iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Intel announced its Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 workstation processor families and the W790 platform on February 15, 2023. The W-3400 tier tops out at 56 cores, 112 CPU-connected PCIe 5.0 lanes, eight memory channels and up to 4 TB of DDR5 ECC RDIMM memory. W-2400 scales to 24 cores, 64 CPU-connected PCIe 5.0 lanes and four memory channels. Intel’s launch-era recommended prices ran from $359 to $5,889; those are announcement figures, not current prices.
What Intel launched
The February 15, 2023 announcement introduced the Xeon W-3400 and W-2400, workstation-class processor families based on Intel’s Sapphire Rapids generation, alongside the W790 workstation platform. Intel positioned them for professional workloads such as media and entertainment, engineering, and data science. The flagship named at launch was the Xeon w9-3495X.
Intel said partner preorders would begin on announcement day and systems would become available in March 2023. Those dates describe the launch plan. Intel later announced the W-3500 and W-2500 families on August 28, 2024, so W-3400 and W-2400 are the 2023 generation rather than the newest announced families.
Xeon W-3400 vs. W-2400
The central distinction is platform scale: W-3400 supports more cores, CPU PCIe lanes, memory channels and capacity. Intel’s platform brief provides family-level ceilings; individual processor models do not necessarily reach every maximum.
#1 Best Overall
- CD8069504439102
| Family | Maximum cores | CPU PCIe Gen 5 lanes | Memory channels | Memory capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xeon W-3400 | Up to 56 | Up to 112 | 8 | Up to 4 TB |
| Xeon W-2400 | Up to 24 | Up to 64 | 4 | Not stated in the cited Intel platform brief for this family |
These are Intel platform specifications, not independent performance measurements. Core count, PCIe connectivity and memory channels describe different capabilities: more cores can support highly parallel work, while more CPU lanes and memory channels can help accommodate expansion devices and memory bandwidth. Actual performance depends on the processor SKU, system configuration, workload and software.
What W790 contributes—and what it does not
W790 is the chipset platform for these workstation families. Intel’s platform brief lists up to 38 high-speed I/O lanes from the chipset, including up to 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes and up to 12 PCIe 3.0 lanes in its platform description. These are chipset-provided lanes, separate from the CPU-connected PCIe Gen 5 lane counts in the comparison above. A board’s exact layout determines how those connections are implemented.
Rank #2
- Support for Intel XEON W-3400 / W-2400 processor, Intel W790 chipset and up to eight DDR5-4800 ECC memory for professional performance and stability
- Ready for 2D/3D rendering with support for up to two NVIDIA Quadro RTX. PCIe 5.0 Ready offering twice the data transfer speed of PCIe 4.0 to handle data-heavy tasks
- Dual onboard 2.5Gb Ethernet LAN ports for fast, high-bandwidth, low-latency throughput. Dual M.2 for up to 32 Gbps for better performance and data redundancy
- Less heat, more productivity with an innovative multi-channel cooling system
- Ultra-fast connectivity with USB 20Gbps Type-C, USB 10Gbps Type A and C and USB 5Gbps ports
Intel’s compatibility page identifies W790 as designed for W-3500, W-2500, W-3400 and W-2400 processors. That chipset-level compatibility does not mean every W790 motherboard supports every processor in every board revision or BIOS state.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallMemory and motherboard compatibility
Use DDR5 ECC RDIMMs
Intel specifies DDR5 ECC Registered DIMM (RDIMM) memory for the platform. Do not assume ordinary desktop DDR5 unbuffered DIMMs (UDIMMs) are interchangeable: check the motherboard documentation and qualified vendor list for the supported memory type, capacity, speed and population rules. Intel lists DDR5-4800 under specified configuration conditions, not as a guarantee for every combination of modules.
Rank #3
Verify the complete system
For a build, start with an LGA4677 W790 motherboard, then verify the exact processor on the board maker’s supported CPU list. Confirm BIOS requirements, memory support and population limits, board revision, chassis fit and cooling requirements before buying. Intel’s product compatibility listing specifically pairs the w9-3495X with W790, but that alone does not certify a particular board or complete configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Launch-era prices and availability
At announcement, Intel listed recommended customer prices from $359 for the w3-2423 to $5,889 for the w9-3495X. These are historical launch-era prices. They do not establish current retail pricing, stock or system availability; check present listings and the exact SKU when evaluating a purchase.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Processor Manufacturer: INTEL
- Processor Core: octacosa-core (28 core)
- Clock Speed: 3.10 GHz
- Overclocking speed: 3.80 GHz
- Direct media interface: 8 gt/s
Rank #4
- Total Cores 8
- Total Threads 16
- Processor Base Frequency 3.90 GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency 4.50 GHz
- Cache 16.5 MB
Sources
- Intel’s February 15, 2023 Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 launch announcement
- Intel Xeon W-3400, W-2400 and W790 platform brief
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
