Quick Verdict
The i5-4590 was arguably the best value in the Haswell i5 lineup, offering the highest clock speeds among non-K SKUs at launch. It remains functional for basic computing but is thoroughly outclassed by modern budget processors.
Overview
Launch
2014
Status
DiscontinuedGeneration
4th Gen (Haswell)
Market
Desktop
The Intel Core i5-4590 is a mid-cycle Haswell refresh quad-core processor with 3.3 GHz base and 3.7 GHz turbo clocks, offering improved clocks over the launch i5-4570 while maintaining the same 84W TDP and LGA 1150 platform.
The Intel Core i5-4590 launched in May 2014 as a mid-cycle refresh, bumping base and turbo clocks to 3.3 GHz and 3.7 GHz respectively.
This made it the fastest non-K Haswell i5 at the time, outpacing the original i5-4570 by 100 MHz on both metrics. The 6 MB L3 cache, dual-channel DDR3-1600 support, and HD 4600 integrated graphics remain unchanged from other Haswell i5 SKUs, but the higher clocks translate to a tangible 5-8% performance advantage in real-world workloads. At its launch price, it offered the best performance-per-dollar in the Haswell i5 range, making it a popular choice for budget gaming builds paired with GPUs like the GTX 970 or R9 290.
The locked multiplier and 84W TDP are consistent with the rest of the lineup. Today, it can still handle basic computing tasks and older games, but the four-thread limitation is a dealbreaker for modern workloads.
Specifications
Performance
Adequate for basic office tasks. The 3.7 GHz turbo helps with bursty single-threaded workloads like application launches.
Four threads are insufficient for practical virtualization despite VT-x and VT-d support.
The 3.7 GHz turbo helps in older and eSports titles, but four threads remain a hard ceiling for modern gaming workloads.
84W for this performance is unimpressive by modern standards. Competing architectures now deliver 3x the performance per watt.
- •Best gaming CPU in the standard Haswell i5 lineup at launch
- •3.7 GHz turbo provides solid single-threaded performance for the era
- •Still capable with eSports titles like CS:GO and Valorant at 1080p
- •Bottlenecks anything above a GTX 1060 or RX 580 in modern titles
- •DDR3 memory bandwidth limits minimum frame rates in open-world games
- •No AI acceleration hardware
- •AVX2 available but insufficient for practical inference
- •DDR3 bandwidth severely constrains any AI workload
- •Not recommended for any local AI tasks
Architecture
22nm
Process Node
Haswell
Codename
4C / 4T
Core Config
6 MB
L3 Cache
84 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i5-4590 uses the same Haswell die as the rest of the 4th gen Core i5 lineup, but benefits from improved 22nm manufacturing yields that allowed Intel to validate higher clock speeds within the same 84W TDP envelope. The silicon is identical to that in the i5-4570 and i5-4670; the difference lies entirely in binning and factory-set multipliers. Haswell's microarchitecture features four out-of-order execution cores connected via a shared ring bus to 6 MB of unified L3 cache. Each core has a 14-stage pipeline with three integer ALUs, two address generation units, and a wide floating-point unit supporting AVX2 and FMA3 operations. The integrated memory controller handles dual-channel DDR3 at up to 1600 MT/s, while 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes provide direct GPU connectivity. The on-die FIVR consolidates voltage regulation, improving transient response during turbo boost events, which is particularly beneficial for the i5-4590's wider 500 MHz turbo range. The HD 4600 integrated graphics with 20 execution units handles display output and basic video decode, supporting up to three displays. The architecture's support for TSX instructions was forward-looking but hampered by errata on early steppings that led to microcode disabling.
CPU Design
Four out-of-order cores at 3.3 GHz base / 3.7 GHz turbo, 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3 via ring bus, 168-entry ROB per core.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-1600 controller with 25.6 GB/s peak bandwidth. Supports 1.5V DDR3 and 1.35V DDR3L memory modules.
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the CPU for direct GPU connection. Additional I/O provided by the 8-series or 9-series chipset.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier at 33x. BCLK adjustment limited to approximately 100-105 MHz. Not an overclocking candidate.
- 100 MHz higher base clock over i5-4570
- 100 MHz higher turbo clock over i5-4570
- Better silicon binning from mature 22nm process
- Same TDP despite higher clocks
Key Highlights
- Highest clocks among standard Haswell i5 SKUs at launch
- 500 MHz turbo delta provides good burst performance
- Mature 22nm silicon for improved reliability
- Same TDP as slower SKUs despite higher clocks
- Affordable on the used market for system repairs
- Only 4 threads without Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier prevents any meaningful overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient for its performance level
- DDR3 platform is obsolete
- No modern security feature support
- Quickly superseded by Devils Canyon i5-4690
- Outperformed by modern i3 processors at lower power
History
The Intel Core i5-4590 launched on May 1, 2014 as part of a mid-cycle Haswell refresh that bumped clock speeds across the lineup. It was Intel's response to a competitive landscape where AMD's FX processors were gaining traction in multi-threaded workloads, even as Intel maintained a decisive single-threaded advantage.</br></br>The i5-4590 filled a specific niche: users who wanted the maximum possible performance from a locked Haswell i5 without paying for the largely irrelevant vPro and TXT features of the i5-4670.
