CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4460 vs Intel Core i5-4590T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4460 is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor from the Haswell generation, offering solid mainstream performance with integrated HD 4600 graphics at an accessible price point.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Adequate for basic office tasks and web browsing but struggles with heavy multitasking or large spreadsheet calculations.
Adequate for basic office tasks where bursty workloads benefit from the 3.0 GHz turbo, but sustained multi-threaded work is limited.
Gaming
Can handle older or eSports titles at 1080p with a dedicated GPU, but bottlenecks modern AAA games significantly.
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 by four threads and no Hyper-Threading; running multiple VMs is impractical.
Four threads at low clocks make virtualization impractical for any meaningful workload.
Efficiency
The 22nm Haswell node was efficient for its time, but 84W TDP for this performance level is high by modern standards.
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 acceleration hardware
- AVX2 provides minimal benefit for inference workloads
- DDR3 bandwidth is a severe bottleneck for AI tasks
- Not viable for any meaningful local 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
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs in CPU-intensive titles
- Suitable for eSports games like CS:GO and League of Legends
- Lacks AVX2-heavy game optimizations in newer titles
- DDR3 memory bandwidth limits frame pacing in open-world games
- No Hyper-Threading reduces minimum frame rates in threaded engines
- 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
- Affordable on the used market
- Four real cores without SMT scheduling quirks
- Integrated HD 4600 for basic display needs
- Wide availability of used LGA 1150 motherboards
- Low enough power for basic cooling solutions
Cons
- Only 4 threads with no Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- DDR3 memory is obsolete and slower
- 84W TDP is inefficient for the performance delivered
- No longer receives microcode updates for new security mitigations
- Minimal turbo boost of only 200 MHz
- Outpaced by modern budget CPUs like the i3-12100
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 i5-4460
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-8320Rival
Budget Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4360Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD A10-7850KRival
APU Desktop
- Intel Core i5-4440Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
Same platform with higher clocks and turbo boost for slightly more money.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Alt
Modern 6-core/12-thread CPU with DDR4 support at similar used pricing.
Modern budget CPU that vastly outperforms the i5-4460 in single-threaded tasks.
Compare head-to-headSkylake successor with DDR4 support and better efficiency on the same class of motherboard pricing.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
Modern APU with vastly superior integrated graphics and six cores.
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 dependable mid-range Haswell processor that delivered excellent value during its prime, but struggles to meet modern workload demands due to its locked multiplier and aging DDR3 platform.
Best for: Used spare part for repairing 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 better, Intel Core i5-4460 or Intel Core i5-4590T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4460 comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. 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, Intel Core i5-4460 or Intel Core i5-4590T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4460 leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-4460 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 i5-4460 (84 W), Intel Core i5-4590T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4460 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 i5-4460 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4460 (4,210), Intel Core i5-4590T (3,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.