Intel Core i5-4590T vs Intel Core i7-3820QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3820QM and Intel Core i5-4590T are two processors from different generations and market segments. The i7-3820QM is a mobile part from the Ivy Bridge generation, while the i5-4590T is a desktop part from Haswell. Both are built on the same 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors, but they diverge in core configuration, cache, and integrated graphics. Benchmark results show a clear split: the i7 wins all five Cinebench tests, while the i5 wins both Geekbench tests. The i7 takes 5 of 7 head-to-head wins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers seven benchmarks. The i7-3820QM wins five, the i5-4590T wins two. The i7's wins are all in Cinebench, with margins between 38.6% and 38.7%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 481 against 347, a 38.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7 scores 2006 against 1446, a 38.7% lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 283 against 204, a 38.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 scores 4777 against 3445, a 38.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7 scores 674 against 486, a 38.7% lead.

The i5's wins are in Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5 scores 2540 against 2041, a 19.6% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the i5 scores 911 against 601, a 34% lead. The consistency of the i7's Cinebench advantage is striking. All five tests show nearly identical deltas, suggesting a fundamental performance gap in that workload. The i5's Geekbench advantage is also large, especially in single-core where it leads by 34%. The i7's thread count of 8 versus 4 aligns with its multi-core Cinebench advantage, but the single-core Cinebench lead is just as large, indicating that the i7's architecture is simply faster in that test suite.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmarks, the i7-3820QM is the stronger part for Cinebench-style workloads. It leads in all five Cinebench tests, with a minimum margin of 38.6%. The i5-4590T is the stronger part for Geekbench-style workloads, leading by 19.6% in multi-core and 34% in single-core. The i7's wins are concentrated in rendering and CPU stress tests, while the i5's wins are in general-purpose performance tests. Users who prioritize Cinebench results should choose the i7; those who prioritize Geekbench results should choose the i5. The i5's Geekbench single-core score of 911 is 34% higher than the i7's 601, despite the i7 having a higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz compared to 3.00 GHz. This suggests that the i5's Haswell architecture is more efficient in that specific benchmark, even though the i7 has a higher peak frequency.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm process and contain 1,400 million transistors. The i7-3820QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, while the i5-4590T uses Haswell. The die size differs: the i7 measures 160 mm², the i5 measures 177 mm². The i7 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, the i5 has 6 MB. The i5 supports DDR3 memory and has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7 has no memory support or bandwidth data. The i5 also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 has no PCIe data. Integrated graphics differ: the i7 has Intel HD 4000, the i5 has Intel HD 4600. The i7 uses socket Intel BGA 1224 and is a mobile part; the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150 and is a desktop part. The i7 has a TDP of 45 W, the i5 has a TDP of 35 W. The i7 has 8 threads, the i5 has 4. The i7 was released on 2012-04-28, the i5 on 2014-05-10. The i5 is marked as end-of-life, while the i7's production status is not listed.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher multi-core performance?

A: The i7-3820QM leads in all Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4777 against 3445, a 38.7% advantage.

Q: Which CPU wins in Geekbench?

A: The i5-4590T wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 2540 vs 2041 in multi-core and 911 vs 601 in single-core.

Q: How many threads does each CPU have?

A: The i7-3820QM has 8 threads, while the i5-4590T has 4 threads.

Q: What are the TDPs?

A: The i7-3820QM has a TDP of 45 W, the i5-4590T has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-3820QM has 8 MB shared L3, the i5-4590T has 6 MB shared.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear split. The i7-3820QM is the better choice for Cinebench-based workloads, with a consistent 38.7% lead across all Cinebench tests. The i5-4590T is the better choice for Geekbench-based workloads, with a 34% lead in single-core and 19.6% in multi-core. The i7 offers more threads and more L3 cache, while the i5 offers a lower TDP and a desktop socket. The i5 is end-of-life, while the i7's production status is not listed. Users should select based on which benchmark suite matches their application.

Specification Differences

| Specification | i7-3820QM | i5-4590T |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 | 2000.00 |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 | 3.00 |

| TDP | 45 | 35 |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1224 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Generation | Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) | Core i5 (Haswell) |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | Not listed | DDR3 |

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

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2012-04-28 | 2014-05-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $192 |

| Part Number | SR0MK | SR1S6 |