Intel's Granite Rapids: Powerhouse Performance, But at a Premium Price

Intel has introduced its latest Granite Rapids server processor lineup, featuring the most expensive processor ever created. The Xeon 6980P, the flagship model, boasts an impressive 128 cores and 256 threads, showcasing Intel's commitment to delivering top-tier computing power for data centers.

Why the Steep Price?

The high price tag is a strategic move by Intel, aimed at regaining market share from AMD, which has been dominant in the server processor market with its high core count and multi-threaded performance. Intel believes that Granite Rapids can turn the tide with its exceptional performance and efficiency.

The Xeon 6980P comes with a hefty price tag of $17,800, making it significantly more expensive than the AMD EPYC Genoa 9654, which has 96 cores and costs $11,805. The rest of the Granite Rapids family is similarly priced, with the Xeon 6979P (120 cores) costing $15,750, the Xeon 6972P (96 cores) at $14,600, and even the Xeon 6960P (72 cores) exceeding the cost of the EPYC Genoa 9654.

Intel's pricing strategy is a shift from recent years, where they focused on competing with AMD on price. With Granite Rapids, Intel prioritizes performance and efficiency, even if it means pushing prices higher.

A Temporary Lead?

However, Intel's lead in this segment may be short-lived. AMD is expected to launch its new Turin EPYC processors, featuring the Zen 5 architecture, soon. The impact of these new processors on the market remains to be seen, as they could potentially challenge Intel's performance and pricing strategy.

Only time will tell if the performance of Granite Rapids justifies the premium price. The arrival of AMD's Turin EPYC processors could reshape the landscape of the server processor market, creating an exciting battle for dominance.