Intel delivers efficient, technologically advanced and versatile processors to the market. Among the most popular chip lines in the world market manufactured by the American brand are Intel Core i5. For many users, the installation of the Intel Core i5 4590 processor , which operates on the basis of Haswell microarchitecture, becomes the optimal solution. What is the specificity of this chip? How productive is this PC hardware component?
CPU Overview
The Intel Core i5 4590 processor belongs to the 4th generation of the Core line. It is based, as we noted above, on Haswell microarchitecture, which appeared as a result of further development of Ivy Bridge technology. This chip assumes installation on the motherboard with the LGA 1150 connector enabled. Thus, it can be considered compatible with motherboards designed for Intel processors, which are also related to the 8th series. The chip has 4 cores, supports 64-bit mode. The Intel Core i5 4590 chip is produced as part of the 22 nm process technology using transistors such as FinFET. The clock speed of the chip is 3.3 GHz with a multiplication factor of 33. It can be increased to 3.7 GHz using Turbo Boost technology . The processor has a cache of 3 levels of 6 MB. The cache memory of the 2nd level in the chip is 1 MB, the 1st - 64 KB. The chip is equipped with an Intel HD Graphics 4600, capable of operating at a frequency of 1.15 GHz.
There are 4 cores in the processor structure. The chip has its own memory controller. The Intel Core i5 4590 processor operates when the DMI type bus is enabled. The heat dissipation level of the chip is about 84 watts. The main type of supported RAM modules is DDR3 PC3 in various modifications. The maximum amount of RAM when using the processor is 32 GB.
Core i5 processors, unlike Core i7, do not support HyperThreading technology - with the exception of models such as Intel Core i5 4570T, as well as i5-4570TE. Also, Intel Core i5 chips have a smaller level 3 cache.
Supported Standards
Let's consider what technological standards the Intel Core i5 4590 processor supports.
Among those:
- AMD64 / EM64T technology;
- NX Bit standard;
- The concept of Virtualization Technology;
- a set of instructions MMX, SSE - in the basic version, as well as 2, 3 and 4;
- AVX extensions in version 2.0.
It can also be noted that the chip implements hardware support for AES encryption, Intel vPro technology, as well as Intel TSX-NI.
CPU microarchitecture
After examining the basic information about the Intel Core i5 4590 processor, let's move on to a more detailed examination of its characteristics.
The chip operates on the basis of Haswell microarchitecture. This technology is considered as a result of the development of the Ivy Bridge concept. At the same time, both microarchitectures are implemented within the same process technology - 22 nm, as well as using transistors with a three-dimensional gate circuit. Based on Haswell technology, Intel chips of the 8th series are manufactured and installed on motherboards with an LGA 1150 connector.
The new microarchitecture is characterized by more efficient energy consumption, support for a number of useful standards, such as, for example, reading technologies via serial interfaces within 4 streams.
Another noteworthy fact about Haswell microarchitecture is Intel, having developed the appropriate standard on which processors are based, divides the range of chips into 2 categories:
- processors adapted for “desktops” and laptops;
- Chips optimized for installation on ultrabooks.
Thus, Haswell-based processors are presented on the market in the widest range of modifications.
Benefits of Haswell Microarchitecture
Key technological advantages of Haswell microarchitecture:
- Updated cache design;
- optimized energy saving mechanisms;
- support for Thunderbolt standard;
- Equipped with an integrated coprocessor belonging to the category of vector;
- support for new instructions - such as AVX in version 2, FMA, as well as BMI and BMI2;
- compatibility with TSX commands used to provide support for transactional memory;
- 64 MB eDRAM memory located on a separate chip.
It can be noted that the energy consumption level of processors based on Haswell microarchitecture is approximately 30% lower than the corresponding indicator for chips based on Sandy Bridge. Moreover, in some modes of operation of the chip, the difference is up to 20 times.
Graphics module
The Intel Core i5 4590 processor is equipped with, as we noted above, the graphics module HD Graphics 4600. This hardware component was created specifically for Haswell microarchitecture.
The peculiarity of this graphic chip is that its frequency can increase with the use of Turbo Boost technology - just like in the processor itself. However, depending on the specific chip model, a lot of chips are based on the Haswell architecture, the nominal frequency of the hardware components and the actual frequency may vary. As a result, PC performance indicators when processing graphics can be dissimilar.
The HD Graphics 4600 module supports a number of advanced technology standards - such as Direct X in version 11.1, OpenCL in version 1.2, and Open GL 4.0. Other notable features of Intel's graphics card include an optimized decoder for the video stream broadcast in 4K format. It can also be noted that the graphics adapter in question supports the Quick Sync standard.
The structure of the HD Graphics 4600 module contains 20 actuators. For comparison: in the previous modification of the graphics adapter - HD Graphics 4000, there were only 16 corresponding hardware components. As a result, the performance of this module, which is equipped with an Intel Core i5 4590 processor, increases by about 20% compared to previous models.
If we compare the speed of the considered graphics core with individual video cards, then this becomes comparable with the performance of the GeForce GT 525M device manufactured by NVIDIA. The presence in the structure of the processor of a powerful graphics processing module, which is comparable to a separate video card, is a huge advantage of the chip in terms of market promotion. Such microcircuits have a very great demand, in particular, in the notebook segment, in which video cards are not supposed to be placed as an independent hardware component.
