CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4690S vs Intel Core i5-4590S
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4690S is a power-optimized variant of the standard Haswell Refresh quad-core processor, designed for users who prioritize thermal efficiency and lower power consumption over maximum clock speeds. Launched in May 2014 with a 65W TDP, it significantly reduces the thermal footprint compared to the 84W i5-4690.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Snappy for everyday office tasks and web browsing. Prolonged multi-threaded workloads will run slightly slower than the 84W models due to lower base clocks and power limits.
Solid for everyday office apps and web browsing.
Gaming
Single-core performance is strong due to the 3.9 GHz turbo, matching the 4690K in lightly threaded games. Sustained multi-core loads will drop clocks to maintain the 65W envelope.
Handles older games fine but bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs.
Virtualization
VT-d support is excellent for basic homelabs, but the 4-core/4-thread limit and power-constrained turbo behavior restrict heavy virtualization workloads.
Limited to light VM usage.
Efficiency
A clear step up in efficiency over the 84W Haswell parts, generating less heat and allowing for near-silent operation at stock settings.
Excellent power-to-performance ratio for its era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 performance is throttled by the 65W power limit
- Not recommended for AI workloads
- No AI acceleration
- Unsuitable for modern AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- 3.9 GHz turbo ensures high single-core burst performance
- 65W limit may cause clock drops in CPU-heavy open-world games
- Excellent for 60 FPS 1080p gaming with appropriate GPUs
- Low heat output benefits compact ITX cases
- Requires a dedicated GPU
- Pairs well with GTX 1050 Ti or RX 570
- Will struggle with modern CPU-bound titles
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 65W TDP runs cool and quiet
- 3.9 GHz turbo boost provides strong single-core speed
- Includes VT-d and vPro for enterprise/homelab use
- Excellent for small form factor and HTPC builds
- Lower power consumption saves on electricity over time
Cons
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- 3.2 GHz base clock limits sustained multi-threaded performance
- Only supports DDR3 memory
- LGA 1150 platform is end-of-life
- TSX-NI disabled via microcode due to errata
- Harder to find than standard 84W models
Pros
- Low 65W TDP
- Decent single-core performance for legacy apps
- Affordable used drop-in upgrade
- Intel HD 4600 graphics included
- Good for basic office and HTPC use
Cons
- Obsolete DDR3 platform
- Locked multiplier
- No official Windows 11 support
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs
- Limited to 4 threads
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-4690S
- AMD FX-8320ERival
Low-Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570SRival
Low-Power Desktop
- AMD A10-7800Rival
APU Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4690TRival
Ultra-Low-Power Desktop
- Intel Core i7-4790SRival
Low-Power Desktop
Choose the standard 84W version if your case has adequate cooling and you need higher sustained multi-core clocks.
Compare head-to-headChoose this if you want the ability to overclock and are not constrained by thermals.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
A modern low-power alternative with 6 cores, 12 threads, and vastly better efficiency for a new build.
- Intel Core i5-12400TAlt
A modern 35W/65W alternative that obliterates this CPU in performance while using a fraction of the power.
Intel Core i5-4590S
- AMD FX-8350Rival
High-End Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570SRival
Low Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4590Rival
Standard Desktop
- AMD FX-8320ERival
Low Power Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4370Rival
Budget Desktop
Newer Haswell Refresh with slightly higher clocks.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-4790SAlt
Hyper-threaded efficient alternative.
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200GAlt
Modern budget APU alternative.
Modern budget hexa-core alternative.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Modern budget hexa-core alternative.
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-4690S is a smart choice for compact systems, offering a 65W TDP without heavily sacrificing single-core performance thanks to a 3.9 GHz turbo boost, making it a versatile chip for its era.
Best for: Upgrading an older compact PC, HTPC, or ITX system where heat and noise are primary concerns and an LGA 1150 motherboard is already present.
Read the full reviewA solid Haswell Refresh chip that slightly improves clocks over the 4570S while maintaining 65W efficiency.
Best for: Drop-in upgrade for an older LGA 1150 motherboard.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-4690S or Intel Core i5-4590S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4690S leads with a gaming performance score of 55/100 among Intel Core i5-4690S and Intel Core i5-4590S.
Do Intel Core i5-4690S and Intel Core i5-4590S 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 i5-4690S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4690S (4,850), Intel Core i5-4590S (3,700). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.