CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4590S vs Intel Core i5-4590T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. Released in May 2014, the Intel Core i5-4590S is a quad-core desktop processor belonging to the Haswell Refresh lineup. As an 'S' series chip, it boasts a 65-watt TDP, making it highly suitable for energy-conscious builds and compact systems. The processor runs at a base clock of 2.9 GHz and can turbo boost up to 3.6 GHz when thermal headroom allows. Built on the mature 22nm process node, it delivers reliable performance for everyday computing, office applications, and light content creation. It features 6MB of L3 cache to ensure smooth multitasking. The integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics handle standard video playback and older games adequately. While it doesn't support Hyper-Threading, its four physical cores provide solid performance for budget gaming setups when paired with a dedicated GPU. Today, it represents a cost-effective drop-in upgrade for aging LGA 1150 systems.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Solid for everyday office apps and web browsing.
Adequate for basic office tasks where bursty workloads benefit from the 3.0 GHz turbo, but sustained multi-threaded work is limited.
Gaming
Handles older games fine but bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs.
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 light VM usage.
Four threads at low clocks make virtualization impractical for any meaningful workload.
Efficiency
Excellent power-to-performance ratio for its era.
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 acceleration
- Unsuitable for modern AI tasks
- 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
- Pairs well with GTX 1050 Ti or RX 570
- Will struggle with modern CPU-bound 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
- 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
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 i5-4590S
- 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.
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 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 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 i5-4590S or Intel Core i5-4590T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4590S 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 i5-4590S or Intel Core i5-4590T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4590S leads with a gaming performance score of 48/100 among Intel Core i5-4590S 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 i5-4590S (65 W), Intel Core i5-4590T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4590S 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 i5-4590S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4590S (3,700), Intel Core i5-4590T (3,350). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.