Intel Core i3-8100 vs Intel Core i5-4590 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two quad-core processors. The Intel Core i5-4590 dominates the Cinebench suite, while the Intel Core i3-8100 takes the Geekbench and most PassMark tests. Across 19 recorded comparisons, the Core i3-8100 wins 11, the Core i5-4590 wins 8.

The most decisive wins for the Core i5-4590 come in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4590 scores 460 against the i3-8100's 379, a 17.6% advantage. The single-core result is nearly identical: 64 versus 53, a 17.2% gap. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 (1920 vs 1582, a 17.6% deficit for the i3-8100 in multi-core; 270 vs 223, a 17.4% gap in single-core) and Cinebench R23 (4573 vs 3769, a 17.6% difference; 645 vs 532, a 17.5% difference). The consistency of these deltas across all three Cinebench versions suggests a fundamental architectural advantage for the older Haswell part in rendering workloads.

The Core i3-8100 fights back hard in the Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3-8100 scores 3458 against 3156 for the i5-4590, a 9.6% lead. The single-core result is even stronger: 1214 versus 1077, a 12.7% advantage. These are not marginal differences; they indicate the Coffee Lake chip has a real per-thread performance edge in this particular benchmark.

PassMark tells a more nuanced story. The i3-8100 wins several tests by wide margins. Data encryption is the standout: 1828 versus 1353, a 35.1% lead. Extended instructions go to the i3-8100 at 7212 versus 6133, a 17.6% gap. Floating point math favors the i3-8100 at 13774 versus 12057, a 14.2% margin. Physics simulation goes to the i3-8100 at 462 versus 402, a 14.9% difference. Multithreaded performance in PassMark shows the i3-8100 at 6086 versus 5373, a 13.3% lead. Single-thread PassMark also favors the i3-8100 at 2203 versus 2081, a 5.9% edge. Integer math is close, with the i3-8100 ahead 16191 to 15862, only a 2.1% margin.

The i5-4590 takes a few PassMark tests. Random string sorting goes to the i5-4590 at 10238 versus 10150, a narrow 0.9% edge. Find prime numbers favors the i5-4590 at 32 versus 27, a 15.6% lead. Data compression goes to the i3-8100 at 82992 versus 76800, an 8.1% advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split is clear. The Core i5-4590 is the better choice for Cinebench-style rendering tasks. Its consistent 17.6% lead across all multi-core Cinebench versions points to a genuine advantage in sustained all-core compute. The single-core Cinebench results also favor the i5-4590 by around 17.2% to 17.5%, which is surprising given the i3-8100's newer architecture. If your work involves 3D rendering, video encoding, or any application that mirrors Cinebench's workload, the data says the i5-4590 is the stronger part.

The Core i3-8100 excels in Geekbench and in most PassMark tests. The 35.1% lead in data encryption is substantial, and the 17.6% advantage in extended instructions suggests better SIMD or specialized instruction handling. Floating point math, physics simulation, and multithreaded PassMark all favor the i3-8100 by margins between 13.3% and 14.9%. For general productivity, web browsing, office applications, and light content creation, the i3-8100's benchmark profile is more favorable.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i3-8100 has an average score of 8123, while the i5-4590 averages 7609. That is a 6.8% difference in overall average. The i3-8100 sits at the 64th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the i5-4590 sits at the 63rd percentile. These are close overall standings, but the i3-8100 is consistently ahead in more tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel design. The Core i3-8100 uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the Core i5-4590 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process. This process node difference likely explains the i3-8100's lower 65 W TDP versus the i5-4590's 84 W TDP.

Both chips have 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading on either. The i3-8100 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and no boost clock, while the i5-4590 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i5-4590's boost capability gives it a higher maximum clock, which may contribute to its Cinebench wins.

Cache configurations are identical in structure: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The die sizes differ significantly. The i3-8100 has a die size of 126 mm², while the i5-4590 has a die size of 177 mm². The i5-4590 has 1,400 million transistors, while the i3-8100 has no transistor count recorded in the database.

Memory support diverges completely. The i3-8100 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4590 supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded. The i3-8100 supports ECC memory, while the i5-4590 does not.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i3-8100 uses UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-4590 uses Intel HD 4600. Sockets are incompatible: the i3-8100 uses Intel Socket 1151, the i5-4590 uses Intel Socket 1150. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the i3-8100 is recorded as having 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-4590 simply records Gen 3 without lane specifics.

The i3-8100 was released in October 2017 with a launch MSRP of $117. The i5-4590 was released in April 2014 with no launch MSRP recorded. The i3-8100 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4590 has no production status recorded.

The Verdict

The data does not support a single winner for all scenarios. The Core i5-4590 is the stronger part for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, beating the i3-8100 by a consistent 17.6% in multi-core tests and 17.2% to 17.5% in single-core tests. If your primary applications are renderers or heavily threaded compute tasks that resemble Cinebench, the i5-4590 is the better choice despite being the older design.

The Core i3-8100 is the better all-around performer. It wins 11 of 19 head-to-head tests, including Geekbench multi-core by 9.6%, Geekbench single-core by 12.7%, PassMark data encryption by 35.1%, and PassMark multithread by 13.3%. Its average benchmark score of 8123 exceeds the i5-4590's 7609. It also runs cooler at 65 W TDP, supports newer DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and includes ECC support.

The i3-8100's nearest rivals in the database are interesting: the Xeon Platinum 8180M is 0.2% ahead, the EPYC 7302 is 0.2% behind, and the Xeon Gold 5318Y is 0.3% behind. This shows the i3-8100's average score lands in server-class territory, which is remarkable for a quad-core desktop chip. The i5-4590's nearest rivals include the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 0.4% ahead, the Core i5-6500 0.5% ahead, and the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX 1.7% behind.

The practical choice depends on your software. For rendering, the i5-4590 is the pick. For everything else, the i3-8100 offers better performance, lower power consumption, and a modern memory platform. The i3-8100 also has the advantage of being the newer release by more than three years.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100 wins 11 of the 19 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-4590 wins 8.

Q: How large is the Core i5-4590's lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-4590 scores 4573 versus the i3-8100's 3769, a 17.6% advantage.

Q: What is the biggest single-test margin between these two CPUs?

A: The Core i3-8100 leads by 35.1% in PassMark data encryption, scoring 1828 against the i5-4590's 1353.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither has hyper-threading enabled.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-4590 supports DDR3.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i3-8100 has an average benchmark score of 8123, while the Core i5-4590 averages 7609.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-8100 | Intel Core i5-4590 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 84 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Haswell |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

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

| Release Date | 2017-10-04 | 2014-04-30 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Not recorded |

| Launch MSRP | $117 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR3N5 | Not recorded |