Intel Confirms Diamond Rapids and Clearwater Forest Xeon CPUs Coming in 2026: A Bold Comeback in the Data Center Arena
After a rocky few years of losing ground to AMD in the data center market, Intel is staging a powerful return. The company has officially confirmed the launch of its next-gen Xeon CPUs – Diamond Rapids and Clearwater Forest – both set to debut in 2026.
Intel’s strategy is clear: reclaim the crown from AMD’s EPYC line by doubling down on performance and advanced manufacturing. These new Xeon CPUs are not just evolutionary; they mark a shift in Intel’s server roadmap and a renewed fight for dominance in AI and cloud computing workloads.
Diamond Rapids is expected to feature high-performance Panther Cove-X P-Cores and use the massive LGA 9324 socket – nearly five times larger than consumer-grade LGA 1700. While details are scarce, rumors hint that Diamond Rapids will be built on the cutting-edge Intel 18A process, aimed at competing with AMD’s upcoming 2nm EPYC Venice CPUs. The emergence of LGA 9324 socket listings on platforms like Goofish indicates that production is already moving forward.
Clearwater Forest, on the other hand, will be Intel’s first all-E-core Xeon product, featuring up to 288 energy-efficient Darkmont cores. Built entirely on Intel’s own 18A node and using Foveros Direct hybrid bonding, it signals a move toward higher core density and efficiency – perfect for hyperscale and AI inference loads.
According to Intel’s Products CEO, Granite Rapids is already seeing deployment, and the dual-launch of Diamond Rapids (P-Core) and Clearwater Forest (E-Core) in 2026 will mark a critical moment: “We’ll stem the tide and start to build back market share.”
This move shows Intel is not just chasing AMD – it’s redefining how it competes, aiming to become a vertically integrated silicon powerhouse, with in-house designs, process nodes, and packaging.
With AMD’s EPYC continuing to push the envelope, the 2026 data center CPU battle is shaping up to be a defining clash between two silicon titans. Whether Intel’s comeback will spark a full-blown reversal in market share remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Team Blue is back in the fight.