Intel Core i5-4590T vs Intel Core i5-6500T Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-6500T wins every recorded benchmark in the database, and the margins are consistent enough to call this a clear generational step rather than a close race. Across seven head-to-head tests, the i5-6500T takes all seven, with the smallest victory being 11.5% and the largest reaching 17.7%.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-6500T scores 408 against the i5-4590T’s 347, a 17.6% advantage. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-6500T posts 1702 versus 1446, a 17.7% lead. The same 17.7% margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with scores of 4054 and 3445 respectively. These multi-threaded results are remarkably consistent, suggesting the Skylake part sustains its advantage under sustained load without any single test revealing a weakness.

Single-core results tell the same story. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the i5-6500T at 240 against 204 for the i5-4590T, a 17.6% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core repeats the 17.7% margin, with 572 versus 486. The i5-6500T’s base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.10 GHz clearly translate into higher per-thread throughput than the i5-4590T’s 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The older Haswell part’s clock disadvantage is compounded by its older architecture, and the benchmark data shows no test where the i5-4590T manages to close the gap.

Geekbench results are slightly closer, though still firmly in the i5-6500T’s favor. Multi-core Geekbench shows 2843 for the i5-6500T against 2540 for the i5-4590T, an 11.9% lead. Single-core Geekbench shows 1016 versus 911, an 11.5% advantage. These smaller margins compared to Cinebench suggest that Geekbench’s workload mix is less sensitive to the architectural improvements between Haswell and Skylake, but the direction of the result never changes.

For context on where these chips sit in the broader market, the i5-6500T has an average benchmark score of 1362, placing it in the 36th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-4590T averages 1340, also in the 36th percentile. The i5-6500T’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8365UE at an identical 1362, the Core i7-3820QM at 1366 (0.3% ahead), and the Xeon D-1521 at 1367 (0.4% ahead). The i5-4590T’s closest competitor is the Core i5-760 at 1337, which trails by 0.2%, while the Core i5-4670 sits 0.5% ahead at 1347. The practical takeaway is that both chips occupy the same performance tier in the database, but the i5-6500T sits at the top of that tier while the i5-4590T sits near the bottom.

# FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-6500T boosts to 3.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-4590T boosts to 3.00 GHz. The i5-6500T also has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i5-6500T supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-4590T supports only DDR3. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i5-6500T has a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s compared to 25.6 GB/s for the i5-4590T.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is 17.7%, seen in Cinebench R20 multi-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core. In each of those tests, the i5-6500T wins by that exact percentage.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both are marked as end-of-life in the database. The i5-6500T was released on 2015-07-01, and the i5-4590T was released on 2014-05-10.

Q: Do the two CPUs use the same socket?

A: No. The i5-6500T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4590T uses Intel Socket 1150. They are not socket-compatible with each other.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-6500T has an average benchmark score of 1362, which is 22 points higher than the i5-4590T’s 1340. Both sit in the 36th percentile of all CPUs, but the i5-6500T’s nearest rivals are slightly faster, while the i5-4590T’s nearest rivals are slightly slower.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations, and the database shows clear consequences in both performance and physical characteristics. The i5-6500T is built on Skylake, a 14 nm process, while the i5-4590T uses Haswell on a 22 nm process. That process shrink allows the i5-6500T to achieve higher clock speeds at the same 35 W TDP, which directly explains the consistent benchmark margins.

The i5-6500T has a die size of 122 mm², while the i5-4590T’s die is 177 mm². The Skylake part is physically smaller but delivers more performance, a direct result of the newer manufacturing node. The i5-4590T does have a listed transistor count of 1,400 million, while the i5-6500T’s transistor count is not recorded in the database. Both chips have identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-6500T ships with HD Graphics 530, while the i5-4590T uses Intel HD 4600. Both are integrated solutions with no separate graphics memory, and neither supports ECC memory. The i5-6500T supports both DDR3 and DDR4, giving it flexibility in platform memory choices, while the i5-4590T is locked to DDR3. Memory bandwidth reflects this: the i5-6500T reaches 34.1 GB/s, the i5-4590T caps at 25.6 GB/s.

