Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Core i5-4590S Comparison

This comparison pits a 4-core Haswell part from 2014 against a 2-core, 4-thread Kaby Lake part from 2017. The data tells a clear story: the older i5-4590S wins the vast majority of workload tests, but the i3-7350K has one specific, decisive counter-punch. Here is how the benchmark results break down, what each processor is actually good for, and which one you should choose based strictly on the numbers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-4590S takes the win in seven of the eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its advantage is consistent across every multi-threaded workload in the data. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4590S scores 437 against the i3-7350K's 417, a 4.8% lead. That gap holds steady in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1821 vs 1740, a 4.7% difference) and in Cinebench R23 multi-core (4338 vs 4144, also 4.7%). The pattern is identical in single-core Cinebench tests, where the i5-4590S leads by 5.2% in R15 (61 vs 58), 4.9% in R20 (257 vs 245), and 4.6% in R23 (612 vs 585).

The largest win for the i5-4590S comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 3289 against the i3-7350K's 3018. That 9% margin is the biggest delta in the entire comparison, and it makes sense given the structural difference: the i5 has four physical cores, while the i3 has only two physical cores with Hyper-Threading. The i5's extra physical cores deliver a decisive advantage when the workload can scale across all of them.

However, the i3-7350K has one emphatic victory. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1488 against the i5-4590S's 1126. That is a 24.3% lead for the i3, and it is by far the largest percentage difference in either direction. This is a massive single-threaded performance gap, driven by the i3's very high 4.20 GHz base clock against the i5's 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. For any workload that runs on one thread, the i3 is in a completely different league.

Looking at the broader context, both processors sit at the 38th percentile among all CPUs, so they are peers in overall standing. The i5-4590S has an average benchmark score of 1493, while the i3-7350K sits at 1462. The i5's nearest rival is the AMD Opteron 6344 (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i3-8100T (0.4% slower). The i3-7350K's closest competition includes the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE (0.1% faster) and the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 (0.2% slower). In short, the i5 is marginally ahead on average, but the per-test distribution matters far more than the aggregate.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-4590S wins on raw multi-threaded throughput. Every single Cinebench test — R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core variants — goes to the i5. The margins are small (4.6% to 5.2%), but they are consistent across every iteration of the benchmark. This tells you the i5's advantage is structural rather than situational. Its four physical cores provide a stable foundation for rendering, video encoding, and any workload that uses multiple threads. The Geekbench multi-core result reinforces this: a 9% lead, the largest of any multi-threaded test in the comparison.

The i3-7350K wins on single-threaded responsiveness. The Geekbench single-core score of 1488 is not just a win; it is a 24.3% blowout. This is the kind of performance that matters for lightly-threaded tasks: everyday desktop use, web browsing, office applications, and older games that rely on one fast core. The i3's 4.20 GHz base clock (with no boost clock listed, meaning it runs at that speed constantly) gives it a raw clock-speed advantage that the i5 cannot overcome despite its higher boost clock.

There is also a platform-level consideration in the data. The i3-7350K supports DDR4 memory with a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-4590S is limited to DDR3 with no bandwidth figure provided. The i3 also has a newer integrated GPU (Intel HD 630 vs Intel HD 4600), which could matter for systems without a discrete graphics card. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 3, so those are non-factors.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i5-4590S if you care about multi-threaded performance. It wins 7 out of 8 benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and Geekbench multi-core. The margins are not huge — 4.7% to 9% — but they are consistent. If you are running productivity workloads that scale across cores, the i5 is the safer choice. Its four physical cores are the deciding factor, and the data shows that advantage holds across three generations of Cinebench releases.

Pick the Intel Core i3-7350K if single-threaded performance is your priority. The 24.3% lead in Geekbench single-core is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. No other benchmark comes close to that margin. For tasks that are bottlenecked by one core, the i3 will feel noticeably faster. The i3 also has the benefit of being on a newer platform (Socket 1151, DDR4 support, a 14 nm process node) and has an unlocked multiplier, which is listed in the data. The i5-4590S does not have an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking potential is off the table for that chip.

The average benchmark scores are close — 1493 for the i5 versus 1462 for the i3 — and both sit at the 38th percentile. If you need a balanced all-rounder, the i5's broader set of wins makes it the default recommendation. If you have a specific single-threaded workload, the i3 is the specialist that wins where it counts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-7350K scores 1488 in Geekbench single-core, which is 24.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-4590S's 1126.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The i5-4590S scores 4338, while the i3-7350K scores 4144, giving the i5 a 4.7% lead in that test.

Q: Which CPU has more physical cores?

A: The i5-4590S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-7350K has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the base clock difference between these two CPUs?

A: The i3-7350K has a base clock of 4.20 GHz, while the i5-4590S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz. The i5 has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the i3 lists no boost clock.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The i3-7350K supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4590S supports DDR3 only.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-4590S has an average benchmark score of 1493, compared to 1462 for the i3-7350K.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The i5-4590S is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node from Intel. It has a die size of 177 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors. The i3-7350K is built on the Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node. The i3's transistor count and die size are not listed in the data, but the process node shrink is a clear generational step forward.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i5-4590S has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The i3-7350K has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count. The cache hierarchy is identical in L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core), but the shared L3 cache differs: the i5 has 6 MB shared, while the i3 has 4 MB shared.

The integrated graphics are different generations. The i5-4590S uses Intel HD 4600, while the i3-7350K uses Intel HD 630. Both processors support dual-channel memory and have ECC support disabled. The i5 uses the older Intel Socket 1150, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1151. The i3 has an unlocked multiplier (confirmed in the data), while the i5 does not.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two CPUs differ, based on the data provided.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4590S | Intel Core i3-7350K |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | None listed |

| TDP | 65 W | 60 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Haswell | Kaby Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 630 |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2017-01-02 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR35B |