Intel Core i5-4590S vs Intel Core i5-4690S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4690S and Intel Core i5-4590S are two 65 W desktop processors from the same Haswell generation, sharing the same 4-core, 4-thread layout, 22 nm process, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The database shows the 4690S winning 7 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, with the 4590S taking a single multi-core Geekbench result. This article breaks down the recorded measurements, architecture details, and practical implications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the i5-4690S wins every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, by a consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 4690S scores 464 against 437 for the 4590S, a 6.2% lead. The single-core R15 result is 65 versus 61, a 6.6% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core gap is 1935 to 1821 (6.3%), and single-core is 273 to 257 (6.2%). Cinebench R23 shows the same pattern: 4609 to 4338 multi-core (6.2%) and 650 to 612 single-core (6.2%). These are not marginal differences; they represent a consistent clock-speed advantage that carries through every rendering workload.

The only test where the 4590S comes out ahead is Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 3289 against 3251 for the 4690S, a 1.2% edge. That is a small reversal, and it does not appear in any other multi-core test. In Geekbench single-core, the 4690S wins again, 1163 to 1126, a 3.3% lead. So the 4590S has exactly one win, and it is by a narrow margin.

Looking at the aggregate scores, the 4690S averages 1551 across all recorded benchmarks, while the 4590S averages 1493. That places the 4690S in the 39th percentile of all CPUs in the database, versus the 38th percentile for the 4590S. The nearest rivals for the 4690S include the Intel Core i7-4760HQ (average 1549, delta 0.2%) and the Intel Core i3-9300 (average 1554, delta -0.2%). The 4590S sits close to the AMD Opteron 6344 (average 1492, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-3770S (average 1498, delta -0.4%). These comparisons show that both chips are competitive with other mid-range parts of their era, but the 4690S is consistently a step ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split is clear. The i5-4690S wins all single-core tests, which makes it the better choice for tasks that rely on one or two threads: older games, lightly threaded applications, and everyday responsiveness. It also wins every Cinebench multi-core test, so for rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales across all four cores, the 4690S delivers a measurable advantage. The 6.2% to 6.6% margins in Cinebench are large enough to notice in real-world rendering times.

The i5-4590S has a single win in Geekbench multi-core, and that win is only 1.2% over the 4690S. Geekbench's multi-core test is a mix of integer and floating-point workloads, and it may be more sensitive to memory latency or scheduling than Cinebench. But the margin is small, and it does not appear in any other multi-core benchmark. For most users, the 4590S's advantage in that one test is unlikely to translate into a perceptible difference in daily use. If a specific application happens to mirror Geekbench's pattern, the 4590S could edge ahead, but the data does not support a general multi-core superiority.

For gaming, the single-core performance is the dominant factor, and the 4690S leads there by 3.3% to 6.6% depending on the test. For productivity, the Cinebench results are the more representative measure of rendering and compute workloads, and the 4690S wins those by a solid margin. The 4590S is not a bad processor, but it is consistently slower in the majority of recorded tests.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Haswell architecture, using Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. They share the same cache layout: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Both have four cores and four threads, no hyper-threading, and both are locked (multiplier unlocked is false). The integrated graphics are identical: Intel HD 4600. The socket is the same, Intel Socket 1150, and both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode. ECC memory is not supported on either.

The key differences are in clock speeds and a few specification fields. The i5-4690S has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i5-4590S runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. That 300 MHz gap in both base and boost explains the consistent performance lead. The 4690S also lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the 4590S does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database. The PCIe specification differs slightly: the 4690S is listed as "Gen 3, 16 Lanes(CPU only)", while the 4590S is simply "Gen 3". The 4690S has a part number (SR1QP) and a launch MSRP of $224, while the 4590S has no recorded part number or launch MSRP.

These are minor differences. The core architecture, cache, and power envelope are identical. The 4690S is essentially a higher-binned version of the same silicon, with a higher clock ceiling. That is why it performs better across the board.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-4690S boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the i5-4590S boosts to 3.60 GHz.

Q: Do they have the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both use Intel HD 4600.

Q: Which one wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-4690S scores 4609 versus 4338 for the i5-4590S, a 6.2% lead.

Q: Is there any test where the i5-4590S wins?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multi-core, the i5-4590S scores 3289 against 3251 for the i5-4690S, a 1.2% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP of both?

A: Both are rated at 65 W.

Q: Do they support ECC memory?

A: No, both have ECC memory support set to false.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner. The i5-4690S outperforms the i5-4590S in 7 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 3.3% to 6.6%. It wins every single-core test and every Cinebench multi-core test. The only loss is a 1.2% deficit in Geekbench multi-core, which is too small to outweigh the consistent advantages elsewhere. For anyone building a system around a Haswell-era desktop CPU, the 4690S is the better choice if the price difference is acceptable. The 4590S is a viable alternative only if the specific workload matches Geekbench's multi-core pattern, but the recorded data does not support a general recommendation for it over the 4690S.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-4690S | Intel Core i5-4590S |

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

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Launch MSRP | $224 | Not specified |

| Part Number | SR1QP | Not specified |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1551 | 1493 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 39 | 38 |

| Head-to-Head Wins | 7 | 1 |

All other specifications, including cores, threads, cache, process node, socket, integrated graphics, memory support, and TDP, are identical between the two processors.