AMD Ryzen 3 1300X vs Intel Core i5-4690S Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The data shows a split decision. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X and Intel Core i5-4690S each win three of the six head-to-head benchmarks, with the AMD taking Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel wins Cinebench R23 multi-core, Geekbench multi-core, and Geekbench single-core.

Q: How large is the AMD's biggest single-core victory?

A: In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 3 1300X scores 152 versus the i5-4690S's 65, a 133.8% delta. That is the most lopsided result in the entire head-to-head set.

Q: What is the Intel's largest multi-core advantage?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-4690S scores 4609 against the Ryzen 3 1300X's 3486, a 24.4% gap in Intel's favor. This is the only multi-core test where the Intel leads by more than a few percentage points.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread configuration?

A: Yes, both are 4-core, 4-thread desktop parts. They also share a 65W TDP, so the differences in benchmark results come down to architecture, clock behavior, and memory support rather than core counts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4690S does not. The AMD also runs DDR4 memory, whereas the Intel uses DDR3.

Q: How do the two compare in overall average benchmark score and percentile ranking?

A: The Ryzen 3 1300X has an average benchmark score of 1562 and sits at the 39th percentile among all CPUs. The i5-4690S averages 1551 and also sits at the 39th percentile. Their nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-6600T and Intel Core i3-8300 for the AMD, and the Intel Core i7-4760HQ and AMD FX-8350 for the Intel part.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data reveals a clear split along workload lines. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X dominates in the Cinebench R15 suite, winning both multi-core and single-core by 20.3% and 133.8%, respectively. It also takes Cinebench R23 single-core by 45.7%. This suggests the Zen architecture's per-thread efficiency in older rendering workloads is a genuine strength. The Ryzen 3 1300X's 3.40 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clocks, combined with its 14nm process, appear to deliver strong single-threaded performance in these specific tests.

The Intel Core i5-4690S, meanwhile, wins the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 24.4%, which is a significant margin. It also edges out the AMD in both Geekbench tests, though by smaller margins: 3.8% in multi-core and 5.3% in single-core. The i5-4690S's higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus the AMD's 3.70 GHz likely contributes to these wins, as does its Haswell architecture's mature scheduling and memory subsystem. The Geekbench results, in particular, suggest the Intel part handles a broader mix of integer and floating-point workloads more consistently, even if its older 22nm process and smaller cache might suggest otherwise.

Notably, the two processors split the Cinebench multi-core tests: the AMD wins R15 by 20.3%, but the Intel wins R23 by 24.4%. This inversion hints that the Ryzen 3 1300X's advantage in older rendering benchmarks does not carry over to the newer, more demanding R23 workload. Similarly, the single-core results are contradictory: the AMD wins R15 single-core by a massive 133.8%, but the Intel wins Geekbench single-core by 5.3%. These divergences suggest that benchmark-specific optimizations matter more than raw clock speed or core count alone.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 3 1300X is built on AMD's Zen architecture, fabricated on a 14nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die. The i5-4690S uses Intel's Haswell architecture on a 22nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The transistor count difference is striking: the AMD has more than three times as many transistors, yet both fit in similar die sizes. This reflects Zen's more complex out-of-order execution engine and larger cache hierarchy.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen 3 1300X has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-4690S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD's larger caches at every level likely help in the Cinebench R15 tests where it wins decisively, providing more on-die data for the rendering workloads. The Intel's smaller caches, however, do not appear to hold it back in Cinebench R23 or Geekbench, suggesting that other factors like memory latency or instruction scheduling dominate there.

Memory support is another clear architectural divergence. The Ryzen 3 1300X uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5-4690S uses DDR3, also dual-channel, but with only 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD's nearly 67% higher theoretical memory bandwidth is notable, yet the Intel still wins the Geekbench multi-core test. This implies that raw bandwidth is not the limiting factor for the Intel in those workloads, or that the AMD's memory controller does not translate its bandwidth advantage into realized performance gains in every test.

The Ryzen 3 1300X has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-4690S does not. This means the AMD can be overclocked, which could narrow or widen the gaps depending on user tuning. The Intel includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the AMD has no integrated graphics. The AMD also supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, and both are desktop parts.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count (4), thread count (4), and TDP (65W), but nearly every other specification differs. The Ryzen 3 1300X has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-4690S has a 3.20 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The Intel's higher boost clock is offset by a lower base clock, making the comparison workload-dependent.

