Intel Core i5-4590 vs Intel Core i9-7980XE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database paints a starkly one-sided picture. The Intel Core i9-7980XE wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i5-4590, taking all 8 recorded tests. The i9-7980XE is the clear choice for any workload that scales with core count, thread count, or raw single-core speed. The i5-4590, by contrast, is a legacy quad-core part that simply cannot compete on modern multithreaded or single-threaded tasks.

The data shows the i9-7980XE is roughly 81.8% ahead of the i5-4590 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. That is a massive gap, not a marginal one. The i9-7980XE also leads by 82% in Cinebench R15 single-core, by 81.8% in R20 and R23 single-core, and by 24.9% in Geekbench single-core. For users who need maximum rendering throughput, heavy multitasking, or professional content creation, the i9-7980XE is the only rational pick from this data.

However, the i5-4590 does have a place. It is a 22 nm Haswell part with a 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clock. Its lower core count (4 cores, 4 threads) and lower TDP (84 W) make it a simpler, less demanding chip. The recorded benchmarks show it still holds a respectable average benchmark score of 7609, which places it at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. That is not a weak result for a desktop processor from its era. But the verdict is clear: for any user prioritizing performance in the measured tests, the i9-7980XE wins outright.

The i9-7980XE, with its 18 cores and 36 threads, is an extreme-tier desktop part. Its average benchmark score of 7018 is actually lower than the i5-4590's 7609, but that is because the two CPUs are compared on different test suites. The head-to-head results are what matter, and those are uniformly in favor of the i9-7980XE. The i5-4590 is best suited for legacy systems, basic office work, or light browsing where its 4 threads and integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600) are sufficient. The i9-7980XE is for users who demand the highest possible throughput in multithreaded applications.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-7980XE is faster in every recorded single-core test. It leads by 82% in Cinebench R15 single-core (356 vs 64), by 81.8% in R20 (1486 vs 270), by 81.8% in R23 (3539 vs 645), and by 24.9% in Geekbench single-core (1435 vs 1077).

Q: How big is the multicore performance gap?

A: The i9-7980XE is 81.8% ahead of the i5-4590 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. In Geekbench multicore, the i9-7980XE scores 11198 versus 3156, a delta of 71.8% in its favor.

Q: Does the i5-4590 have any advantages in the recorded benchmarks?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i9-7980XE winning all 8 tests. The i5-4590 does have a higher average benchmark score (7609 vs 7018) when comparing the two CPUs across their respective full benchmark suites, but that is not a head-to-head result.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i5-4590 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads, a 14-core and 32-thread difference.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i5-4590 supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus. The i9-7980XE supports DDR4 memory on a quad-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s.

Q: Is the i9-7980XE still in production?

A: The database lists the i9-7980XE as "End-of-life." The i5-4590 has no production status listed. The i9-7980XE had a launch MSRP of $1999.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built for different platforms. The i5-4590 is based on the Haswell architecture, a 22 nm design from Intel. It has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i9-7980XE is based on Skylake-X, built on a 14 nm process. Its die size is 484 mm², and the database does not list a transistor count for it. The process node difference means the i9-7980XE uses a newer manufacturing technology, but the i5-4590's smaller die and older node are not directly comparable in performance.

The cache hierarchies also differ significantly. Both CPUs have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 256 KB per core on the i5-4590, while the i9-7980XE has 1 MB per core. The shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the i5-4590 versus 24.75 MB on the i9-7980XE. That is a substantial difference in on-chip storage, which helps the i9-7980XE in workloads that repeatedly access the same data.

The i5-4590 includes an integrated graphics unit, the Intel HD 4600. The i9-7980XE has no integrated graphics listed. This makes the i5-4590 a more self-contained option for systems without a discrete GPU, while the i9-7980XE requires a separate graphics card for display output.

The sockets are incompatible. The i5-4590 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i9-7980XE uses Intel Socket 2066. This means the two CPUs cannot be swapped into the same motherboard. The i9-7980XE also has a different PCIe configuration: Gen 3 with 44 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5-4590 has Gen 3 PCIe but no lane count listed.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows several clear divergences between the two parts. The i5-4590 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads. The base clock is higher on the i5-4590 at 3.30 GHz versus 2.60 GHz on the i9-7980XE. The boost clock, however, favors the i9-7980XE: 4.40 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. The i9-7980XE has a higher TDP at 165 W, compared to 84 W for the i5-4590.

Memory support is another differentiating factor. The i5-4590 uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus. The i9-7980XE uses DDR4 on a quad-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The i9-7980XE also supports ECC memory, but the database lists that as false for both CPUs. The i5-4590 has a generation label of "Core i5 (Haswell)," while the i9-7980XE is labeled "Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 7th Gen)."

The i9-7980XE has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the i5-4590 does not. The i9-7980XE also has a part number (SR3RS) and a launch MSRP of $1999. The i5-4590 has no launch MSRP listed. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-4590 has Intel HD 4600, the i9-7980XE has none. The i9-7980XE is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-4590 has no such listing.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uncompromising. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i9-7980XE scores 2527 against the i5-4590's 460, a delta of 81.8% in favor of the i9-7980XE. The R15 single-core test shows a similar story: 356 versus 64, an 82% lead. These are not close margins; the i9-7980XE is nearly five times faster in the single-core test and over five times faster in multicore.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. The multicore score is 10530 for the i9-7980XE versus 1920 for the i5-4590, again an 81.8% delta. The single-core test shows 1486 versus 270, also 81.8%. Cinebench R23 continues the trend: multicore 25072 versus 4573, single-core 3539 versus 645, both with an 81.8% delta. The consistency of these deltas across R15, R20, and R23 suggests the performance gap is structural, driven by the core count and architecture, not by a single workload quirk.

Geekbench results show a slightly smaller but still decisive gap. In Geekbench multicore, the i9-7980XE scores 11198 versus 3156, a 71.8% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the i9-7980XE wins 1435 versus 1077, a 24.9% lead. The single-core gap is smaller here than in Cinebench, but it is still a clear win for the i9-7980XE.

The biggest wins for the i9-7980XE come in the Cinebench suite, where it leads by over 80% in all six tests. The smallest win is in Geekbench single-core, where the i9-7980XE is still ahead by nearly a quarter. The i5-4590 does not win a single head-to-head test. The recorded data shows 8 wins for the i9-7980XE and 0 for the i5-4590. For any user choosing between these two based on the database, the i9-7980XE is the performance leader without exception.