Intel Core i5-4590S

The Intel Core i5-4590S is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop CPU from Intel, built on the Haswell architecture and released on 2014-04-30. It operates with a base clock of 2.90 and a boost clock of 3.60, and its 65 W TDP places it in the mainstream desktop power tier. The average benchmark score is 1456, and the CPU ranks at the 39th percentile of all CPUs in the database. All of the nearest rivals sit within a tiny deltaPct window, so this processor is best understood as a member of a tightly grouped cluster.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread scores is visible across every Cinebench generation. In Cinebench R15, the multi-core result is 438 while the single-core result is 61. In R20, the multi-core score is 1829 and the single-core score is 258. In R23, the multi-core score is 4357 and the single-core score is 615. The Geekbench results show a single-core score of 1097 and a multi-core score of 2996.

Because the part has 4 cores and 4 threads, the multi-core numbers come from a single 4-thread vector with no extra logical threads. That explains why multi-core scaling is present but not dramatic. The single-thread scores matter for responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, while the multi-thread scores place a ceiling on workloads that can use every core. The R23 multi-core score of 4357 and R23 single-core score of 615 are both modest numbers for this class of hardware, and the 39th percentile confirms that the processor sits below the midpoint of the database. The fact that cores and threads are both 4 is an important structural detail: there is no hyperthreading-style contribution to the multi-core results.

For real workloads, this split suggests an interesting asymmetry. Single-thread performance is enough to keep older, serial software running at the level implied by the Cinebench R15 single-core score of 61, the R20 score of 258, and the R23 score of 615. Multi-thread software, however, will only see four execution threads. The Geekbench multi-core score of 2996 versus the single-core score of 1097 shows that parallel workloads can more than double the raw single-thread result, but the absolute ceiling is still constrained by the 4-thread design.

Power and Thermals — TDP class, what cooling tier it implies

The TDP is 65 W. That is a modest envelope for a desktop Socket 1150 CPU. The underlying Haswell silicon is built on a 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors in a 177 mm² die. These physical details suggest a relatively power-lean die for its era. The integrated graphics unit is Intel HD 4600, so the processor includes both CPU and GPU blocks in the same package.

The 65 W class does not demand a high-end cooling solution. A compact air cooler is enough to handle the heat output implied by the TDP, because the power draw is spec-limited to that level. The locked multiplier also prevents raising clocks through unlocked ratio settings, meaning thermal headroom from higher-end coolers cannot be converted into user-side frequency gains. In the benchmark database context, the power-related data points are limited to TDP, process node, transistor count, and die size; no load power measurements are present.

This makes the i5-4590S an interesting fit for compact desktop builds. The 22 nm process and 177 mm² die size are the physical reasons a 65 W TDP part can be cooled quietly. The 65 W figure is the key number for cooling tier: it sits far below high-TDP desktop parts, so users do not need massive cooling hardware. The integrated HD 4600 also means a system without a discrete GPU still has a display output path.

Who Should Consider It

The desktop market segment, the 4-core/4-thread shape, and the score profile make this a processor for everyday desktop tasks rather than heavy parallel workloads.

For office work, the single-thread scores are 61 in R15, 258 in R20, 615 in R23, and 1097 in Geekbench. These are not top-tier numbers, but they are usable for applications that are mostly single-threaded and memory-light. The dual-channel DDR3 memory path and 6 MB shared L3 cache are ordinary platform features for the period.

For gaming, the data contains no gaming-specific benchmark. What it does contain is an Intel HD 4600 integrated GPU and a 4-thread CPU. Users who want to play graphics-heavy titles would need a separate graphics solution; the CPU's aggregate percentile of 39 and tight rival cluster suggest that gaming performance will depend heavily on the GPU rather than on this processor's headroom.

