Intel Xeon 656 socket: LGA 4710
The Intel Xeon 656 uses the LGA 4710 socket. It is a 20 core Granite Rapids server processor with a 2.9 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
- 20 and 40
- Base power
- 210 W
- Codename
- Granite Rapids
- Segment
- Server
- Family
- Intel Xeon
- Clocks
- 2.9 / 4.8 GHz
Intel Xeon 656 specifications
| Cores | 20 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 40 (with Hyper-Threading) |
| Clocks | 2.9 GHz base, up to 4.8 GHz boost (4.5 GHz all-core) |
| Cache | 72 MB |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 210 W |
| Maximum turbo power | 252 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 | $1539 (Intel RCP at launch) |
Motherboard compatibility
Intel Xeon 656 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 656 is
The Xeon 656 is a 20 core server processor from the Xeon 6 family under the codename Granite Rapids. All 20 cores are Performance-cores, and with Hyper-Threading the part presents 40 threads. The base frequency is 2.9 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 upper mainstream of the Xeon 600 line for virtualization, software builds, content creation, and engineering work that benefits from 8 channel memory.
Intel rates the processor base power at 210 W with maximum turbo power at 252 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 656. 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 at 1539 dollars Intel recommended customer price. It sits between the 18 core Xeon 654 and the 24 core Xeon 658X, giving buyers two more cores than the 654 while keeping the full 8 channel memory controller and 128 PCIe lanes of the larger parts. Intel announced the Xeon 600 family in February 2026 with availability through hardware partners.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The Xeon 656 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 656 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 210 W parts, with tower air coolers qualified per chassis and airflow direction in most workstation layouts. There is no boxed cooler. System integrators size cooling for the 252 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, which is the same platform bandwidth as parts costing twice as much.
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 combination of 8 channel memory and 128 lanes makes the 656 a balanced host for a single strong GPU plus fast storage.
Power and cooling center on 210 W base with 252 W maximum turbo, 98 degrees C maximum junction from the digital sensor, and 74 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 24 core Xeon 658X or a 28 core Xeon 674X on the same board where power allows. Those parts keep 8 memory channels and 128 PCIe lanes while adding cores, cache, and an unlocked multiplier for tuning. 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 20 cores, the Xeon 656 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 656 use?
The Intel Xeon 656 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 656 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 656 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 656 processors work together?
No. Scalability is 1S, so each system uses exactly one Xeon 656. 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 656 Processor specifications (Intel ARK)
- Intel Xeon 600 Processors for Workstation product brief (Intel)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .