CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4440S vs Intel Core i5-4590T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4440S is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor launched in September 2013 as part of the Haswell generation. Operating on a 22nm manufacturing process, this CPU was designed for budget-conscious builders who needed reliable performance without the high power draw. With a base clock of 2.8 GHz and a turbo boost of up to 3.3 GHz, it delivered solid everyday computing and moderate multitasking capabilities. The 'S' suffix denotes a lower power profile, locking the TDP at 65 watts compared to the standard 84-watt models. This made it an ideal choice for small form factor builds and office environments where thermal management was crucial. It includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, allowing for media playback and light gaming without a dedicated GPU. Although long surpassed by modern standards, it remains a notable example of Intel's efficiency-focused engineering during the early 2010s.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles basic office tasks well but struggles with heavy multitasking.
Adequate for basic office tasks where bursty workloads benefit from the 3.0 GHz turbo, but sustained multi-threaded work is limited.
Gaming
Bottlenecks modern GPUs; suitable only for older titles.
The 2.0 GHz base clock severely limits gaming performance. Only viable for very old or casual games, even with a dedicated GPU.
Virtualization
Limited to very light VM usage due to 4 threads.
Four threads at low clocks make virtualization impractical for any meaningful workload.
Efficiency
Good efficiency for its era thanks to the 65W TDP.
The 35W TDP was impressive for a quad-core in 2014, though modern processors achieve far better performance at similar or lower power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Extremely slow for modern AI inference
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Low clock speeds further reduce any AVX2 compute capability
- 35W power budget leaves no headroom for inference workloads
- Not viable for any AI application
Content Creation
Gaming
- Requires a dedicated GPU for any 3D workloads
- Will severely bottleneck modern mid-range GPUs
- Capable of running CS:GO and older source engine games
- 2.0 GHz base clock too low for consistent game performance
- 3.0 GHz turbo helps in short bursts but cannot sustain
- Only suitable for pre-2015 games at low settings
- HD 4600 insufficient for any modern gaming without a dGPU
- Even with a dGPU, CPU bottleneck is severe in modern titles
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Low 65W TDP for efficient cooling
- Solid quad-core performance for legacy tasks
- Includes Intel HD 4600 graphics
- Affordable on the used market
- Good for basic office and home theater PCs
Cons
- Obsolete DDR3 platform
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- Lacks modern instruction sets
- Will bottleneck modern GPUs
- No official Windows 11 support
Pros
- Extremely low 35W TDP enables compact cooling solutions
- Retains full 6 MB L3 cache despite power reduction
- Quad-core design handles multi-tasking better than dual-core alternatives
- 1 GHz turbo delta provides good burst performance
- Compatible with all LGA 1150 motherboards
Cons
- 2.0 GHz base clock is very slow for sustained workloads
- Launched at $192, more expensive than the faster i5-4590
- Only 4 threads without Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier with no overclocking potential
- DDR3 memory platform is obsolete
- Outperformed by modern Celeron and Pentium processors at lower TDPs
- Limited availability as it was primarily an OEM product
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-4440S
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Budget Desktop
- Intel Core i5-4440Rival
Standard Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4360Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD A8-6600KRival
Budget APU
Newer Haswell Refresh with slightly better clocks.
Compare head-to-headHyper-threading and more L3 cache for heavier loads.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 1200Alt
Modern platform with upgrade path.
Modern quad-core budget alternative.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Pentium G4560Alt
Budget dual-core with HT, similar performance in many tasks.
Intel Core i5-4590T
- AMD A8-7600 (45W)Rival
Low-Power APU
- AMD A10-7800 (45W)Rival
Low-Power APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570TRival
Low-Power Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4360TRival
Low-Power Desktop
- Intel Core i7-4765TRival
Low-Power Desktop
Much faster at the same price if thermal constraints are not a concern.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500GTAlt
Modern low-power hex-core with integrated graphics that vastly outperforms the i5-4590T.
Modern 35W quad-core with eight threads, DDR5 support, and dramatically better single-thread performance.
Compare head-to-headCoffee Lake 35W hex-core with significantly more performance at similar power.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GEAlt
Modern 35W embedded processor with six cores and twelve threads.
Our Verdict on Each
A reliable 65W quad-core CPU ideal for basic legacy systems, but obsolete for modern builds.
Best for: Drop-in upgrade for an existing LGA 1150 system.
Read the full reviewAn impressive engineering exercise in power efficiency that sacrificed significant performance for its 35W TDP. Ideal for thermally constrained builds of its era, but modern low-power CPUs deliver far better performance at similar power envelopes.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in an existing thin mini-ITX or all-in-one system that requires a 35W LGA 1150 processor
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-4440S or Intel Core i5-4590T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4440S leads with a gaming performance score of 40/100 among Intel Core i5-4440S and Intel Core i5-4590T.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-4590T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-4440S (65 W), Intel Core i5-4590T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4440S and Intel Core i5-4590T use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1150 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4590T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4440S (3,200), Intel Core i5-4590T (3,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.