Its 3.3 GHz base and 3.7 GHz turbo were the highest clocks available in a standard Haswell i5, and the 500 MHz turbo range was the widest in the lineup.
</br></br>However, the i5-4590's time in the spotlight was brief. Just two months later, Intel launched the Devils Canyon processors (i5-4690 and i7-4790K) with improved thermal interface material and slightly higher clocks. The i5-4690 effectively replaced the i5-4590 in Intel's lineup, making the 4590 a transitional product that many builders skipped in favor of the newer, thermally improved Devils Canyon chip.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- 100 MHz higher base clock over i5-4570
- 100 MHz higher turbo clock over i5-4570
- Better silicon binning from mature 22nm process
- Same TDP despite higher clocks
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Dropping into an existing LGA 1150 system as a replacement or upgrade from a Pentium or i3
Avoid if…
- Building any new system
- Gaming beyond casual eSports titles
- Running modern productivity applications
- Needing energy-efficient computing
- Wanting any future upgrade path beyond LGA 1150
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i5-4590 was sometimes called the 'smart man's i5' on PC building forums because it offered nearly all the performance of the i5-4670 at a lower price point.
Its 3.7 GHz turbo was the highest among locked Haswell i5 processors, making it the best choice for users who did not plan to overclock.
Intel released the i5-4590 just weeks before the Devils Canyon refresh (i5-4690), a timing that frustrated some buyers who would have preferred the improved thermal interface of the newer chip.
The processor's part number was never widely documented, as it was primarily sold through OEM channels rather than retail.
In Cinebench R15, the i5-4590 scores approximately 500 points multi-core and 130 points single-core, putting it on par with early Pentium Gold processors from 2018.
The i5-4590 was a popular choice for Steam Machine builds in 2014-2015, when Valve was pushing the living room PC gaming concept.
Unlike the i5-4460, the i5-4590 includes TSX support, which theoretically benefits database and transactional workloads though few desktop users ever utilized it.
Its integrated HD 4600 graphics were capable of running Minecraft at 60 FPS at 1080p without a dedicated GPU, a popular benchmark for family PC builds.
The processor was one of the last Intel CPUs to ship in the classic blue Intel retail box before the company transitioned to more minimal packaging.
Some motherboard manufacturers released BIOS updates specifically to improve compatibility with the i5-4590 on early 8-series boards, as it launched after the initial Haswell rollout.
People Also Ask
Is the i5-4590 better than i5-4570?
Yes, the i5-4590 has 100 MHz higher base and turbo clocks, translating to roughly 3-5% better performance in most workloads.
Can the i5-4590 run Windows 11?
No. Windows 11 requires 8th Gen Intel or later. The i5-4590 is not officially supported.
What GPU should I pair with i5-4590?
A GTX 1060, RX 580, or GTX 1650 is the practical maximum before CPU bottlenecks become severe in modern titles.
Does the i5-4590 have Hyper-Threading?
No. It has 4 cores and 4 threads only. Hyper-Threading was limited to Core i7 models in the Haswell generation.
Is the i5-4590 good for gaming in 2026?
Only for very old or lightweight games. Modern AAA titles require more than four threads and significantly faster single-core performance.
What is the difference between i5-4590 and i5-4690?
The i5-4690 is a Devils Canyon refresh with an improved thermal interface material (TIM) under the heatspreader, 100 MHz higher base clock, and slightly higher turbo, resulting in better sustained performance under load.
How much RAM does i5-4590 support?
Up to 32 GB of DDR3-1600 in dual-channel configuration.
Does i5-4590 support M.2 SSDs?
Only through chipset PCIe lanes via an M.2 slot on the motherboard. The CPU does not provide native NVMe lanes, and boot support depends on UEFI configuration.
What is the power consumption of i5-4590?
The rated TDP is 84W. Under full multi-core load, typical system power draw is around 120-150W depending on the GPU and other components.
Can I upgrade from i5-4570 to i5-4590?
Yes, both use the LGA 1150 socket and the same chipsets. A BIOS update may be needed on early 8-series motherboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the turbo boost behavior of the i5-4590?
It boosts to 3.7 GHz on single-core loads, 3.6 GHz on dual-core loads, and 3.5 GHz on all four cores.
Does the i5-4590 support hardware virtualization?
Yes, it supports Intel VT-x and VT-d for virtualization and directed I/O passthrough.
What is the maximum temperature for i5-4590?
The maximum Tcase is rated at 72°C.
Can the i5-4590 play 4K video?
The HD 4600 can decode 4K H.264 at 30fps. For 4K HEVC or 60fps content, a dedicated GPU with hardware decode is needed.
What chipset is best for i5-4590?
B85 for budget builds, H97 for general use. Z97 is unnecessary since the CPU cannot overclock.
Does the i5-4590 support DDR4?
No, it only supports DDR3 memory.
What is the die size of the i5-4590?
177 mm² on Intel's 22nm process with approximately 1.4 billion transistors.
Is the i5-4590 unlocked?
No, the multiplier is locked. The i5-4690K is the unlocked variant on this platform.
What generation is the i5-4590?
4th generation Intel Core (Haswell).
Does the i5-4590 support ECC memory?
No, it does not support ECC memory. ECC support in the Haswell generation was limited to Xeon E3 processors.