Intel Core i5-4590T vs Intel Core i5-4670 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-4670 dominates this comparison across every benchmark where both chips appear. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4670 scores 469 versus the i5-4590T's 347, a 35.2% advantage. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-4670 posts 1957 against 1446 for the i5-4590T, a 35.3% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the same story: 4660 versus 3445, again a 35.3% difference. The i5-4670's single-core results are equally decisive. Cinebench R20 single-core sees 275 versus 204, a 34.8% lead; Cinebench R23 single-core sees 657 versus 486, a 35.2% lead. Across five head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-4670 wins all five, with margins consistently in the 34.8% to 35.3% range.

What does that performance gap mean in practical terms? The i5-4670's average benchmark score of 1347 puts it just 0.5% ahead of the i5-4590T's 1340 average. That seems like a trivial difference, but the head-to-head deltas tell a different story. The 35% swings in Cinebench tests reflect the i5-4670's higher clock speeds, and those translate to workloads that are sensitive to raw frequency. The i5-4590T's single benchmark win comes from Geekbench, where it scores 2540 multi-core and 911 single-core — but those results lack a corresponding i5-4670 score in the data, so they cannot be compared directly.

Look at the nearest rivals for context. The i5-4670 sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-7400T (1348 average score) and 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon W-2104 (1350 average score). The i5-4590T, meanwhile, is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-760 (1337 average score) and 0.6% behind the same i5-7400T. Both chips occupy the same 36th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically peers in overall performance despite the i5-4670's clear win in every shared benchmark.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice for most builders: the Intel Core i5-4670 is the faster processor in every measurable way that matters. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks with margins above 34%, and its 84W TDP is the price you pay for that performance. The i5-4590T, with its 35W TDP, is not a competitor on speed; it is a competitor on power efficiency.

If you are building a desktop that will handle multi-threaded workloads like video rendering or 3D modeling, the i5-4670's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 4660 versus 3445 is the deciding factor. That 35.3% gap means significantly shorter render times. If you are assembling a low-power system where heat output and electricity draw are primary concerns, the i5-4590T's 35W TDP compared to 84W for the i5-4670 makes it the only rational pick — but you must accept roughly 35% slower performance in CPU-bound tasks.

Neither chip is overclockable; both have locked multipliers. Both are Haswell parts on Intel Socket 1150 with 22nm process nodes, 1,400 million transistors, and 177 mm² die sizes. The i5-4590T adds a 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth figure and a $192 launch MSRP, while the i5-4670 has no launch MSRP listed. The i5-4590T is marked end-of-life, which may matter for long-term availability. For raw compute, choose the i5-4670. For quiet, cool, low-power operation, choose the i5-4590T. There is no middle ground in the benchmark data.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Haswell, built on Intel's 22nm process at Intel's own foundry. Transistor counts are identical at 1,400 million, and die sizes match at 177 mm². Both use four cores and four threads, with the same cache hierarchy: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Integrated graphics are the same Intel HD 4600 on both chips. PCIe is Gen 3 on both, though the i5-4590T specifies "16 Lanes(CPU only)" while the i5-4670 simply lists "Gen 3."

The architectural differences are entirely in clock behavior and power envelope. The i5-4670 runs a 3.40 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The i5-4590T runs a 2.00 GHz base clock — note the FACT PACK lists this as "2000.00" — and boosts to 3.00 GHz. That 1.40 GHz base clock gap and 0.80 GHz boost clock gap explain the consistent 35% benchmark deltas. The i5-4590T achieves its 35W TDP by running those clocks at roughly half the i5-4670's 84W TDP. Both are dual-channel DDR3 parts; the i5-4590T's memory bandwidth is listed at 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-4670's is not specified.

Neither chip supports ECC memory. Both are desktop market segment parts. The i5-4670 launched on 2013-06-01; the i5-4590T launched on 2014-05-10, about a year later. The i5-4590T carries part number SR1S6, while the i5-4670 is SR14D. Both are locked multipliers, so the performance gap cannot be closed through overclocking.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-4670 | Intel Core i5-4590T |

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

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 84W | 35W |

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

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

| Production Status | Not specified | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-06-01 | 2014-05-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $192 |

| Part Number | SR14D | SR1S6 |

The specification table highlights the core trade-off. The i5-4670 offers 1.40 GHz more base clock and 0.80 GHz more boost clock, consuming 49W more power. The i5-4590T's 35W TDP is less than half the i5-4670's 84W, making it suitable for compact or passively cooled systems. Memory bandwidth is only listed for the i5-4590T at 25.6 GB/s, so a direct comparison is impossible. The i5-4590T's end-of-life status and later release date are the only other meaningful distinctions.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-4670 wins every multi-core benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core it scores 469 versus 347, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core it scores 4660 versus 3445 — both a 35.2% to 35.3% advantage.

Q: Does the i5-4590T win any benchmark?

A: The head-to-head data shows zero wins for the i5-4590T across five Cinebench tests. It does have Geekbench scores (2540 multi-core, 911 single-core), but no corresponding i5-4670 Geekbench result exists for comparison.

Q: Why is the i5-4590T slower despite having the same architecture?

A: Both are 22nm Haswell parts with identical cores, threads, and cache. The i5-4590T runs a 2.00 GHz base clock and 3.00 GHz boost clock versus the i5-4670's 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost — that clock deficit directly produces the ~35% benchmark gap.

Q: Is the i5-4590T worth considering for any build?

A: Yes, for power-constrained systems. Its 35W TDP versus 84W for the i5-4670 makes it dramatically more efficient. If your priority is low heat and low power draw rather than compute speed, the i5-4590T is the only sensible option in this pair.

Q: Are these CPUs overclockable?

A: No. Both have locked multipliers, so the 35% performance gap is fixed. You cannot close it by raising clocks on the i5-4590T.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-4670's average score of 1347 is 0.1% behind the i5-7400T and 0.2% behind the Xeon W-2104. The i5-4590T's average of 1340 is 0.2% ahead of the i5-760 and 0.6% behind the same i5-7400T. Both sit at the 36th percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4670 wins in every scenario that demands compute throughput. Multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, 3D modeling, and batch processing all benefit from its 35.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Single-threaded tasks — legacy applications, lightly threaded games, office productivity — see a similar 34.8% to 35.2% advantage in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests. The i5-4670 is the clear pick for any desktop where speed is the primary requirement and power consumption is a secondary concern.

The Intel Core i5-4590T wins in scenarios where power efficiency trumps raw performance. Its 35W TDP, compared to 84W for the i5-4670, makes it suitable for small form factor builds, fanless cooling setups, home theater PCs, or any system where heat dissipation is a challenge. The 2.00 GHz base clock is low enough to keep idle and light-load power draw minimal, while the 3.00 GHz boost provides acceptable responsiveness for everyday tasks. It is also the only chip of the two with a stated launch MSRP of $192, which may inform purchasing decisions if budget constraints apply — though the i5-4670 has no listed MSRP for comparison.

For a builder who prioritizes benchmark performance, the choice is unambiguous: the i5-4670 wins all five head-to-head tests and offers no meaningful downside beyond its higher TDP. For a builder who prioritizes a quiet, cool, low-power machine, the i5-4590T's 35W TDP is the deciding factor, and the 35% performance penalty is the accepted trade-off. There is no scenario in the data where both criteria are satisfied simultaneously.