CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-13700E and the Intel Core i5-4590 represent two distinct eras of desktop computing. The data shows a complete generational shift, with the i7-13700E winning all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The i7-13700E posts an average benchmark score of 7957, placing it in the 64th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-4590 averages 7609, sitting in the 63rd percentile. Despite the closeness in these aggregate percentiles, the per-test deltas reveal an enormous performance gulf, driven by a 12-core and 20-thread advantage, a newer architecture, and a significantly higher boost clock.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-13700E wins every single workload category represented in the data. There is no test in the FACT PACK where the i5-4590 comes out ahead. The i7-13700E’s dominance is most pronounced in multi-threaded workloads, where its 16 cores and 24 threads allow it to pull ahead by margins exceeding 500% in Cinebench tests. For instance, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-13700E scores 27941 against the i5-4590’s 4573, a delta of 511%. This indicates that the i7-13700E is the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, and any heavily parallelized compute task.

The single-core results tell a similar story, though the margins are slightly smaller. In Geekbench single-core, the i7-13700E scores 2437 versus 1077 for the i5-4590, a 126.3% advantage. This still represents a massive leap in per-thread performance, meaning the i7-13700E also wins in lightly-threaded applications like older games or everyday productivity software. The i5-4590, with only 4 cores and 4 threads, is relegated to a position where it can only serve basic, legacy tasks. Its only unique data points are PassMark tests, where it scores 76800 in data compression and 1353 in data encryption, but these are not part of the head-to-head comparison set and cannot offset its losses in the Cinebench and Geekbench suites.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is vast. The i7-13700E is built on Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture (codename Raptor Lake-S) using a 10 nm process node, while the i5-4590 uses the much older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process. This node difference alone explains a substantial portion of the performance and efficiency disparity. The i7-13700E features 16 cores and 24 threads, compared to the i5-4590’s 4 cores and 4 threads. This quadrupling of cores is the primary driver behind the multi-core benchmark results.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i7-13700E has an 80 KB L1 cache per core, a 2 MB L2 cache per core, and a shared 30 MB L3 cache. The i5-4590 offers 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-13700E’s larger L3 cache is particularly beneficial for workloads that repeatedly access large datasets. The i7-13700E also supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, whereas the i5-4590 is limited to DDR3. This memory support difference allows the newer chip to feed its cores with significantly more bandwidth, which is crucial for modern workloads. Furthermore, the i7-13700E supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i5-4590.

The process node and architecture also lead to different power and clock characteristics. The i7-13700E has a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, with a 65W TDP. The i5-4590 has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz but a much lower boost clock of 3.70 GHz, and it consumes more power at 84W TDP. The i7-13700E’s ability to boost to 5.10 GHz is a major factor in its single-core performance advantage. The i7-13700E also uses the newer Intel Socket 1700 and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i5-4590 uses Socket 1150 and PCIe Gen 3. The i7-13700E has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, whereas the i5-4590 is locked. Finally, the integrated graphics differ: the i7-13700E includes UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-4590 has Intel HD 4600.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-13700E is the superior processor in every measurable way. It is the only rational choice for any user building or upgrading a system for performance-oriented tasks. The data shows wins of 511% to 520% in Cinebench multi-core tests and a 303.3% win in Geekbench multi-core, proving it is in a completely different performance class. The i7-13700E also leads in single-core scores by 126.3% to 520.3%, making it better for both productivity and gaming alike.

The i5-4590, while holding a 63rd percentile ranking, is architecturally obsolete. Its 4-core, 4-thread configuration with a 3.70 GHz boost clock cannot compete with the i7-13700E’s 16-core, 24-thread setup with a 5.10 GHz boost. The i5-4590’s only potential use case is in a legacy system where software compatibility with DDR3 or Socket 1150 is absolutely required. However, for any new build or significant upgrade, the i7-13700E is the definitive choice. Its higher average benchmark score of 7957 versus 7609, combined with lower TDP (65W vs 84W), makes it not only faster but also more power-efficient. There is no scenario where the data supports selecting the i5-4590 on performance merits.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i7-13700E in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-13700E scores 27941, which is 511% higher than the i5-4590’s 4573. Similarly, in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-13700E scores 11735 against 1920, a 511.2% delta.

Q: Does the i5-4590 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-13700E winning all eight comparisons (winsA: 8, winsB: 0). The i5-4590 has no victories in the Cinebench or Geekbench suites.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The i7-13700E has 16 cores and 24 threads. The i5-4590 has 4 cores and 4 threads. This represents a 12-core and 20-thread advantage for the i7-13700E.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-13700E has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which is significantly higher than the i5-4590’s 3.70 GHz boost clock.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The i7-13700E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i5-4590 only supports DDR3. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i7-13700E also supports ECC memory, which the i5-4590 does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-13700E has an average benchmark score of 7957, placing it in the 64th percentile. The i5-4590 has an average score of 7609, placing it in the 63rd percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories for the Intel Core i7-13700E occur in the Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-13700E scores 2816 against the i5-4590’s 460, yielding a massive 512.2% delta. This trend continues in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7-13700E posts 11735 versus 1920, a 511.2% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the i7-13700E at 27941 and the i5-4590 at 4573, a 511% difference. These results confirm that the i7-13700E is roughly six times faster than the i5-4590 in heavily threaded rendering scenarios.

Single-core performance also heavily favors the i7-13700E, though the deltas vary. The largest single-core margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-13700E scores 397 versus 64, a 520.3% delta. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows a 513.3% advantage, with scores of 1656 and 270. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-13700E achieves 3944 against 645, a 511.5% delta. The Geekbench single-core test presents a smaller, but still substantial, 126.3% advantage, with the i7-13700E scoring 2437 and the i5-4590 scoring 1077.

The Geekbench multi-core test also demonstrates a clear win for the i7-13700E, but with a lower percentage than Cinebench. The i7-13700E scores 12728, while the i5-4590 scores 3156, resulting in a 303.3% delta. This indicates that while the i7-13700E is overwhelmingly faster, the exact magnitude depends on the benchmark’s workload scaling. Across all eight head-to-head tests, the i7-13700E maintains a minimum lead of 126.3% and a maximum lead of 520.3%, leaving no doubt about its absolute performance superiority.