CPU
GPU
Core i7-2600
Core i5-4590
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i7-2600 is positioned at rank 835 and the Core i5-4590 is on rank 624, so the Core i5-4590 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2600
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4590
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($51) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($51) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-2600 and Core i5-4590
Core i7-2600
The Core i7-2600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,346 points. Launch price was $247.
Core i5-4590
The Core i5-4590 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,376 points. Launch price was $202.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2600 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-4590's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-4590 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-2600 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-4590 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2600 scores 5,346 against the Core i5-4590's 5,376 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-4590. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 659 vs 1,100, a 50.1% lead for the Core i5-4590 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-2600 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4590.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+3% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+3% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,346 | 5,376 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,648 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 659 | 1,100+67% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,169 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2600 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4590 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H61,H67,P67,Z68,H77,Z77 (Core i7-2600) and H81,B85,Q85,H87,Q87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Core i5-4590).
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-2600) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-4590). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2000 (Core i7-2600) and HD Graphics 4600 (Core i5-4590) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600 targets Productivity, Core i5-4590 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600 rivals FX-8350; Core i5-4590 rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Productivity | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-2600 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Core i5-4590 debuted at $192. At current prices ($50 vs $51), the Core i7-2600 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-2600 delivers 106.9 pts/$ vs 105.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-4590 — making the Core i7-2600 the 1.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $294 | $192-35% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-2% | $51 |
| Performance per Dollar | 106.9+1% | 105.4 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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