CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4590 and AMD EPYC 7282 occupy different corners of the processor spectrum, and the benchmark data reflects that gulf. Across the six shared Cinebench tests, the EPYC 7282 wins every single one, with the Intel part trailing by roughly 82% in each instance. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the EPYC 7282 scores 25,616 against the i5-4590’s 4,573, a delta of -82.1%. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the EPYC 7282’s 364 points dwarf the i5-4590’s 64 points, a -82.4% difference. These are not close contests; the EPYC 7282 is in a different performance class entirely.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a complete sweep for the AMD EPYC 7282. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7282 scores 2,581 versus the i5-4590’s 460, a -82.2% delta. The single-core R15 test is similarly lopsided: 364 for the EPYC 7282 versus 64 for the i5-4590, a -82.4% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC 7282 posts 10,758 multi-core and 1,518 single-core, while the i5-4590 manages 1,920 and 270, respectively; both deltas sit at -82.2%. In Cinebench R23, the EPYC 7282’s multi-core score of 25,616 is over five times the i5-4590’s 4,573, and its single-core score of 3,616 is more than five times the i5-4590’s 645. The deltas here are -82.1% and -82.2%, respectively.

The pattern is consistent: the EPYC 7282 leads by a factor of roughly five to six in every workload. The i5-4590 does not have a single benchmark win in this comparison, and its average benchmark score of 7,609 is slightly higher than the EPYC 7282’s 7,409, but that is an artifact of the different benchmark suites each chip was tested with. The i5-4590’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, scores 7,578 (a 0.4% delta), while the EPYC 7282’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-9990XE, scores 7,415 (a -0.1% delta). These averages reflect broader test sets, but the head-to-head Cinebench results are unambiguous.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i5-4590 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node from Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD EPYC 7282 uses Zen 2 (codenamed Rome) on a 7 nm process node from TSMC, with 7,600 million transistors spread across 2x 74 mm² dies. The i5-4590 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the EPYC 7282 has 16 cores and 32 threads, a 4x core and 8x thread advantage. This core count disparity is the primary driver of the multi-core benchmark gap.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The i5-4590 has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The EPYC 7282 has 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of L3 per die and 64 MB total L3. The EPYC 7282’s total L3 cache is over 10 times larger than the i5-4590’s. Memory support also diverges: the i5-4590 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus, while the EPYC 7282 uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The EPYC 7282 also supports ECC memory, while the i5-4590 does not.

Other key differences include PCIe generation and lanes. The i5-4590 supports PCIe Gen 3, while the EPYC 7282 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The i5-4590 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the EPYC 7282 has none. The i5-4590 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1150, while the EPYC 7282 is a server/workstation part on AMD Socket SP3. The i5-4590 has a TDP of 84 W, while the EPYC 7282 has a TDP of 120 W. The i5-4590 was released on 2014-04-30, while the EPYC 7282 was released on 2019-08-06 and its production status is listed as Active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4590 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The EPYC 7282 offers a 4x core advantage and an 8x thread advantage.

Q: How much larger is the EPYC 7282's L3 cache compared to the i5-4590?

A: The EPYC 7282 has 64 MB total L3 cache (32 MB per die), while the i5-4590 has 6 MB shared L3. The EPYC 7282's total L3 is more than 10 times larger.

Q: Does the i5-4590 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i5-4590 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The EPYC 7282 has no integrated graphics, as it is a server/workstation processor.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the EPYC 7282?

A: The EPYC 7282 has a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, supported by DDR4 memory on an eight-channel bus. The i5-4590 uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with no listed bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4590 does not.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two chips?

A: The i5-4590 is built on Intel's 22 nm process, while the EPYC 7282 is built on TSMC's 7 nm process. The EPYC 7282 also packs 7,600 million transistors versus the i5-4590's 1,400 million.

The Verdict

The data is overwhelmingly in favor of the AMD EPYC 7282 for any workload that benefits from multi-threading. In every Cinebench test, the EPYC 7282 leads by at least 82%, with multi-core scores that are roughly five to six times higher. The i5-4590’s only statistical edge is its average benchmark score of 7,609 versus the EPYC 7282’s 7,409, but that is due to the i5-4590 being tested against a different set of benchmarks (including PassMark tests) where the EPYC 7282 was not evaluated. In the direct head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, the EPYC 7282 is the clear winner.

The i5-4590 is a desktop processor from 2014, and its 4-core/4-thread configuration is dwarfed by the EPYC 7282’s 16-core/32-thread setup. The EPYC 7282 also has a massive cache advantage (64 MB total L3 vs 6 MB), faster memory support (DDR4 eight-channel vs DDR3 dual-channel), and ECC support. The i5-4590 does have integrated graphics, which the EPYC 7282 lacks, and a lower TDP of 84 W versus 120 W. However, for raw compute performance, the EPYC 7282 is in a different league.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4590 | AMD EPYC 7282 |

|----------------|---------------------|-----------------|

| Cores | 4 | 16 |

| Threads | 4 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 120 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Haswell | Rome |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 7,600 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 2x 74 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 32 MB (per die), 64 MB total |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 85.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2019-08-06 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $650 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7282 wins every single head-to-head benchmark in this comparison. It is the clear choice for multi-threaded server or workstation workloads, as its 16 cores and 32 threads deliver Cinebench R23 multi-core scores of 25,616 versus the i5-4590’s 4,573. The EPYC 7282 also leads in single-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,616 versus 645 for the i5-4590. The EPYC 7282’s advantages extend to memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s), ECC support, PCIe Gen 4 with 128 lanes, and a much larger L3 cache.

The Intel Core i5-4590 has no benchmark wins in this matchup. Its strengths are qualitative: it includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), has a lower TDP of 84 W, and uses a desktop socket (Intel Socket 1150) that may be more familiar in consumer builds. The i5-4590’s average benchmark score of 7,609 is slightly higher than the EPYC 7282’s 7,409, but only because the i5-4590 was tested with additional PassMark workloads (e.g., data compression at 76,800, integer math at 15,862) that the EPYC 7282 was not subjected to. For users who need a chip with integrated graphics or a lower power draw, the i5-4590 has those specific attributes. For any compute-intensive task, the EPYC 7282 is the only choice based on the data.