (unconfirmed obvs), Intel is instead pulling the next generation up by a couple quarters or so.
    Reply
  • ashinms
    It's been a long time since I was exited about hardware. This is just what the doctor ordered.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    User of Computers said:
    From what I have heard (unconfirmed obvs), Intel is instead pulling the next generation up by a couple quarters or so.
    This is definitely the only thing that makes sense to me to fill that higher volume gap.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    ashinms said:
    It's been a long time since I was exited about hardware. This is just what the doctor ordered.
    I assume you're talking about 16-channel Diamond Rapids (and also AMD Venice), rather than the cancellation?

    I think the past decade has been pretty fascinating, with the rise of chiplets, massive core-scaling, new I/O interconnects, HBM & other memory tech, wider vector & matrix instructions, E/C-core server CPUs, and hybrid CPU/GPU processors from both AMD and Nvidia. Also, ARM coming onto the scene. It's too bad I only get to read about most of that stuff.
    Reply
  • ashinms
    bit_user said:
    I assume you're talking about 16-channel Diamond Rapids (and also AMD Venice), rather than the cancellation?

    I think the past decade has been pretty fascinating, with the rise of chiplets, massive core-scaling, new I/O interconnects, HBM & other memory tech, wider vector & matrix instructions, E/C-core server CPUs, and hybrid CPU/GPU processors from both AMD and Nvidia. Also, ARM coming onto the scene. It's too bad I only get to read about most of that stuff.
    Yes. The 16 channel server parts. I have to say that the last decade was hell on earth for me. I remember something about AMD announcing this new Zen thing and then waking up missing teeth and divorced. I just want Bulldozer being garbage to be the worst thing in my life again.
    Reply
  • ashinms
    bit_user said:
    I assume you're talking about 16-channel Diamond Rapids (and also AMD Venice), rather than the cancellation?

    I think the past decade has been pretty fascinating, with the rise of chiplets, massive core-scaling, new I/O interconnects, HBM & other memory tech, wider vector & matrix instructions, E/C-core server CPUs, and hybrid CPU/GPU processors from both AMD and Nvidia. Also, ARM coming onto the scene. It's too bad I only get to read about most of that stuff.
    I'm sorry. I just re-activated this account after well over a decade of inactivity and I'm feeling nostalgic.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    ashinms said:
    I'm sorry. I just re-activated this account after well over a decade of inactivity and I'm feeling nostalgic.
    Sorry to hear about your misfortunes, but at least this small corner of the internet is somewhere you can simply geek out about computers.

    Here's an overview of Intel's upcoming Panther Lake laptop CPUs:
    https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-takes-the-wraps-off-panther-lake-first-18a-client-processor-brings-the-best-of-lunar-lake-and-arrow-lake-together-in-one-package
    Here's an overview of Intel's current flagship desktop CPUs:
    https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-launches-arrow-lake-core-ultra-200s-big-gains-in-productivity-and-power-efficiency-but-not-in-gaming
    Here's a corresponding one for Ryzen 9000 and its Zen 5 cores:
    https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-deep-dives-zen-5-ryzen-9000-and-strix-point-cpu-rdna-35-gpu-and-xdna-2-architectures
    I can also dig up links to the latest GPU architecture overviews, if you're interested.

    If that sort of stuff is up your alley, you might want to check out this site for even more in-depth CPU and GPU analysis:
    https://chipsandcheese.com/
    Reply