Stefan Mileschin

Today, Intel launched the 28-core W-3175X workstation processor. As we previously reported, this monster CPU is based on the same die that Intel's $10k+ Xeon Platinum 8180 CPUs use, but trades multi-socket support and other enterprise-focused features for an unlocked multiplier, higher clockspeeds, and a higher TDP. Unlike its predecessors, the W-3175X won't fit into a regular LGA 2066 socket, as it requires a special LGA-3467 motherboard. Intel says the platform offers up to 68 PCIe lanes and 6 channels of DDR4 with ECC support, but curiously, the platform is capped at an uneven 512GB of maximum memory. Asetek developed the 690LX-PN AIO liquid cooler to handle the monster CPU, and Intel claims it's "1.52x" faster than the i9-9980XE when building Epic's Infiltrator demo. Reviews around the web suggest that the W-3175X excels in situations that can make use of the extra threads, but otherwise matches the Core i9-9980XE in workloads that don't scale across that many cores. Unfortunately, the W-3175X appears to only be available from system integrator at this time, as I don't see it listed at any major U.S. retailer yet. There's no word on when, or if, we'll see the the CPU and compatible motherboards for sale by themselves. Intel's recommended tray price for the CPU alone is $2999, and for reference, a Maingear system based on the platform starts at a cool $14,899.

http://www.hardocp.com/news/2019/01/...8_core_w3175x/