Intel Core i5-4590 vs Intel Xeon Gold 6326 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Xeon Gold 6326 wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i5-4590, with all six recorded tests favoring the server processor. The margin of victory is substantial across both multi-core and single-core workloads, reflecting fundamental architectural and generational differences.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon Gold 6326 scores 2,812 against the Core i5-4590's 460, a delta of 511.3%. This is the largest relative multi-core advantage in the dataset. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 396 versus 64, a 518.8% delta, which is the largest single-core margin recorded. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon Gold 6326 posts 11,719 multi-core points versus 1,920, a 510.4% delta, and 1,654 single-core points versus 270, a 512.6% delta. The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: 27,904 versus 4,573 in multi-core (510.2% delta) and 3,939 versus 645 in single-core (510.7% delta).

These deltas are remarkably consistent, hovering around 510% to 519% across all tests. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a systemic difference in execution capability. The Xeon Gold 6326's advantage is not merely about having more cores; even in single-threaded tests, it outperforms by roughly fivefold. This points to a combination of higher instruction throughput, newer microarchitecture, and faster memory subsystem access.

The average benchmark score for the Xeon Gold 6326 is 8,071, placing it in the 64th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i5-4590 averages 7,609, sitting in the 63rd percentile. Despite the massive head-to-head deltas, the percentile difference is only one point. This apparent contradiction is explained by the nearest rivals data. The Xeon Gold 6326's closest competitors include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M (average score 8,110, delta -0.5%), the Intel Core i3-8100 (8,123, -0.6%), the AMD EPYC 7302 (8,139, -0.8%), and the Intel Xeon Gold 5318Y (8,147, -0.9%). The Core i5-4590's rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX (7,578, +0.4%), the Intel Core i5-6500 (7,569, +0.5%), and the AMD EPYC 7371 (7,568, +0.5%). Both processors are surrounded by similarly performing chips, but the Xeon Gold 6326 operates in a higher absolute scoring tier.

The recorded data indicates that the Core i5-4590 has additional benchmark results beyond the Cinebench suite, including Geekbench and Passmark tests. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 3,156, and in single-core, 1,077. Passmark results show 76,800 in data compression, 1,353 in data encryption, 6,133 in extended instructions, 32 in find prime numbers, 12,057 in floating point math, 15,862 in integer math, 5,373 in multithread, 402 in physics, 10,238 in random string sorting, and 2,081 in both single_thread and singlethread tests. No comparable Passmark or Geekbench data exists for the Xeon Gold 6326 in the database, so cross-referencing these specific workloads is not possible.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation of use cases. The Intel Xeon Gold 6326 is the choice for workloads requiring massive parallel throughput and consistent single-thread performance. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 185 W TDP, target server and workstation environments where multi-socket scalability, high memory bandwidth, and reliability are paramount. The Core i5-4590, with 4 cores and 4 threads at 84 W, is a legacy desktop part suited for basic computing tasks, light productivity, and systems where power consumption and socket compatibility with older platforms matter.

For anyone comparing these two directly, the benchmark results leave no ambiguity. The Xeon Gold 6326 is superior in every measured metric. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 27,904 is roughly six times the Core i5-4590's 4,573. Even in single-core R23, the Xeon's 3,939 dwarfs the i5's 645. This is not a marginal upgrade; it is a generational leap.

However, the percentile data tempers the narrative. Both processors rank near the 63rd and 64th percentiles of all CPUs, meaning neither is at the extreme top of the global performance distribution. The Xeon Gold 6326's average score of 8,071 is only about 6% higher than the Core i5-4590's 7,609, despite the head-to-head deltas exceeding 500% in Cinebench. This discrepancy arises because the average benchmark score incorporates a broader set of tests, some of which may not scale as dramatically with core count or architecture.

The Core i5-4590 is not a poor performer in absolute terms. Its Passmark integer math score of 15,862 and floating point score of 12,057 are respectable for a 2014 desktop processor. But against the Xeon Gold 6326, the comparison is lopsided. Users with legacy software that is single-threaded will still see a multi-fold improvement with the Xeon, based on the R15 single-core delta of 518.8%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6326 dominates. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3,939 versus 645 for the Core i5-4590, a 510.7% delta. The R15 single-core test shows 396 versus 64, a 518.8% delta.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The Xeon Gold 6326 leads by a consistent margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 27,904 versus 4,573 (510.2% delta), R20 shows 11,719 versus 1,920 (510.4% delta), and R15 shows 2,812 versus 460 (511.3% delta).

Q: Why are the head-to-head deltas so large but the percentile rankings similar?

A: The Xeon Gold 6326 sits in the 64th percentile with an average score of 8,071, while the Core i5-4590 sits in the 63rd percentile with 7,609. The percentile is relative to all CPUs, and the average score includes a wider range of benchmarks beyond Cinebench, which may not show the same extreme scaling.

Q: Does the Core i5-4590 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The data records 6 wins for the Xeon Gold 6326 and 0 wins for the Core i5-4590 across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Xeon Gold 6326 supports DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i5-4590 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus; no bandwidth figure is recorded for it.

Q: What is the difference in process node and die size?

A: The Xeon Gold 6326 uses a 10 nm process from Intel. The Core i5-4590 uses a 22 nm process, has 1,400 million transistors, and a die size of 177 mm².

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon Gold 6326 | Intel Core i5-4590 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 4 |

| Threads | 32 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 185 W | 84 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4189 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 177 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 64 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2021-04-05 | 2014-04-30 |

The core and thread counts are the most striking differences: the Xeon has four times the cores and eight times the threads. The base and boost clocks are slightly lower on the Xeon, but the higher core count and newer architecture compensate. The TDP difference is substantial, with the Xeon drawing 185 W versus 84 W for the i5. The Xeon supports ECC memory, eight-channel DDR4, and PCIe Gen 4 with 64 lanes, while the i5 uses dual-channel DDR3, PCIe Gen 3, and integrates Intel HD 4600 graphics.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon Gold 6326 is built on the Ice Lake-SP architecture, a 10 nm design released in 2021. It features 16 cores with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, plus 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory subsystem is eight-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The processor supports ECC memory, which is essential for server and workstation reliability. Its PCIe Gen 4 interface provides 64 lanes from the CPU, enabling high-throughput connectivity for accelerators and storage.

The Intel Core i5-4590 uses the Haswell architecture, a 22 nm design from 2014. It has 4 cores with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory interface is dual-channel DDR3, and ECC is not supported. The integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics unit is present, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The i5's die size is 177 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, while the Xeon's die size and transistor count are not recorded in the database.

The architectural gap spans seven years and two process nodes. The Xeon's 10 nm Ice Lake design delivers significantly higher instructions per clock, particularly in single-threaded workloads, as evidenced by the 518.8% delta in Cinebench R15 single-core. The i5's Haswell design, while competent for its era, lacks the memory bandwidth, core count, and ECC capabilities required for modern server workloads. The Xeon's eight-channel memory interface and 204.8 GB/s bandwidth versus the i5's dual-channel DDR3 (bandwidth not recorded) further widen the gap in memory-intensive applications.

The production status of the Xeon is listed as active, while the i5's status is not recorded. The Xeon is aimed at the server and workstation market, while the i5 is a desktop part. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either. The release dates are 2021-04-05 for the Xeon and 2014-04-30 for the i5, a difference of roughly seven years. These architectural and temporal differences explain the consistent benchmark superiority of the Xeon Gold 6326.