AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 vs Intel Core i5-4690 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 and the Intel Core i5-4690 are both quad-core, quad-thread desktop processors, yet they represent two distinct generations of silicon design. The Ryzen part is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Intel chip uses a 22 nm process at Intel. Despite this architectural gap, the benchmark results are remarkably close, with the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 edging ahead in every single Cinebench test, though by margins of less than half a percent. The data shows a statistical dead heat in raw performance, which makes the decision between them hinge on platform features, power efficiency, and memory support rather than compute throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 scores 4767, while the Intel Core i5-4690 scores 4754. The AMD part leads by 0.3%.

Q: Are the single-core scores significantly different?

A: No. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen scores 673 and the Intel scores 671, a delta of only 0.3%. In R15 single-core, both score exactly 67.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has a 65 W TDP, whereas the Intel Core i5-4690 has an 84 W TDP. The AMD chip is more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4690 does not.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has an average benchmark score of 1379, compared to 1375 for the Intel Core i5-4690. Both sit at the 36th percentile versus all CPUs.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i5-4690's multiplier is locked.

Architecture Differences

The foundational designs diverge sharply. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses the Zen architecture (Summit Ridge) fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, packing 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-4690 uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. This explains the transistor density advantage of the newer AMD design.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 carries 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-4690 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has larger caches at every level, which can help with data-heavy workloads.

Memory support is a major split. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, with a measured memory bandwidth of 4256 MB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Intel i5-4690 uses DDR3 in dual-channel mode, with no ECC support and no memory bandwidth figure listed. The socket also differs: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel Socket 1150.

PCIe connectivity is similar in generation but not in specification. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5-4690 lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count. The Intel part includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the AMD part has no integrated graphics listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is dominated by the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200, which wins all six Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are minuscule. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 480 against 479 for Intel, a 0.2% lead. The single-core R15 test is a perfect tie at 67 points each. Moving to R20 multi-core, the AMD leads 2002 to 1996, a 0.3% delta. In R20 single-core, the AMD scores 282 versus 281, a 0.4% edge. The R23 multi-core test shows 4767 for AMD and 4754 for Intel, another 0.3% lead. Finally, R23 single-core gives AMD 673 and Intel 671, a 0.3% margin.

These results indicate that the two processors are effectively identical in Cinebench performance. The largest delta across all tests is 0.4%, which is well within run-to-run variance for most benchmark suites. The AMD part's consistent, if tiny, advantage across every workload suggests a slight architectural efficiency edge, but it is not a meaningful performance gap for real-world applications.

The broader benchmark context reinforces this conclusion. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has an average benchmark score of 1379 and sits at the 36th percentile. The i5-4690 averages 1375, also at the 36th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U (1379, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-3740QM (1378, 0.1% delta). For the Intel part, its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-1030NG7 (1376, -0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 (1379, -0.3% delta). The two chips are effectively interchangeable in aggregate performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes one thing clear: there is no performance winner here. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the maximum delta is 0.4%, which is negligible. The average benchmark scores differ by only 4 points (1379 vs 1375), and both processors occupy the 36th percentile of all CPUs. A user choosing between them on raw compute power alone would see no practical difference.

The decision must be made on platform and feature grounds. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 offers a 65 W TDP versus 84 W for Intel, making it more power-efficient. It supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not. It uses DDR4 memory, which is more modern than the DDR3 required by the i5-4690. The AMD part also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, whereas the Intel multiplier is locked. Additionally, the AMD chip has a larger cache footprint (8 MB L3 vs 6 MB L3) and a smaller process node (14 nm vs 22 nm).

The Intel Core i5-4690 does have one advantage: integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600). The AMD part has no integrated graphics listed, meaning a discrete GPU is mandatory. For a system where a dedicated graphics card is already planned, this is irrelevant. For a build that needs a display output without a GPU, the Intel part is the only option.

The production status also differs. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is listed as Active, while the Intel i5-4690 has a null production status, suggesting it may be discontinued or unavailable. The AMD part also has a more recent release date (2017-06-28 versus 2014-04-30), which aligns with its newer platform.

For a new build, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is the logical choice: it is active, more power-efficient, supports ECC and DDR4, and offers overclocking. For anyone constrained to an existing Socket 1150 motherboard or needing integrated graphics, the i5-4690 remains a serviceable, if older, quad-core option. The data does not support a performance-based preference, so the choice rests entirely on platform compatibility and feature requirements.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz; the Intel part has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel chip runs at higher clocks, but the AMD chip compensates with a different architecture.

TDP is another differentiator: 65 W for AMD versus 84 W for Intel. The AMD part is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, whereas the Intel part uses a 22 nm process at Intel. Transistor counts differ dramatically: 4,800 million for AMD versus 1,400 million for Intel. The die sizes are 213 mm² and 177 mm², respectively.

Cache levels vary: AMD has 96 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, while Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2. Shared L3 is 8 MB for AMD and 6 MB for Intel. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD and DDR3 for Intel, with AMD offering ECC memory support and a listed memory bandwidth of 4256 MB/s (Intel has no bandwidth figure). The AMD part has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the Intel part has PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count. The Intel part includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics; the AMD part has none. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; the Intel multiplier is locked. The AMD part number is YD120BBBM4KAE; the Intel part has no listed part number.