CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4690T vs Intel Core i5-4590T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4690T represents the ultra-low-power tier of the Haswell Refresh lineup, engineered specifically for compact, thermally constrained environments. With a remarkably low 45W TDP, this quad-core processor drastically cuts power consumption compared to standard desktop parts.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Sufficient for basic office and web tasks, but sustained multi-threaded workloads will quickly hit the 45W power limit, causing clocks to drop.
Adequate for basic office tasks where bursty workloads benefit from the 3.0 GHz turbo, but sustained multi-threaded work is limited.
Gaming
The low base clock of 2.5 GHz hurts minimum frame rates in CPU-heavy games. It is suitable only for very light or older 2D/esports 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
VT-d and vPro are great for lightweight VMs, but the aggressive power limiting and 4 threads restrict running multiple concurrent instances.
Four threads at low clocks make virtualization impractical for any meaningful workload.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for its era. The 45W TDP ensures very low idle and load power consumption, perfect for always-on devices.
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 AI hardware
- Power limits severely throttle any vector processing
- Not applicable for AI workloads
- 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
- 2.5 GHz base clock results in low minimum FPS
- 45W power limit restricts sustained multi-core turbo
- HD 4600 graphics are insufficient for modern gaming
- Only suitable for retro or extremely light game titles
- 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
- Extremely low 45W TDP for fanless or compact designs
- True quad-core performance in a low-power envelope
- Includes VT-d, vPro, and TXT for enterprise use
- Good burst performance up to 3.5 GHz
- Very low heat output
Cons
- Low 2.5 GHz base clock hurts minimum frame rates
- Aggressive power limiting throttles sustained loads
- Locked multiplier
- Often overpriced on the used market due to scarcity
- Only supports DDR3
- LGA 1150 platform is obsolete
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 i5-4690T
- AMD A8-7600 (45W)Rival
Ultra-Low-Power APU
- Intel Core i3-4360TRival
Ultra-Low-Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570TRival
Ultra-Low-Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4790TRival
Ultra-Low-Power Desktop
- AMD A10-6800K (in low power mode)Rival
APU Desktop
Choose the 65W S-series if you can accommodate slightly more heat for significantly higher base and turbo clocks.
Compare head-to-headA modern 35W 6-core processor that offers dramatically better performance and efficiency for a new compact build.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
A modern low-power hex-core with exceptional efficiency and performance, rendering the 4690T obsolete for new projects.
If thermals are not an issue, the standard 84W model provides much higher sustained performance for less money.
Compare head-to-head
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
The i5-4690T is an efficient quad-core squeezed into a 45W envelope. While it sacrifices base clock speed heavily to achieve this, it remains a reliable choice for specific embedded or OEM applications where heat is the primary enemy.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in an older OEM mini PC, AIO system, or digital signage player bound to the LGA 1150 platform.
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 i5-4690T or Intel Core i5-4590T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4690T leads with a gaming performance score of 40/100 among Intel Core i5-4690T 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 i5-4690T (45 W), Intel Core i5-4590T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4690T 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 i5-4690T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4690T (4,200), Intel Core i5-4590T (3,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.