CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4590
Core i9-9980XE
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i5-4590 vs Intel Core i9-9980XE
The Intel Core i5-4590 and Intel Core i9-9980XE represent two vastly different eras and market positions within Intel’s desktop lineup. The i5-4590 is a 2014 Haswell part aimed at mainstream quad-core performance, while the i9-9980XE is a 2018 Skylake-X extreme edition processor built for heavy multi-threaded workloads. Benchmark data confirms that the i9-9980XE dominates almost every measurable metric, though the i5-4590 holds its own in specific legacy tasks.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The data shows a stark performance chasm between these two processors. Across all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Intel Core i9-9980XE wins every single test. The most extreme deltas appear in multi-core workloads, where the 18-core part obliterates the quad-core i5-4590. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-9980XE scores 2699 against the i5-4590’s 460, a delta of -83%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (11247 vs 1920, -82.9%) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (26780 vs 4573, -82.9%). The i9-9980XE delivers roughly six times the multi-threaded rendering performance of the i5-4590 in these tests.
Single-core results are closer but still favor the newer processor. In Geekbench single-core, the i9-9980XE scores 1437 versus the i5-4590’s 1077, representing a -25.1% delta. That is the smallest gap in the entire head-to-head set, suggesting the older Haswell architecture still holds up reasonably well in lightly-threaded tasks. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a wider gap: 380 for the i9-9980XE versus 64 for the i5-4590, a -83.2% delta. Interestingly, the Cinebench R15 single-core scores appear anomalously low for both chips relative to their R20 and R23 single-core numbers, but the relative ordering remains consistent.
The i9-9980XE’s advantage persists in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 11270 against the i5-4590’s 3156, a -72% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core (1587 vs 270, -83%) and Cinebench R23 single-core (3780 vs 645, -82.9%) continue the trend of overwhelming i9-9980XE superiority. The i5-4590 has zero benchmark wins in this comparison, while the i9-9980XE claims all eight.
Architecture Differences
The architectural divide between these two CPUs is fundamental. The i5-4590 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, featuring 4 cores and 4 threads. The i9-9980XE employs the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process, with 18 cores and 36 threads. The die sizes reflect this difference: the i5-4590 has a 177 mm² die with 1,400 million transistors, while the i9-9980XE’s die measures 484 mm² with no transistor count listed in the data.
Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but L2 cache jumps from 256 KB per core on the i5-4590 to 1 MB per core on the i9-9980XE. L3 cache scales even more dramatically: the i5-4590 has 6 MB shared, while the i9-9980XE carries 24.75 MB shared. The i9-9980XE’s massive L3 pool is typical of high-core-count HEDT parts.
Memory architecture is another key divergence. The i5-4590 supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, while the i9-9980XE supports DDR4 over a quad-channel bus with a listed memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The i9-9980XE also offers 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, whereas the i5-4590 uses PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count specified. The i5-4590 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the i9-9980XE has none. The i9-9980XE has an unlocked multiplier; the i5-4590 does not.
Where Each One Wins
Based on the benchmark data, the i9-9980XE wins in every single workload category tested. Multi-core rendering, single-core rendering, and general system benchmarks all favor the newer processor. The i9-9980XE’s 18 cores and 36 threads make it the clear choice for heavily parallel tasks like 3D rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, and any workflow that scales across cores. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 26780 is nearly six times the i5-4590’s 4573, indicating that content creators and professionals would see massive throughput gains.
The i5-4590’s only potential advantage lies in power efficiency and platform simplicity, though the data does not include direct power consumption measurements. Its 84 W TDP is far lower than the i9-9980XE’s 165 W TDP, and it uses the older DDR3 platform with integrated graphics, which may be sufficient for basic office tasks, light browsing, and legacy applications. The i5-4590’s Geekbench single-core score of 1077 is not far behind the i9-9980XE’s 1437 in relative terms, suggesting that for older single-threaded software, the i5-4590 could still feel responsive. However, in every measured benchmark, the i9-9980XE comes out ahead.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. Core count is the most obvious: 4 cores on the i5-4590 versus 18 on the i9-9980XE, with threads at 4 versus 36 respectively. Base clocks are close (3.30 GHz for the i5-4590, 3.00 GHz for the i9-9980XE), but boost clocks favor the i9-9980XE at 4.50 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. TDP is 84 W for the i5-4590 and 165 W for the i9-9980XE.
Sockets are incompatible: the i5-4590 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i9-9980XE uses Intel Socket 2066. Process nodes differ (22 nm vs 14 nm), as do codenames (Haswell vs Skylake-X). The i5-4590 supports DDR3 memory, while the i9-9980XE supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The i9-9980XE has 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes; the i5-4590’s PCIe lane count is not listed.
Cache differences are pronounced: the i5-4590 has 6 MB shared L3, while the i9-9980XE has 24.75 MB shared L3. L2 cache per core is 256 KB on the i5-4590 versus 1 MB on the i9-9980XE. The i5-4590 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics; the i9-9980XE has no integrated graphics. The i9-9980XE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the i5-4590 does not. The i9-9980XE’s launch MSRP is $1979, while the i5-4590 has no listed launch MSRP.
FAQ
Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?
A: The Intel Core i9-9980XE is dramatically faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 26780 versus the i5-4590’s 4573, a -82.9% delta. Geekbench multi-core shows 11270 versus 3156, a -72% delta.
Q: How does the i5-4590 compare in single-core performance?
A: The i9-9980XE still wins, but the gap is smaller. In Geekbench single-core, the i9-9980XE scores 1437 versus 1077, a -25.1% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3780 versus 645, a -82.9% delta.
Q: What is the core and thread difference?
A: The i5-4590 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i9-9980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads. This explains the massive multi-threaded performance advantage of the i9-9980XE.
Q: Do these processors support the same memory?
A: No. The i5-4590 supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus. The i9-9980XE supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth.
Q: Which processor has more cache?
A: The i9-9980XE has significantly more. It features 24.75 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. The i5-4590 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core.
Q: Is the i9-9980XE unlocked for overclocking?
A: Yes, the i9-9980XE has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-4590 does not have an unlocked multiplier.