Another noticeable technological advantage of the graphics module, which is equipped with the Intel Core i5 4590 processor - in its structure there are transistors made using 3D Tri-Gate technology. Appropriate hardware components determine the high energy efficiency of the graphics processing module. So, the total TDP of the corresponding hardware component does not exceed 57 watts.
The HD Graphics 4600 supports the Shader Model standard in version 5.0. The graphics core RAMDAC is 350 MHz. The module takes the required amount of memory from the computer's RAM - within 1792 MB. The adapter is able to work with Blu-ray picture, as well as HD DVD. The module provides a PC with 3 monitors at the same time. The maximum resolution at which the graphics core can function, included in the structure of the Intel Core i5 4590 processor - 4096 by 2160 pixels at a frequency of 24 Hz and connecting a monitor that works in the HDMI standard.
Thus, at the disposal of the user - a modern and high-tech graphics module, supplied with the processor.
Features of the LGA 1150 Connector
It will be useful to pay attention to the characteristics of the LGA 1150 socket, on which the Intel Core i5 4590 processor is installed. This slot, also called Socket H3, is optimized, again, for processors based on Haswell microarchitecture. Another slot that the Intel Core i5 4590 chip is compatible with is the S1150. It is installed on some models of motherboards. This standard is a further development of LGA 1155 technology, also called Socket H2. In turn, based on the LGA 1150, the modern standard LGA 1151 was developed, optimized for the latest Intel processors based on the Skylake microarchitecture.
The design of the LGA 1150 socket provides for the use of soft contacts with the processor. It is noteworthy that the parameters of the mounting holes used in the installation of cooling systems - on the LGA 1150, 1155 connectors, as well as, in particular, LGA 1156 - are the same. This allows you to use the same coolers for different PCs, and also facilitates updating the hardware components of the computer in order to ensure its compatibility with the latest processors.
Overclocking
Consider another noteworthy aspect of using the Intel Core i5 4590 processor - overclocking. As many IT experts note, the appropriate mode of operation of the chip is best tested in comparison with the performance of similar solutions. As the test results of the microcircuits show, the Intel Core i5 4590 processor is approximately 2.3% faster than the Intel Core i5-4570 chip, but, in turn, is inferior to the older models - Intel Core i5-4670 and i5-4690. Experts note that Intel Core i5 processors outperform many competitive solutions in terms of speed, however, not by much - as a rule, by about 3%.
Summary
So, what conclusions can we draw by examining the basic information about the Intel Core i5 4590 processor? The characteristics of this chip make it one of the most competitive solutions on the market. The processor is made as part of the 22 nm process technology, includes a high-performance graphics module, and supports the main modern technological standards. At the same time, the chip shows not too outstanding speed during overclocking. In general, the performance of Intel Core i5 4590 Haswell - at the level of models that are adjacent to it in the line of Core i5. The difference between the respective solutions is determined mainly by the performance of the microcircuit.
Thus, the processor in question can be described as a powerful highly competitive solution from Intel, which can be used to solve the widest range of tasks of a modern user.
Reviews
Now let’s examine how the owners of PCs evaluate the Intel Core i5 4590 processor. The feedback from owners of PCs in which the chip is installed can be classified into several varieties:
- those that reflect the stability and performance of the chip in standard mode,
- those that characterize the assessment of the quality of processor overclocking,
- those that reflect the opinions of users regarding the ratio of cost and characteristics of the chip.
We will study them in more detail.
Chip operation at standard frequencies: reviews
The Core i5 4590 processor, according to users, copes with key computing tasks at a standard frequency. This chip allows you to run demanding 3D games, graphics applications on your PC. It is ideal if, in addition to the chip, a high-performance video card is also installed on the computer. However, the integrated graphics module, as users note in their reviews, in general, does a good job. As we indicated above, its performance is comparable to that of one of the high-tech video cards from NVIDIA - GeForce GT 525M. When solving everyday user tasks, thus, there is no special need for overclocking the chip.
Chip overclocking: reviews
However, if you still have to use such a mode, the processor, judging by the reviews of its owners, functions in it quite stably. At the same time, thanks to technologies for reducing energy consumption, its heating is not critical. Provided, of course, that the PC will be equipped with an effective cooling system. Thus, users are satisfied with the processor both at standard frequencies and in the overclocking mode of the chip.
Combination of chip cost and features: reviews
As for the reviews on the ratio of the characteristics of the device and its cost, the chip owners note that its relatively high cost is compensated by more than decent performance indicators. Some users purchase the processor in question separately - in the package of Intel Core i5 4590 OEM in order to adapt the PC to demanding games and applications, and note that installing the appropriate chip on the PC is often enough to solve the task. Replacement of any other devices responsible for performance, for example, the same video card, may not be required, since the processor provides a significant increase in the speed of the PC as an independent hardware component.
Users do not notice any difficulties with the compatibility of the chip in question with applications and games. The processor, thus, is equally stable when working with different types of modern software.