Intel Xeon 654 socket: LGA 4710
The Intel Xeon 654 uses the LGA 4710 socket. It is an 18 core Granite Rapids server processor with a 3.1 GHz base frequency and boost to 4.8 GHz, plus 8 channel DDR5 memory and 128 lanes of PCI Express 5.0.
- Socket
- LGA 4710
- Launched
- February 2026
- Cores and threads
- 18 and 36
- Base power
- 200 W
- Codename
- Granite Rapids
- Segment
- Server
- Family
- Intel Xeon
- Clocks
- 3.1 / 4.8 GHz
Intel Xeon 654 specifications
| Cores | 18 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 36 (with Hyper-Threading) |
| Clocks | 3.1 GHz base, up to 4.8 GHz boost (4.5 GHz all-core) |
| Cache | 72 MB |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 200 W |
| Maximum turbo power | 240 W |
| Manufacturing process | Intel 3 |
| Memory support | DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s, 8 channels, up to 4 TB |
| PCI Express | PCIe 5.0, up to 128 lanes |
| Integrated graphics | None |
| ECC memory | Yes |
| Package | FCLGA4710 with carrier E2B (77.5 mm x 56.5 mm) |
| Scalability | 1S (1 socket only) |
| Launch price | $1319 (Intel RCP at launch) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Xeon 654 needs a motherboard with a LGA 4710 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the LGA 4710 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
LGA 4710 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 4,710 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | n/a |
| Introduced | June 2024 |
| Memory | DDR5, 8 channels |
| Cooler mounting holes | Board specific (server heatsink) |
What the Xeon 654 is
The Xeon 654 is an 18 core server processor from the Xeon 6 family under the codename Granite Rapids. All 18 cores are Performance-cores, and with Hyper-Threading the part presents 36 threads. The base frequency is 3.1 GHz with maximum turbo to 4.8 GHz through Turbo Boost Max 3.0, 4.6 GHz through Turbo Boost 2.0, and 4.5 GHz all-core turbo. The shared last level cache totals 72 MB. Intel places the part in the mainstream of the Xeon 600 line for virtualization, software builds, content creation, and financial modeling that prize high clocks with roomy I/O.
Intel rates the processor base power at 200 W with maximum turbo power at 240 W. The part is built on Intel 3 and carries no integrated graphics, so display output or GPU compute needs a discrete card. Scalability is 1S, which means each system uses exactly one Xeon 654. ECC memory is supported, and the feature set includes AVX-512 with two FMA units per core plus AMX for matrix math.
The processor launched in the first quarter of 2026 with tray pricing at 1319 dollars Intel recommended customer price. Intel announced the Xeon 600 family in February 2026, and the 654 is one of five SKUs sold boxed at retail for custom builds alongside distribution through hardware partners. It sits between the 16 core Xeon 638 and the 20 core Xeon 656, and unlike the 638 it carries the full 8 channel memory controller and 128 PCIe lanes.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The Xeon 654 fits the LGA 4710 socket, a land grid array with 4,710 contacts that also hosts Sierra Forest parts. The package is FCLGA4710 with carrier E2B. Single socket server and workstation boards built for the Granite Rapids platform generation are the natural match. Compatibility still follows the board vendor CPU support list for each model, including the minimum BIOS revision that carries Granite Rapids microcode.
The socket file for this site carries no desktop chipset groups, so there is no retail chipset pick to copy. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works explains how socket fit differs from chipset and firmware support, and that distinction matters here because server boards qualify processors individually. Buyers should confirm the Xeon 654 on the vendor list with the planned BIOS revision before ordering memory or heatsinks.
Because the part is 1S only, dual socket boards are not an option. Heatsink choice follows the board vendor list for 200 W parts, with tower air coolers qualified per chassis and airflow direction in most workstation layouts. Boxed retail units ship without a thermal solution. System integrators size cooling for the 240 W maximum turbo power so the processor can hold boost under sustained multi core load.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s in 8 channels with up to 4 TB per socket. ECC is supported, and RDIMM types fit the enterprise use case. Final speed follows DIMM population per channel, so two DIMMs per channel lowers the rate and vendors publish tested layouts for full capacity. Eight channels give 409.6 GB/s of theoretical bandwidth at DDR5-6400, double the bandwidth of the 4 channel parts below it in the line.
For I/O the chip provides PCI Express 5.0 with up to 128 lanes for GPUs, NVMe storage, and high speed networking at full Gen 5 bandwidth. With no UPI links active, all traffic stays inside the single socket or moves over PCIe and CXL 2.0. The platform also carries DMI 4.0 to the board controller for management and onboard devices. The lane count leaves room for a x16 GPU slot plus several Gen 5 NVMe drives without switches.
Power and cooling center on 200 W base with 240 W maximum turbo, 96 degrees C maximum junction from the digital sensor, and 72 degrees C maximum case temperature. Firmware sets sustained and burst limits, and rack planners should budget power and airflow for continuous load at full turbo rather than base power alone. The 77.5 mm x 56.5 mm package uses the server carrier and retention mechanism of the board, not a desktop socket lever and clip.
Upgrade paths
Within LGA 4710 the path up is a 20 core Xeon 656 or a 24 core Xeon 658X on the same board where power allows. Those parts keep 8 memory channels and 128 PCIe lanes while adding cores and cache. The vendor list shows which higher parts the board and BIOS revision accept, and the heatsink may need to change for the higher envelope.
A larger change of platform means a new board and new memory population. The LGA 7529 platform serves the biggest Granite Rapids server configurations with more memory channels, and reaching it requires different boards, heatsinks, and firmware rather than a drop in replacement. Buyers moving from a desktop socket should plan for server chassis, redundant power, and ECC RDIMM memory rather than desktop DIMMs.
For systems that stay at 18 cores, the Xeon 654 can remain in place while storage and network grow. Adding drives, network cards, or accelerators uses the 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes before a CPU change is needed. When thread count limits the workload, a same socket part with more cores is the next step without changing memory or boards.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Xeon 654 use?
The Intel Xeon 654 uses LGA 4710. It fits single socket server and workstation boards built for Granite Rapids parts. Always confirm the part on the board vendor CPU support list.
What memory does the Xeon 654 support?
DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s in 8 channels up to 4 TB with ECC. Final speed follows the DIMM type and population per channel, so check the vendor memory guide for the planned capacity.
How many PCIe lanes does the Xeon 654 provide?
Up to 128 lanes of PCI Express 5.0 for GPUs, NVMe storage, and high speed networking. The part has no active UPI links and runs in single socket systems only.
Can two Xeon 654 processors work together?
No. Scalability is 1S, so each system uses exactly one Xeon 654. Workloads that need more cores move to a higher core part on the same socket or to a larger platform.
Sources and verification
- Intel Xeon 654 Processor specifications (Intel ARK)
- Intel Xeon 654 workstation part specifications (Puget Systems)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .