AMD Ryzen 5 2400G vs Intel Core i5-4590S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors, with the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G dominating in multi-threaded workloads while the Intel Core i5-4590S takes a single win in one specific test. Looking at the Cinebench R15 multi-core results, the Ryzen 5 2400G scores 846.5 against the i5-4590S's 437, a massive 48.4% lead. That gap is not incremental; it represents a fundamentally different level of throughput in rendering and heavily threaded tasks. The single-core Cinebench R15 test shows an even larger relative advantage for AMD, with a score of 155.65 versus 61, a 60.8% difference. This is striking because single-threaded performance is often where older Intel architectures remain competitive, yet here the Zen-based chip decisively outperforms the Haswell part.

Moving to Geekbench, the picture becomes more nuanced. In the multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 2400G again wins, scoring 3750 versus 3289, a 12.3% advantage. This is a smaller margin than the Cinebench R15 results, suggesting that the workload characteristics differ significantly between these benchmarks. The single-core Geekbench test is the one place where Intel emerges victorious: the i5-4590S scores 1126 against the Ryzen's 1003, giving Intel a 12.3% lead. This reversal is telling. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD leads by a wide margin, but in Geekbench single-core, Intel leads by a similarly wide margin. The two benchmarks clearly stress different aspects of the microarchitecture, and the data shows that neither processor is universally faster in single-threaded work.

The overall win tally is 3 to 1 in favor of the Ryzen 5 2400G, but the single Intel win in Geekbench single-core prevents this from being a total sweep. The average benchmark scores from the database place the i5-4590S at 1493 and the Ryzen 5 2400G at 1439, indicating that when all available tests are averaged, the Intel part actually holds a slight overall edge in the aggregate. This is surprising given the head-to-head results, but it reflects the fact that the i5-4590S has a broader set of recorded benchmarks (including Cinebench R20 and R23) that pull its average up, while the Ryzen 5 2400G's benchmark list is shorter. The percentile rankings are close as well: the i5-4590S sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen 5 2400G sits at the 37th percentile. This near-tie in percentile suggests that in the broader CPU landscape, these two chips are roughly comparable overall, despite their very different character in specific tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 2400G is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. Its 48.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 12.3% lead in Geekbench multi-core point to a processor that handles parallel workloads with significantly more headroom. This makes it suitable for video encoding, 3D rendering, and any task that can utilize multiple threads. The 2400G's eight threads, enabled by simultaneous multithreading on its four cores, directly contribute to this advantage. The data shows that in Cinebench R15, the AMD chip delivers nearly double the score of the Intel chip, which is a decisive margin for any user whose primary workload is heavily threaded.

The Intel Core i5-4590S wins in one specific area: Geekbench single-core. Its 12.3% advantage there indicates that for lightly threaded applications, such as older games or legacy software that relies on a single strong core, the Haswell architecture still holds a measurable edge in this particular test. However, the Cinebench R15 single-core result contradicts this, showing AMD leading by 60.8%. This discrepancy suggests that the two benchmarks use different instruction mixes and memory access patterns. The Geekbench single-core result may reflect Intel's superior branch prediction or memory latency characteristics in that specific workload, while Cinebench R15 single-core may be more sensitive to clock speed and IPC improvements in the newer Zen core. Users should note that the i5-4590S has a lower base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, compared to the Ryzen 5 2400G's 3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, yet Intel still wins Geekbench single-core. This implies that the Intel core is executing instructions more efficiently in that test, despite lower clock frequencies.

For general desktop use, the Ryzen 5 2400G's integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics are far more capable than the Intel HD 4600, though this comparison is qualitative since the database does not provide graphics benchmark scores. The AMD chip also supports DDR4 memory, which provides higher bandwidth at 46.9 GB/s compared to the i5-4590S's DDR3 support, for which no bandwidth figure is listed. This memory advantage likely contributes to the Ryzen's performance in memory-sensitive workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i5-4590S uses the Haswell architecture, built on Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading; each core handles exactly one thread. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration and uses PCIe Gen 3. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600, a modest solution from 2014. The i5-4590S was released on 2014-04-30 and uses the Intel Socket 1150 platform.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is a Raven Ridge part, part of the 2000 series, built on Zen architecture. It uses GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process, packing 4,950 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die. This transistor count is more than triple that of the Intel chip, which reflects the integration of both CPU cores and a substantial GPU (Radeon RX Vega 11) on the same die. The Ryzen has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabled by simultaneous multithreading. Its cache layout differs: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The smaller L3 cache is notable, especially since the Intel chip has 6 MB, but the Ryzen's higher clock speeds and newer core design compensate in most benchmarks. The Ryzen supports DDR4 memory with a rated bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, and its PCIe implementation is Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU only, which is fewer than typical desktop CPUs. It also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, while the i5-4590S is locked.

The process node difference is significant: 22 nm versus 14 nm. The smaller node allows AMD to pack more transistors and integrate the Vega 11 GPU, which explains the massive transistor count difference. The Ryzen 5 2400G was released on 2018-02-11 and is marked as "Active" in production status, while the i5-4590S has no production status listed, indicating it is likely discontinued. The Ryzen's part number is YD2400C5M4MFB, and its launch MSRP was $169. The Intel part has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G wins decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 846.5 versus the Intel Core i5-4590S's 437, a 48.4% lead. In Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen scores 3750 versus 3289, a 12.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-4590S wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1126, while the Ryzen 5 2400G scores 1003, giving Intel a 12.3% lead.

Q: Why does the Ryzen 5 2400G have such a large lead in Cinebench R15 single-core?

A: The Ryzen 5 2400G scores 155.65 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 61 for the i5-4590S, a 60.8% difference. This likely reflects the Zen architecture's higher IPC and the Ryzen's higher clock speeds (3.60 GHz base, 3.90 GHz boost versus 2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz for Intel), though the Geekbench single-core result shows Intel winning, so the outcome depends heavily on the specific benchmark.

Q: What are the memory differences between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-4590S supports DDR3 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G supports DDR4 with a rated bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ryzen's DDR4 support provides a generational improvement in memory performance.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-4590S has Intel HD 4600, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has Radeon RX Vega 11. The database does not provide graphics benchmark scores, but the Vega 11 is a much larger GPU with significantly more compute resources, as indicated by the Ryzen's 4,950 million total transistors versus Intel's 1,400 million.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i5-4590S has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category, reflecting their different generations and design goals.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4590S | AMD Ryzen 5 2400G |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Zen |

| Codename | Haswell | Raven Ridge |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 210 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 46.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Radeon RX Vega 11 |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2018-02-11 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $169 |

The TDP is identical at 65 W for both, which is notable given the Ryzen's significantly higher transistor count and integrated GPU. The Ryzen's higher clocks and additional threads come at the same power envelope, indicating a more power-efficient design on the 14 nm node. The memory support difference is a major generational split: DDR3 versus DDR4, with the Ryzen having a listed bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The PCIe lane difference is also important: the Intel part uses Gen 3 with no lane limitation listed, while the Ryzen explicitly has 8 lanes from the CPU only, which may limit certain configurations.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly indicates that the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the superior processor for multi-threaded workloads. Its 48.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 12.3% lead in Geekbench multi-core make it the obvious choice for users running rendering, encoding, or compilation tasks. The AMD chip also has a large advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core, winning by 60.8%, which suggests that in that particular test, the newer Zen core is dramatically more efficient per clock. The Ryzen's higher base and boost clocks (3.60 GHz and 3.90 GHz versus 2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz) further support its performance advantage.

The Intel Core i5-4590S retains one meaningful victory: Geekbench single-core, where it leads by 12.3%. For users whose primary applications are single-threaded and specifically optimized for the Haswell architecture, the Intel chip may be sufficient. However, the Ryzen's eight threads provide future-proofing for increasingly parallel software, and its unlocked multiplier allows for additional performance tuning. The Ryzen also supports DDR4 memory, which is the modern standard, and its integrated Vega 11 graphics are substantially more capable than Intel HD 4600, based on the transistor count difference (4,950 million versus 1,400 million). The average benchmark scores are close (1493 for Intel versus 1439 for AMD), but the head-to-head results show AMD winning 3 out of 4 tests, often by wide margins. The verdict is clear: for almost any workload, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the better choice, with the only exception being specific single-threaded scenarios where the Intel chip's Geekbench advantage matters.