i7-12700K vs i5-4590

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-4590
2014
4 cores / 4 threads, 84 Watt
3.38
Core i7-12700K
2021
12 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
21.78
+544%

Core i7-12700K outperforms Core i5-4590 by a whopping 544% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1555239
Place by popularity5357
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.6740.09
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i5 (Desktop)Intel Core i7
Power efficiency3.8116.49
Architecture codenameHaswell (2013−2015)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date1 May 2014 (10 years ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$202$409

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-12700K has 5884% better value for money than i5-4590.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads420
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rate5 GT/s8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data36
L1 cache64K (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)25 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm10 nm
Die size177 mm2215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA1150FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)84 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
FDI+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection+-
OS Guard++
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 4600Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory2 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHz1.5 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
VGA+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP3840x2160@60Hz5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort3840x2160@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGA1920x1200@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX11.2/1212
OpenGL4.34.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K.

PCIe versionUp to 3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1620

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-4590 3.38
i7-12700K 21.78
+544%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-4590 5369
i7-12700K 34596
+544%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-4590 1139
i7-12700K 2554
+124%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-4590 3155
i7-12700K 13780
+337%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i5-4590 5479
i7-12700K 9305
+69.8%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i5-4590 18998
i7-12700K 63484
+234%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i5-4590 6
i7-12700K 38
+548%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i5-4590 530
i7-12700K 3325
+527%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i5-4590 146
i7-12700K 272
+86.3%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i5-4590 1.63
i7-12700K 3.29
+102%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.38 21.78
Integrated graphics card 1.84 6.15
Recency 1 May 2014 4 November 2021
Physical cores 4 12
Threads 4 20
Chip lithography 22 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 84 Watt 125 Watt

i5-4590 has 48.8% lower power consumption.

i7-12700K, on the other hand, has a 544.4% higher aggregate performance score, 234.2% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 7 years, 200% more physical cores and 400% more threads, and a 120% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i7-12700K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-4590 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-4590 and Core i7-12700K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-4590
Core i5-4590
Intel Core i7-12700K
Core i7-12700K

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