Intel Announces Release of Next-Generation Diamond Rapids and Clearwater Forest Xeon CPUs for 2024; Team Blue Prepares for Data Center Market Comeback

Intel is gearing up for a significant expansion of its data center product line with the forthcoming introduction of next-generation Xeon CPUs. The launch of Diamond Rapids and Clearwater Forest is now confirmed for 2026.

Intel’s Strategic Move to Fortify Data Center CPU Offerings

In recent years, Intel has faced challenges in the workstation CPU market, with its Xeon series dominating for quite some time. However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted the landscape, enabling competitors like AMD to gain ground with their high-performance EPYC processors. As a result, Intel has experienced a decline in its market share, ceding some of its former dominance to Team Red. With an eye on the future, Intel plans to reclaim its leadership position by leveraging its advanced Xeon architecture, which promises substantial performance improvements.

“So obviously customers are deploying Granite Rapids right now, which is a good step function. Then we’ve got Clearwater Forest and Diamond Rapids, which is our E core and P core product lines coming in ’26. I think we’ll stem the tide and then we’ll start to see market segment share start to build back up.”

– Intel’s Products CEO

While initial information about Diamond Rapids was scarce, the confirmation from Intel’s Products CEO has clarified its anticipated launch for 2026. Preliminary rumors suggest that this CPU will feature the significantly larger LGA 9324 socket, nearly five times the size of the LGA 1700. It is expected to include Panther Cove-X P-Cores, which could position it as one of the fastest offerings in the Xeon family. Additionally, leaked information from the Chinese platform Goofish hints at the production being well underway, further validating these developments.

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— HXL (@9550pro) May 27, 2025

As for the specific core count and characteristics of Diamond Rapids, details remain elusive. It is believed that Intel will utilize 18A technology for production, facilitating High-Volume Manufacturing (HVM) in the process. Intel intends to position Diamond Rapids as a direct competitor to AMD’s EPYC Venice CPUs, which are notable for adopting TSMC’s advanced 2nm process technology, thus enhancing performance and efficiency.

Moving on to Clearwater Forest, Intel plans to integrate the Darkmont Core architecture, supporting up to an impressive 288 E-Cores. This lineup will employ Foveros Direct hybrid bonding technology and also rely on Intel’s 18A process for production. Collectively, Clearwater Forest and Diamond Rapids are expected to shape Intel’s next-generation data center strategy, and analysts anticipate increased market adoption as a result.

In conclusion, Intel’s forward-looking approach with these upcoming CPU releases signifies its commitment to reclaiming market share in the competitive data center landscape, particularly against the backdrop of rapid advancements in processing technology.

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