Intel Core i5-6500 vs Intel Core i5-4590S

The Intel Core i5-4590S (Haswell S), manufactured in 2014 using the 22 nm process, and the Intel Core i5-6500 (Skylake S), produced in 2015 using the 14 nm process, both targeted the mainstream desktop market.

Both feature 4 cores, 4 threads, and 6 MB of Level 3 Cache with PCIe 3.0. The Intel Core i5-4590S uses 22 nm, while the Intel Core i5-6500 uses the more efficient 14 nm process. The Intel Core i5-6500 shows measurably higher single-core performance in Cinebench R23.

Multi-core performance in Geekbench 6 is comparable. The Intel Core i5-6500 achieves 34 GB/s memory bandwidth, compared to the Intel Core i5-4590S's 26 GB/s. In gaming, the Intel Core i5-6500 offers a slight advantage due to slightly improved single-core performance and newer architecture.

Integrated graphics units (Intel HD Graphics 4600 and 530, respectively) are for basic displays. Both processors have a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 65 Watts. The Intel Core i5-6500 achieves its performance more efficiently with the same TDP due to the 14 nm process. Both are available used. The Intel Core i5-6500 offers a more favorable price-performance ratio for cost-effective system builds due to its more modern architecture and performance.

The Intel Core i5-4590S impresses with energy efficiency and solid everyday performance. The Intel Core i5-6500 stands out with newer architecture and slightly higher performance. For more responsive systems, the Intel Core i5-6500 is recommended.