CPU Comparison
Core i5-3350P vs Intel Core i5-4590
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3350P is a unique 3rd generation Ivy Bridge processor designed specifically for budget gamers and system builders who plan to use a dedicated graphics card. Launched in September 2012, the 'P' suffix indicates that it lacks integrated graphics entirely. This allowed Intel to price it slightly lower while offering higher clock speeds. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, operating at a base frequency of 3.1 GHz and boosting up to 3.3 GHz. With a 69W TDP, it is remarkably power-efficient for a quad-core chip of its era. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory and provides 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes for expansion. The removal of the iGPU meant that every transistor was dedicated to CPU performance, making it a favorite for cheap gaming rigs paired with cards like the GTX 650 Ti or HD 7850. It remains a notable example of Intel segmenting the market for cost-conscious enthusiasts.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Solid performance for basic office tasks, provided a display output is available.
Adequate for basic office tasks. The 3.7 GHz turbo helps with bursty single-threaded workloads like application launches.
Gaming
Can handle pre-2015 games well with a dedicated GPU, but bottlenecks modern titles.
The 3.7 GHz turbo helps in older and eSports titles, but four threads remain a hard ceiling for modern gaming workloads.
Virtualization
Limited by 4 threads, but VT-d is supported.
Four threads are insufficient for practical virtualization despite VT-x and VT-d support.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency; 69W TDP is very low for a quad-core CPU.
84W for this performance is unimpressive by modern standards. Competing architectures now deliver 3x the performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Low core count limits compute
- No AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 available but insufficient for practical inference
- DDR3 bandwidth severely constrains any AI workload
- Not recommended for any local AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Requires a dedicated GPU to function
- 4 cores limit modern gaming performance
- Acceptable for older eSports titles
- Best gaming CPU in the standard Haswell i5 lineup at launch
- 3.7 GHz turbo provides solid single-threaded performance for the era
- Still capable with eSports titles like CS:GO and Valorant at 1080p
- Bottlenecks anything above a GTX 1060 or RX 580 in modern titles
- DDR3 memory bandwidth limits minimum frame rates in open-world games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Affordable price point at launch
- Low 69W TDP for cool operation
- Good clock speeds for its generation
- Fully featured CPU instruction set (AVX, AES-NI)
Cons
- Lacks integrated graphics
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Uses outdated DDR3 memory
- Locked multiplier
Pros
- Highest clocks among standard Haswell i5 SKUs at launch
- 500 MHz turbo delta provides good burst performance
- Mature 22nm silicon for improved reliability
- Same TDP as slower SKUs despite higher clocks
- Affordable on the used market for system repairs
Cons
- Only 4 threads without Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier prevents any meaningful overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient for its performance level
- DDR3 platform is obsolete
- No modern security feature support
- Quickly superseded by Devils Canyon i5-4690
- Outperformed by modern i3 processors at lower power
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i5-3350P
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-2380PRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-3220Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-5600KRival
Desktop
Newer Haswell architecture with better performance and integrated graphics.
Compare head-to-headIncludes integrated graphics for similar CPU performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
Modern budget alternative with capable integrated graphics.
- Intel Core i7-3770Alt
Hyper-threading and higher clocks on the same socket.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Massive multi-threading upgrade for a small budget.
Intel Core i5-4590
- AMD FX-8320Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4360Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD A10-7850KRival
APU Desktop
Devils Canyon refresh with improved thermal interface and slightly higher clocks on the same socket.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Alt
Six cores and twelve threads on a modern AM4 platform with DDR4 support.
Modern budget quad-core with vastly superior single-threaded performance and DDR4/DDR5 support.
Compare head-to-headSkylake successor with DDR4 memory, better efficiency, and a newer platform.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
Modern six-core with excellent gaming and productivity performance at reasonable pricing.
Our Verdict on Each
A clever cost-saving CPU for 2012 gamers, but the lack of an iGPU and outdated architecture make it obsolete today.
Best for: Building a retro gaming PC from used parts
Read the full reviewThe i5-4590 was arguably the best value in the Haswell i5 lineup, offering the highest clock speeds among non-K SKUs at launch. It remains functional for basic computing but is thoroughly outclassed by modern budget processors.
Best for: Dropping into an existing LGA 1150 system as a replacement or upgrade from a Pentium or i3
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Core i5-3350P or Intel Core i5-4590?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4590 comes out ahead with a score of 7.3/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Core i5-3350P or Intel Core i5-4590?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4590 leads with a gaming performance score of 50/100 among Core i5-3350P and Intel Core i5-4590.
Which uses less power?
The Core i5-3350P has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-3350P (69 W), Intel Core i5-4590 (84 W).
Do Core i5-3350P and Intel Core i5-4590 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Core i5-3350P: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-4590: LGA 1150), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4590 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4590 (4,520). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.