Intel Core i5-4590S vs Intel Core i5-7500T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4590S and Intel Core i5-7500T are both locked, four-core desktop processors from Intel, yet they represent different architectural eras and target different platform constraints. Benchmark data shows the newer Kaby Lake part, the i5-7500T, holds a consistent lead in rendering workloads, while the older Haswell chip, the i5-4590S, counters with surprising wins in Geekbench tests. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1493 for the i5-4590S and 1483 for the i5-7500T — placing both at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, but the distribution of wins reveals distinct strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-7500T dominates the Cinebench suite, taking all six multicore and singlecore tests in that family. In Cinebench R15, it scores 448 versus 437 for the i5-4590S, a delta of -2.5% from the perspective of the 4590S. The singlecore R15 test shows a similar gap: 63 versus 61, a -3.2% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-7500T posts 1870 against 1821, a -2.6% delta, and in the singlecore R20 test it wins 263 to 257, a -2.3% delta. The pattern persists in Cinebench R23, where the i5-7500T scores 4454 versus 4338 (a -2.6% delta) and 628 versus 612 in singlecore (a -2.5% delta). Across all six Cinebench tests, the i5-7500T wins by a margin of roughly 2.3% to 3.2%, which is consistent but not overwhelming.

The i5-4590S, however, flips the script in Geekbench. In Geekbench multicore, it scores 3289 against 3062 for the i5-7500T — a substantial 7.4% delta in its favor. The singlecore Geekbench test also goes to the i5-4590S, with a score of 1126 versus 1078, a 4.5% delta. This is a notable split: the i5-7500T wins the Cinebench family outright, but the i5-4590S wins the Geekbench pair by larger margins. The head-to-head tally is 6 wins for the i5-7500T and 2 wins for the i5-4590S.

The deltaPct values in the nearestRivals data frame these results. The i5-4590S has an average score 0.7% above the i5-7500T, while the i5-7500T sits 0.6% below the i5-4590S in its own rival list. This means the overall performance difference is within noise for most applications, but the specific workload matters. The i5-7500T’s Cinebench wins are small but uniform, suggesting a slight architectural advantage in heavily threaded rendering tasks that scale consistently across R15, R20, and R23.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-7500T is the clear choice for rendering and multi-threaded content creation. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 4454 is the highest single number in the head-to-head set, and it wins every Cinebench iteration, from R15 to R23, in both multicore and singlecore. This consistency indicates that the Kaby Lake architecture delivers a modest but reliable edge in CPU-bound rendering workloads, even at lower clock speeds.

The i5-4590S wins decisively in Geekbench, which often reflects a different mix of integer and floating-point operations. Its 7.4% multicore advantage and 4.5% singlecore advantage are the largest margins in the entire comparison. For users running Geekbench-style workloads — which can include compression, encryption, and physics simulations — the older Haswell chip is the stronger performer despite its older node and higher TDP.

For everyday desktop tasks, the data is less dramatic. The i5-7500T’s higher Cinebench singlecore scores (63, 263, 628) suggest a slight edge in lightly threaded workloads, but the i5-4590S counters with higher Geekbench singlecore (1126 versus 1078). Neither chip is dominant across the board; the choice depends on the specific software suite. The i5-7500T’s 35W TDP versus the i5-4590S’s 65W TDP also makes the newer chip the better fit for power-constrained systems, a point reinforced by its active production status.

Architecture Differences

The i5-4590S is built on Intel’s 22 nm Haswell architecture, while the i5-7500T uses the 14 nm Kaby Lake design. This process node shrink is the most fundamental difference — 14 nm versus 22 nm — and it explains why the i5-7500T achieves competitive performance at a much lower 35W TDP versus 65W. The i5-4590S has a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors; the i5-7500T has no listed die size or transistor count, but the smaller node typically allows for denser, more efficient layouts.

Both chips have 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache structures: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The memory support differs significantly — the i5-4590S uses DDR3, while the i5-7500T uses DDR4 with a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4590S has no memory bandwidth figure in the data. The i5-7500T also specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4590S simply lists PCIe Gen 3.

Integrated graphics differ: the i5-4590S packs Intel HD 4600, while the i5-7500T has HD 630. The sockets are incompatible — the i5-4590S uses Intel Socket 1150, and the i5-7500T uses Intel Socket 1151. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The release dates are roughly three years apart: the i5-4590S launched on 2014-04-30, the i5-7500T on 2017-01-02. The i5-7500T is marked as production status "Active" with part number SR337; the i5-4590S has no production status listed.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-4590S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-7500T has a base clock of 2.70 GHz.

Q: Does the i5-7500T support faster memory?

A: Yes, the i5-7500T supports DDR4 memory and has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, whereas the i5-4590S supports DDR3 and has no memory bandwidth figure listed.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The i5-7500T has a TDP of 35W, which is significantly lower than the i5-4590S’s 65W TDP, making the Kaby Lake chip the more power-efficient option.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No, the i5-4590S uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-7500T uses Intel Socket 1151, so they require different motherboards.

Q: Which chip wins in Geekbench multicore?

A: The i5-4590S wins Geekbench multicore with a score of 3289 versus 3062 for the i5-7500T, a 7.4% delta.

Q: Do both processors have the same cache size?

A: Yes, both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4590S | Intel Core i5-7500T |

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

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 35W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Kaby Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | Not listed |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 38.4 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | HD 630 |

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2017-01-02 |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR337 |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, victory for the Intel Core i5-7500T in overall rendering performance, but the i5-4590S is not a pushover. The i5-7500T wins 6 of 8 benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests, and does so while consuming 35W versus 65W. That efficiency is a decisive advantage for compact desktops, mini-PCs, or any build where thermals and power draw are primary constraints. The Kaby Lake chip also brings modern DDR4 memory support and a newer integrated GPU (HD 630), making it the more future-proof platform choice for a system being assembled today.

However, for users whose workloads resemble Geekbench more than Cinebench, the i5-4590S is the better performer. Its 7.4% multicore and 4.5% singlecore Geekbench wins are the largest margins in the entire comparison, and it achieves these results on a 22 nm node with DDR3 memory — a signal of the Haswell design’s strengths. If you are upgrading an existing Socket 1150 system, the i5-4590S is the logical choice, as it slots into that older platform without requiring a motherboard swap.

For new builds, the i5-7500T is the safer recommendation. It wins the majority of benchmarks, runs cooler and more efficiently, and is still in active production. The i5-4590S, by contrast, is a legacy part with no production status, which may affect availability and long-term support. Ultimately, the i5-7500T is the better all-around CPU for most users, but the i5-4590S deserves credit for its Geekbench dominance, which could tip the scales for specific applications. The average scores (1493 versus 1483) are close enough that software compatibility and platform cost should guide the final decision.