Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i5-4590

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   You may have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i5-4590 and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as DaVinci Resolve Studio, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, Handbrake, Blender, VeraCrypt, UserBenchmark, PassMark, PCMark 10, Furmark, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, Prime95, 7zip, MATLAB, RealBench, 3DMark, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Halo Infinite
Death Stranding
Fallout 76
Watch Dogs Legion
Valheim
Fortnite
Red Dead Redemption 2
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Overwatch
Rainbow Six Siege
Last Man Standing
Borderlands 3
Valorant
Grand Theft Auto V
Apex Legends
DOOM: Eternal
Cyberpunk 2077

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-4590 or Intel Core i3-9100F.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-9100F

52%

Core i5-4590

51%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-9100F is 1% better than Core i5-4590. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-9100F

52%

Core i5-4590

51%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, Ghostrunner, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.8	91.4
Valorant	104.4	103.9
Cyberpunk 2077	58.4	58.2
Apex Legends	98.1	97.6
Call of Duty Warzone	78.3	77.9
Overwatch	84.5	84.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.0	71.7
DOOM Eternal	52.2	51.9
Warzone	81.4	81.0
Assassin's Creed	87.7	87.2
Valheim	86.6	86.2

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-9100F

57%

Core i5-4590

39%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-9100F is more energy efficient than the Core i5-4590 as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 84W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i5-4590
Cinbench 15 Single-core	168	144
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	660	505
Cinbench 20 Single-core	445	319
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1630	1227
Cinbench 23 Single-core	877	1024
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3405	4088

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i5-4590
Single-Core	2502	2060
Multi-Core	6813	5285

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i5-4590
Single-Core	1130	1005
Multi-Core	3769	3327

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-9100F	Intel Core i5-4590
Announcement date	April 01, 2019	April 01, 2014
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	LGA1150
Core name	Coffee Lake	Haswell
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	4
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	3.7 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	8 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	2400 millions	2460 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	84 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-9100F is 8% better than Core i5-4590 in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-9100F is better: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-4590 is better: 3
Although it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i3-9100F and Intel Core i5-4590 before making a choice which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i3-9100F specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-4590 specs and review.