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In a nutshell: Intel has accidentally spilled some beans on its next-next-gen server processors. Code-named Diamond Rapids, these upcoming Xeon CPUs will slot into the company's Oak Stream platform – and if the leaked details are accurate, they're going to be an absolute unit.
The Xeon leak originated from Intel's own website, where the company briefly posted information about a $900 test interposer for Oak Stream before quickly removing the page. But that was not before eagle-eyed Twitter user @harukaze5719 managed to grab a screenshot.
The screenshot reveals that Diamond Rapids will use a monster of a socket called LGA 9324 – which has a staggering 9,324 pins. That makes it nearly six times bigger than the LGA 1700 socket used for consumer CPUs, and more than double the size of the LGA 4677 socket powering Intel's latest 4th and 5th-gen Xeon chips.
Intel has already started seeding sample test tools for Oak Stream to partners and we can expect the first Diamond Rapids CPUs to ship in late 2025 or early 2026. As for the socket, the screenshot lists it as up for pre-orders with shipments expected to begin in the final quarter of this year.
Intel OKS-AP, LGA9324
– í¬ìÂÂí¬ì (@harukaze5719) August 21, 2024
OKS, Oak Stream Platform / using Diamond Rapidshttps://t.co/LEmUmksSE0 pic.twitter.com/dMGKMnsyFX
As for why Diamond Rapids needs such a gargantuan socket, the leading theory is that it will pack significantly more cores and memory channels than previous Xeon chips. Rumor has it Diamond Rapids could get up to 16 DRAM channels along with support for PCIe 6.0.
Of course, this is all speculation for now. What we do know with greater certainty is that Diamond Rapids will follow Intel's 18A "Clearwater Forest" Xeons in the product roadmap. Clearwater Forest is still in early testing, having just powered on alongside Panther Lake for the first time this month, as revealed by Intel.
Diamond Rapids will utilize Intel's 14A process node when it eventually arrives in a year or two. And with that monstrous LGA 9324 socket, it seems clear Intel is prepping something truly massive to take on AMD's own high-core-count Epyc "Venice" chips in the next round of the server CPU wars.