The AMD uses Socket AM4, while the Intel uses Socket 1150. The AMD is part of the 1000 series with a "Zen (Summit Ridge)" generation label, while the Intel is a Haswell-generation Core i5. The AMD's process node is 14nm versus Intel's 22nm. The AMD has 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die; the Intel has 1,400 million on a 177 mm² die.

Cache differences are significant: the AMD has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3; the Intel has 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support diverges completely: the AMD runs DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, while the Intel runs DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s and no ECC. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel is locked. The Intel has integrated graphics; the AMD does not. The AMD was released on 2017-07-26 with a launch MSRP of $129; the Intel was released on 2014-04-30 with a launch MSRP of $224. The AMD's part number is YD130XBBM4KAEYD130XBBAEBOX; the Intel's is SR1QP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head results tell a story of workload-dependent dominance. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 558 versus 464, a 20.3% advantage. This is a solid margin, suggesting the Zen architecture handles the older R15 workload efficiently. The single-core R15 result is even more extreme: the AMD scores 152 against the Intel's 65, a 133.8% delta. That is more than double the Intel's score, which is an outlier compared to the other results and may reflect specific instruction paths in the R15 test that favor Zen's front-end.

The Intel i5-4690S fights back hard in Cinebench R23 multi-core, posting 4609 to the AMD's 3486, a 24.4% win. This is the largest Intel advantage in the set and flips the multi-core narrative from R15. The R23 single-core result, however, goes back to the AMD: 947 versus 650, a 45.7% win. So in Cinebench, the AMD wins three of four tests, with the Intel taking only the R23 multi-core.

Geekbench results favor the Intel, but narrowly. The i5-4690S scores 3251 in multi-core versus the AMD's 3126, a 3.8% win. In single-core, the Intel scores 1163 against 1101, a 5.3% win. These are close margins compared to the Cinebench swings. The Geekbench multi-core result is particularly interesting because the AMD has higher memory bandwidth and more cache, yet still trails by a small amount. This suggests the Intel's higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) and mature Haswell core design compensate for its architectural disadvantages in these particular tests.

The overall win count is tied at 3-3, but the magnitudes differ. The AMD's average win margin across its three victories is 66.6% (including the huge R15 single-core outlier), while the Intel's average win margin is 11.2%. Excluding the R15 single-core outlier, the AMD's other two wins average 33% and 45.7%. This asymmetry means the AMD's wins are often blowouts, while the Intel's wins are closer. A user prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering would strongly prefer the AMD, while a user focused on Geekbench-style general workloads would see a modest Intel edge.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct buyer profiles. The AMD Ryzen 3 1300X is the pick for anyone whose workloads resemble Cinebench R15 or R23 single-core tasks, where it wins by 133.8% and 45.7%, respectively. It also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 20.3%, making it the stronger choice for older rendering applications. Its 14nm Zen architecture, 8 MB L3 cache, and DDR4 memory support with ECC capability give it a modern feature set, and the unlocked multiplier offers overclocking headroom that the Intel cannot match. The launch MSRP of $129 also makes it the lower-cost entry point between the two.

The Intel Core i5-4690S is the better option for Cinebench R23 multi-core workloads, where it leads by 24.4%, and for Geekbench both multi-core and single-core, where it wins by 3.8% and 5.3%. These are smaller margins, but they represent newer, more diverse workloads. The Intel's 3.90 GHz boost clock and Haswell architecture clearly still hold up in these tests despite the older 22nm process and smaller caches. Its integrated graphics also provide a fallback display output that the AMD lacks, which matters for systems without a discrete GPU.

The tie in win count (3-3) and the identical 39th percentile ranking mean neither processor is categorically superior. The choice hinges on which benchmark suite matters more. For rendering and single-threaded legacy workloads, the Ryzen 3 1300X's decisive victories make it the clear winner. For modern multi-threaded rendering and general-purpose Geekbench tasks, the i5-4690S's consistent, if narrower, wins give it the edge. The AMD's ECC support and DDR4 memory also suggest a longer-term relevance, while the Intel's integrated graphics and higher boost clock serve immediate, out-of-the-box needs. The data does not crown a single champion; it defines two distinct champions for two distinct use cases.