Intel Core i7-2600 vs Intel Core i5-4590

The Intel Core i5-4590 (Haswell S) was developed for the mainstream desktop segment, while the Intel Core i7-2600 (Sandy Bridge S) was originally designed for demanding users.

The Intel Core i5-4590 is manufactured using the more efficient 22 nm process and features 4 cores and 4 threads with 6 MB L3 cache and 0 MB L2 cache. The Intel Core i7-2600, on the other hand, is based on the 32 nm process and offers 4 cores with 8 threads (thanks to Hyper-Threading), 8 MB L3 cache, and 1 MB L2 cache.

In benchmarks such as Geekbench 6, the Intel Core i5-4590 shows significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance. In Cinebench R23, the results of both CPUs are comparable in both categories. This indicates the improved performance per clock cycle (IPC) of the newer Haswell S architecture.

For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4590 is more advantageous due to its higher IPC and support for PCIe 3.0 (compared to PCIe 2.0 of the Intel Core i7-2600). Its integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600 significantly outperforms the Intel HD Graphics 2000 of the Intel Core i7-2600, although neither is suitable for demanding games.

The 22 nm manufacturing process of the Intel Core i5-4590 suggests better energy efficiency compared to the 32 nm process of the Intel Core i7-2600. Regarding price-performance ratio, the Intel Core i5-4590 generally offers a better overall package due to its architectural advantages, especially on the used market.

For modern applications, general desktop use, and gaming, the Intel Core i5-4590 is the more recommendable choice. The Intel Core i7-2600 might still be an option for specific older multi-thread workloads.