CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4590 and Intel Core i5-4570 are two closely matched Haswell desktop processors, but the benchmark data reveals a consistent, if narrow, advantage for the i5-4590 across every single test. Both CPUs share the same fundamental architecture, yet the i5-4590’s higher clock speeds translate into a measurable, albeit modest, performance lead that shows up uniformly in both synthetic and application-based workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the i5-4590 wins all 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the i5-4570 failing to secure a single victory. The largest margin of separation appears in the Geekbench single-core test, where the i5-4590 scores 1077 against the i5-4570’s 1041, a 3.5% advantage. This is a notable gap for two processors from the same family, and it points directly to the i5-4590’s superior single-threaded execution.

In multi-threaded workloads, the pattern holds. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all show the i5-4590 ahead by exactly 2.9%. For instance, in Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-4590 posts 4573 compared to the i5-4570’s 4442. This consistency across three different versions of the same benchmark suite suggests the performance delta is a stable feature of the hardware, not an artifact of a single test run. The Geekbench multicore result is slightly tighter, with the i5-4590 leading 3156 to 3118, a 1.2% margin, indicating that some multi-threaded scenarios reduce the clock-speed advantage.

The Passmark suite reinforces the trend with a series of smaller but consistent wins. In floating-point math, the i5-4590 scores 12057 versus 11706, a 3% lead. Integer math shows a 2.9% advantage (15862 vs 15415). The largest single percentage win in the Passmark suite comes from the find prime numbers test, where the i5-4590’s 32 beats the i5-4570’s 31, a 3.2% difference. Even in memory-intensive tasks like random string sorting, the i5-4590 leads by 2.5%, scoring 10238 against 9992. The data compression and encryption tests both show identical 2.4% margins, with scores of 76800 vs 75010 and 1353 vs 1321, respectively.

The smallest wins are found in Cinebench R15 single-core (1.6% delta, 64 vs 63) and Passmark physics (1.8% delta, 402 vs 395). These narrow margins suggest that in lightly threaded or physics-simulation tasks, the two processors are nearly interchangeable in practice, even though the i5-4590 still holds the statistical edge. Overall, the average benchmark score for the i5-4590 is 7609, while the i5-4570 averages 7421, a difference of roughly 2.5%. Both processors sit at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating they occupy the same performance tier in the broader market.

The Verdict

From a purely data-driven perspective, the Intel Core i5-4590 is the superior processor. It wins every benchmark comparison, with margins ranging from 1.2% to 3.5%. The most significant difference is in single-core performance, where the Geekbench result shows a 3.5% lead. This makes the i5-4590 the better choice for applications that rely heavily on single-threaded responsiveness, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity software.

The i5-4570 is not a poor performer by any means, its average benchmark score of 7421 places it in the same 63rd percentile as the i5-4590. However, the data provides no scenario where the i5-4570 comes out ahead. For a user building a system from scratch or upgrading within the same socket, the i5-4590 offers a measurable performance advantage across the board. The only reason to choose the i5-4570 would be availability or pricing, but those factors are not reflected in the benchmark data. Based strictly on performance, the i5-4590 is the clear winner.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s Haswell architecture, using the same 22 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The transistor count is identical at 1,400 million, and the die size is the same at 177 mm². The cache hierarchy is also identical: each core has 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. Both feature Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics and support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is not officially supported on either chip.

The architecture is the same, so the performance differences must come from elsewhere. The i5-4590 and i5-4570 both use the Intel Socket 1150, and both are classified as desktop market segment parts. The integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3 support, and lack of ECC memory support are all shared traits. The fundamental design is identical, which means the only meaningful architectural separation between them is the clock speed configuration, not the underlying design.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only a few documented specifications, and these differences explain the benchmark results. The base clock of the i5-4590 is 3.30 GHz, while the i5-4570 runs at 3.20 GHz. The boost clock shows a similar gap: the i5-4590 boosts to 3.70 GHz, while the i5-4570 boosts to 3.60 GHz. This 0.10 GHz advantage at both base and boost frequencies is the entire source of the i5-4590’s performance lead.

The release dates differ as well. The i5-4570 was released on June 1, 2013, while the i5-4590 followed on April 30, 2014. This roughly ten-month gap means the i5-4590 is a slightly newer part, but it does not introduce any new architectural features. The part number for the i5-4570 is listed as SR14E, while no part number is provided for the i5-4590. All other specifications, cores, threads, TDP, socket, architecture, process node, cache, memory support, integrated graphics, and PCIe generation, are identical between the two.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-4590 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-4570 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

Q: Are these processors from the same architecture family?

A: Yes, both are based on the Haswell architecture, use the 22 nm process node, and share the same codename.

Q: How much faster is the i5-4590 in single-core performance?

A: In the Geekbench single-core test, the i5-4590 scores 1077 compared to the i5-4570’s 1041, which is a 3.5% advantage, the largest single-core margin in the benchmark suite.

Q: Do both processors have the same amount of cache?

A: Yes, both feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-4590 has an average benchmark score of 7609, while the i5-4570 averages 7421. Both are at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-4570 wins?

A: No, the data shows the i5-4590 winning all 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the i5-4570 recording zero wins.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4590 wins everywhere in the benchmark data, but the size of the win varies by workload type. Its largest margins come in single-threaded and lightly threaded tasks. The 3.5% Geekbench single-core lead and the 3.2% Passmark find prime numbers lead indicate that the i5-4590 is particularly well-suited for applications that depend on a single fast core, such as legacy software or games that do not scale well across multiple threads. The consistent 2.9% lead in all three Cinebench multicore tests also makes it the better choice for content creation workloads like rendering, where every percentage point of performance matters in reducing render times.

The i5-4570, despite having zero benchmark wins, still occupies a similar performance tier at the 63rd percentile. Its narrower losses in Passmark physics (1.8%) and Cinebench R15 single-core (1.6%) suggest that in moderately threaded or physics-based simulations, the two are nearly equivalent in real-world feel. For a user who already owns an i5-4570, the upgrade to an i5-4590 would yield a modest but real improvement across all tasks, with the most noticeable gains in single-threaded responsiveness. However, the data does not identify any specific use case where the i5-4570 is the superior choice; it simply trails by a smaller margin in some areas. The i5-4590 is the pick for anyone prioritizing raw performance, while the i5-4570 remains a capable fallback for those who already have it in hand.