CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4570 vs Intel Core i5-4590S
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4570 is a launch-day Haswell quad-core desktop processor offering 3.2 GHz base and 3.6 GHz turbo clocks with HD 4600 integrated graphics, positioned as the mainstream workhorse of the 4th generation lineup.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles basic office and web tasks well, but compilation times and heavy multitasking expose its limits.
Solid for everyday office apps and web browsing.
Gaming
Competent with older titles and eSports games, but modern AAA titles expose the four-thread limitation severely.
Handles older games fine but bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs.
Virtualization
VT-x and VT-d are present but four threads severely constrain any practical virtualization workload.
Limited to light VM usage.
Efficiency
84W TDP for this performance level is unremarkable; modern processors deliver 2-3x the performance at similar power.
Excellent power-to-performance ratio for its era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 available but insufficient for meaningful inference
- DDR3 bandwidth too low for AI workloads
- Not suitable for any local AI tasks
- No AI acceleration
- Unsuitable for modern AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Capable with eSports titles like CS:GO and Dota 2
- Bottlenecks mid-range and above modern GPUs
- DDR3 memory limits performance in open-world games
- No Hyper-Threading reduces 1% low frame rates
- Best paired with GTX 1060 or slower for balanced performance
- 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
- Was excellent value at launch for mainstream users
- TSX and TXT support uncommon in this price segment
- Good turbo boost delta of 400 MHz
- Wide compatibility with H81 through Z97 chipsets
- Low used-market pricing makes it viable for repairs
Cons
- Only 4 threads without Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier eliminates overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- DDR3 memory platform is obsolete
- No longer receives security microcode updates
- TSX was disabled on most systems due to errata
- Significantly outperformed by modern i3 processors
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 i5-4570
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- AMD A10-6800KRival
APU Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4340Rival
Budget Desktop
Slightly higher clocks at similar pricing, providing a small but free performance uplift.
Compare head-to-headHigher base and turbo clocks for users needing maximum performance on LGA 1150.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Six cores and twelve threads on a modern DDR4 platform at similar used-market pricing.
Modern budget CPU that significantly outperforms the i5-4570 in single-threaded tasks.
Compare head-to-headDevils Canyon refresh with improved thermal interface and slightly higher clocks.
Compare head-to-head
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
A solid mid-range performer that was the go-to recommendation for mainstream PC builders in 2013-2014, but its four-thread limitation and DDR3 platform make it impractical for modern workloads.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in an existing LGA 1150 system where motherboard reuse is necessary
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 better, Intel Core i5-4570 or Intel Core i5-4590S?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4570 comes out ahead with a score of 7.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-4590S has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-4570 (84 W), Intel Core i5-4590S (65 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4570 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 i5-4570 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4570 (4,310), Intel Core i5-4590S (3,700). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.