Both CPUs use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, so expansion capability is equivalent in that regard. The i5-6500T is part of the Skylake generation, while the i5-4590T belongs to Haswell. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiating factor. The production status for both is end-of-life, meaning neither is a current recommendation for new builds, but the architectural gap remains visible in every recorded measurement.

# Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is the socket: the i5-6500T uses Intel Socket 1151, the i5-4590T uses Intel Socket 1150. Anyone upgrading from Haswell to Skylake needs a new motherboard, and the database does not list any cross-compatibility.

Clock speeds favor the i5-6500T on both base and boost. The i5-6500T runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost; the i5-4590T runs at 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, so the performance gap comes entirely from clocks and architecture, not core count.

The process node differs: 14 nm for the i5-6500T versus 22 nm for the i5-4590T. Die size also differs, at 122 mm² versus 177 mm². The i5-4590T lists 1,400 million transistors; the i5-6500T does not have that figure recorded. Memory support differs: the i5-6500T handles DDR3 and DDR4, the i5-4590T only DDR3. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s.

Integrated graphics are different: HD Graphics 530 on the i5-6500T, Intel HD 4600 on the i5-4590T. Both have 35 W TDP, dual-channel memory, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Both lack ECC support, both lack an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life. The i5-4590T has a launch MSRP of $192, while the i5-6500T’s launch MSRP is not recorded in the database. Release dates differ by about 14 months, with the i5-4590T launching first.

# The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-6500T wins every recorded test, with margins ranging from 11.5% to 17.7%. For anyone choosing between these two specific processors, the i5-6500T is the stronger part in every measurable way. Its higher clocks, newer architecture, and greater memory bandwidth all contribute to a consistent performance advantage across Cinebench and Geekbench workloads.

The i5-4590T is not without merit, but its strengths are limited to platform familiarity and the fact that it was released earlier. It has a recorded launch MSRP of $192, while the i5-6500T’s MSRP is not in the database. Both chips occupy the 36th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. The i5-6500T’s average score of 1362 places it alongside chips like the Core i5-8365UE and Xeon D-1521, while the i5-4590T’s 1340 sits near the Core i5-760 and Core i5-4670.

For a new build, the socket difference is decisive. The i5-6500T requires Socket 1151, the i5-4590T requires Socket 1150, and neither platform is current. But if the choice is between these two parts specifically, the i5-6500T is the better performer in every benchmark category recorded. There is no test where the i5-4590T wins, and no metric where its specifications exceed the i5-6500T except for transistor count, which does not translate into a performance advantage in the data.

# Where Each One Wins

The i5-6500T wins in every scenario measured in the database. Multi-threaded workloads favor it heavily: Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 17.6% lead, R20 multi-core shows 17.7%, and R23 multi-core shows 17.7%. If the workload is rendering, encoding, or any heavily threaded task, the i5-6500T is the clear choice.

Single-threaded performance also favors the i5-6500T. Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core both show 17.7% advantages, and Geekbench single-core shows 11.5%. For everyday responsiveness, light productivity, or older games that rely on single-core strength, the i5-6500T again comes out ahead. Its higher base and boost clocks give it an edge that the i5-4590T cannot overcome.

The i5-4590T’s only potential advantage is platform cost, but the database does not record pricing for the i5-6500T, and the i5-4590T’s $192 launch MSRP is historical. In terms of raw performance, there is no benchmark category where the i5-4590T wins. Its 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and DDR3-only support are both inferior to the i5-6500T’s 34.1 GB/s and DDR3/DDR4 flexibility. The i5-4590T does have a larger die and a listed transistor count, but those do not appear as performance benefits in any recorded test.

In practical terms, the i5-6500T is the pick for anyone building on Socket 1151 and wanting the better of these two low-power quad-core parts. The i5-4590T is only the choice if a Socket 1150 motherboard is already in hand and the goal is a like-for-like replacement. The data shows a 17.7% multi-core advantage and an 11.5% single-core advantage for the i5-6500T, and those margins are consistent enough that no workload category in the database would favor the older chip.