Intel’s 2027 Diamond Rapids Xeon server CPU supports up to 256 cores per socket.

Intel presented Diamond Rapids, its next-generation Xeon server central processing unit, at Hot Chips 2026. The processor is scheduled for 2027 and supports configurations with up to 256 CPU cores per socket.

Intel described Diamond Rapids as an architecture for high-performance orchestration in agentic-AI and enterprise-scale workloads. The core count applies to each processor socket, not to an entire server, rack, or cluster.

Diamond Rapids was one of three Intel architectures highlighted at the event. Intel paired it conceptually with the Crescent Island graphics processing unit for inference and the Wildcat Lake system-on-chip for client and edge computing, while keeping the products’ functions distinct.