CPU Comparison

Intel Core i5-4590T vs Intel Core i5-760

The benchmark data delivers a decisive verdict: the older Intel Core i5-760 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4590T across every single measured workload, winning all five head-to-head comparisons. Despite the 4590T’s newer Haswell architecture and dramatically lower power envelope, the 760’s higher clock speeds give it a consistent 25% advantage in both single-core and multi-core tests, making it the stronger performer in this matchup. The 4590T, however, is not without merit, its efficiency and platform features position it as the better choice for specific, power-conscious use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-760 wins every benchmark in the comparison, with a remarkably uniform margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 760 scores 466 against the 4590T’s 347, a delta of -25.5% for the 4590T. This pattern repeats almost identically in Cinebench R20 multi-core: the 760 posts 1942 versus 1446, again a -25.5% difference. The consistency is striking, the 760 maintains roughly the same 25.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 4624 to the 4590T’s 3445.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the 760 scores 273 while the 4590T manages only 204, a -25.3% gap. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the 760 at 652 versus 486 for the 4590T, another -25.5% difference. The uniformity of these margins across both multi-threaded and single-threaded tests indicates that the 760’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental clock-speed-driven edge. The 4590T’s base clock of 2000 MHz and boost clock of 3000 MHz simply cannot match the 760’s 2800 MHz base and 3330 MHz boost, and the benchmark scores reflect this gap precisely.

There is no single benchmark where the 4590T closes the gap or wins. The head-to-head table shows winsA at 0 and winsB at 5, making the outcome unambiguous. The average benchmark scores underscore the near-parity in overall standing: the 4590T averages 1340 points, while the 760 averages 1337, a negligible 0.2% difference in aggregate. This apparent contradiction, near-identical averages yet a 25% deficit in every individual Cinebench test, arises because the 4590T’s Geekbench results (2540 multi-core, 911 single-core) are not matched by a corresponding Geekbench entry for the 760 in the data. The Cinebench suite, which covers both processors equally, paints the definitive competitive picture.

Where Each One Wins

The data supports a clear split: the Intel Core i5-760 wins every performance scenario measured, but the Intel Core i5-4590T wins on efficiency and platform modernity. In any CPU-bound task, rendering, encoding, or computational workloads, the 760’s superior clock speeds deliver a 25% performance advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core. Users prioritizing raw throughput should choose the 760 without hesitation.

The 4590T’s strengths lie elsewhere. Its 35 W TDP versus the 760’s 95 W TDP means it draws substantially less power, making it suitable for compact or thermally constrained systems where the 760 would require more substantial cooling. The 4590T also includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, whereas the 760 has no integrated graphics at all, so the 4590T can power a display without a discrete GPU. For a low-power media server or an office PC that never stresses all cores, the 4590T’s performance, while 25% lower, may be entirely sufficient, and its efficiency and integrated graphics make it the more practical choice.

The 4590T’s percentile ranking of 36 versus the 760’s 35 is statistically insignificant, placing both in the same performance tier among all CPUs. This means that in the broader market context, neither chip is a standout, but for a user building a system today from these two options, the decision hinges on whether raw compute (760) or efficiency and integrated graphics (4590T) matter more.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras. The Intel Core i5-4590T uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, while the Intel Core i5-760 uses the older Nehalem architecture (codename Lynnfield) on a 45 nm node. This generational gap explains the 4590T’s superior efficiency: Haswell’s smaller 22 nm transistors (1,400 million) on a 177 mm² die are far more power-efficient than Lynnfield’s 774 million transistors on a much larger 296 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache favors the 760: it offers 8 MB of shared L3, while the 4590T has only 6 MB. This larger cache does not compensate for the 760’s clock disadvantage in the benchmarks, but it does contribute to the 760’s competitive standing. The 4590T’s smaller cache is offset by architectural improvements in Haswell that improve instructions per clock, yet the raw clock speed gap proves decisive.

The 4590T supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the 760 is limited to PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes. This matters for modern GPUs and NVMe drives, which can benefit from the higher bandwidth of Gen 3. The 4590T also integrates Intel HD 4600 graphics, a feature entirely absent from the 760. Memory support is DDR3 for both, dual-channel, but the 4590T specifies 25.6 GB/s bandwidth while the 760’s bandwidth is not listed. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers, preventing overclocking.

Specification Differences

The specification table highlights several key divergences. The 4590T has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3000 MHz, while the 760 runs at 2800 MHz base and 3330 MHz boost, the 760 is 40% faster at base and 11% faster at boost. TDP is a major differentiator: 35 W for the 4590T versus 95 W for the 760, a 60 W gap that dictates cooling and power supply requirements.

Sockets are incompatible: the 4590T uses Intel Socket 1150, while the 760 uses Intel Socket 1156. This means motherboard choice is mutually exclusive, and any upgrade path requires a board change. The 4590T’s process node is 22 nm versus 45 nm for the 760, and transistor counts are 1,400 million versus 774 million, respectively. Die size also differs: 177 mm² for the 4590T and 296 mm² for the 760. The 4590T has integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600); the 760 has none. The 4590T’s launch MSRP was $192, while no launch price is listed for the 760. Release dates are May 2014 for the 4590T and July 2010 for the 760, placing nearly four years between them. Both are end-of-life products. Part numbers are SR1S6 for the 4590T and SLBRP for the 760.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-760 is faster in every multi-core test. It scores 466 to the 4590T’s 347 in Cinebench R15, 1942 to 1446 in Cinebench R20, and 4624 to 3445 in Cinebench R23, a consistent 25.5% advantage.

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

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the 4590T wins zero benchmarks, while the 760 wins all five. The 4590T’s only comparative strength is its average benchmark score of 1340, which is 0.2% above the 760’s 1337, but this is not a direct head-to-head result.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-4590T has integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600). The Intel Core i5-760 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The 4590T uses Intel Socket 1150, while the 760 uses Intel Socket 1156. They are not interchangeable, and each requires a motherboard designed for its specific socket.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The 4590T has a TDP of 35 W, while the 760 has a TDP of 95 W. The 4590T consumes significantly less power, which translates to lower heat output and potentially quieter operation in appropriately configured systems.

Q: Why does the 760 win despite being older?

A: The 760’s higher clock speeds, 2800 MHz base and 3330 MHz boost versus 2000 MHz and 3000 MHz for the 4590T, drive its performance advantage. The 4590T’s newer Haswell architecture and smaller 22 nm process node improve efficiency but cannot overcome the clock speed deficit in these benchmarks.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-760 is the superior performer, winning all five head-to-head benchmarks with a uniform 25% margin. Users who need maximum compute throughput for CPU-intensive tasks should choose the 760, accepting its higher 95 W TDP and lack of integrated graphics. The 760’s 8 MB of L3 cache and faster clock speeds make it the right pick for rendering, compilation, or any workload where raw speed matters.

The Intel Core i5-4590T is the better choice for efficiency-focused builds. Its 35 W TDP, integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, and PCIe Gen 3 support make it ideal for small-form-factor systems, home theater PCs, or low-power servers where the 25% performance deficit is acceptable. The 4590T’s newer 22 nm process and 177 mm² die also suggest better longevity in thermally constrained environments. Neither processor offers headroom for overclocking, as both have locked multipliers, and both are end-of-life products. For pure performance, pick the 760; for efficiency and platform features, pick the 4590T.