For content creation, the multi-core results set a clear boundary: 438 in R15, 1829 in R20, and 4357 in R23. Rendering, encoding, and compilation workloads that can utilize multiple threads will not scale much beyond 4 threads. The 39th percentile means many other CPUs in the database rank above it. For simple editing or occasional encoding, the 4-thread performance may be enough; for sustained rendering, the data suggests a higher-thread-count processor would deliver more work throughput.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-4590S uses Intel Socket 1150, the socket associated with the Haswell generation. The architecture field is Haswell, and the generation field is Core i5 (Haswell). It supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, and ECC memory support is false. PCIe is Gen 3. The processor has an integrated Intel HD 4600 GPU. The multiplier is not unlocked. The process node is 22 nm. The release date is 2014-04-30.

The platform is therefore tied to DDR3 and Socket 1150. Because the memory controller is dual-channel DDR3, builders must match that memory type. The lack of ECC support means it is not aimed at error-correcting workstation memory configurations. The locked multiplier means overclocking through CPU clock ratio adjustment is not available. The PCIe Gen 3 designation indicates a contemporary high-bandwidth interconnect, but the pack does not list lane counts, so expansion configurability is not quantified.

The cache hierarchy is also part of the platform picture: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Combined with DDR3 dual-channel memory access, these cache and memory structures define the data path available to the CPU. The integrated HD 4600 allows desktop output without a discrete GPU, and the desktop market segment clarifies that this is a socketed desktop processor rather than a mobile part.

How It Compares

The nearest rival list places the i5-4590S against several other CPUs, and all of them are close.

The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 has an average score of 1456, exactly equal to the i5-4590S's 1456, with a deltaPct of 0. This is not a meaningful performance gap; the two processors land on the same aggregate point in the database.

The Intel Core i5-7300HQ scores 1455, with a deltaPct of 0.1. The 1455 versus 1456 aggregate comparison shows these chips are effectively equivalent in overall benchmark average. The positive deltaPct is small enough that no workload-level separation can be inferred from the data.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE has an average score of 1461 and a deltaPct of -0.3. The negative value shows the comparison metric slightly favors the Ryzen, but a 0.3 delta is still very small.

The Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 also has an average score of 1461, with a deltaPct of -0.4. The aggregate score is the same as the Ryzen's, and the difference from the i5-4590S is negligible in practical terms.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Core i5-4590S have?

A: It has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP?

A: The TDP is 65 W.

Q: What memory type does the processor support?

A: It supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration; ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does the CPU have an unlocked multiplier?

A: No, the multiplier is not unlocked, so overclocking via ratio adjustment is not available.

Q: What integrated graphics is included?

A: The integrated GPU is Intel HD 4600.

Q: How close is the nearest rival in aggregate score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 also has an average score of 1456, with a deltaPct of 0, so the nearest rival is effectively tied with the i5-4590S.

Benchmark Performance

The table below shows every benchmark score in the pack.

| Benchmark | Score |

|---|---|

| Cinebench R15 multi-core | 438 |

| Cinebench R15 single-core | 61 |

| Cinebench R20 multi-core | 1829 |

| Cinebench R20 single-core | 258 |

| Cinebench R23 multi-core | 4357 |

| Cinebench R23 single-core | 615 |

| Geekbench multi-core | 2996 |

| Geekbench single-core | 1097 |

The average benchmark score is 1456. The nearest rivals are positioned at 1456, 1455, 1461, and 1461. The associated deltaPct values are 0, 0.1, -0.3, and -0.4. In plain terms, the i5-4590S, the Xeon E3-1515M v5, the Core i5-7300HQ, the Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE, and the Xeon E3-1225 v5 form a cluster where no listed rival is more than 0.4 deltaPct away from the i5-4590S on the database's comparison scale.

Within the Cinebench line, the multi-core result rises from 438 in R15 to 1829 in R20 and 4357 in R23. The single-core line rises from 61 in R15 to 258 in R20 and 615 in R23. The Geekbench single-core result is 1097, and the multi-core result is 2996. These absolute scores are not close to the top of the database; the 39th percentile says as much. Across the nearest rivals, the aggregate deltas are so small that the benchmark data cannot distinguish this CPU from its neighbors in average throughput.