AMD Ryzen 5 3550H vs Intel Core i5-4690K Comparison

# Intel Core i5-4690K vs AMD Ryzen 5 3550H

The Intel Core i5-4690K and AMD Ryzen 5 3550H are two very different processors from different eras, yet they land in the same performance neighborhood according to aggregate benchmark data. The i5-4690K is an end-of-life desktop part from 2014, built on Intel's Haswell architecture, while the Ryzen 5 3550H is an active mobile processor from 2019 using AMD's Zen+ architecture. The database shows both CPUs holding a 40th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with the Intel part averaging 1682 points and the AMD part averaging 1653 points across the recorded benchmarks. Their nearest rivals in the database tell a telling story: the i5-4690K sits within 0.5% of the Core i7-3770K, Core i7-5850HQ, and Ryzen 7 3750H, while the 3550H trades blows with the Core i7-4810MQ, Core i5-4670K, and Xeon E-2124, all within 0.3% of its average. The head-to-head benchmark split is exactly even, with each processor winning three of the six recorded tests, but the nature of those wins reveals which workloads favor which design.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 3550H dominates in Cinebench R15 testing, both multi-core and single-core. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 3550H scores 742 against the i5-4690K's 486, a massive 34.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: 144 versus 68, a 52.8% gap. These are older benchmark workloads that appear to reward the AMD chip's newer architecture heavily, even though it runs at lower clock speeds. The 3550H also wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test, scoring 886 against 681, a 23.1% edge.

The Intel i5-4690K counters in the newer and more demanding workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-4690K scores 4828 against the 3550H's 3929.5, a 22.9% lead. Geekbench results also favor Intel: multi-core 3789 versus 3217 (17.8% ahead), and single-core 1292 versus 1001 (29.1% ahead). This split suggests the i5-4690K scales better in sustained, modern multi-threaded workloads despite having only 4 threads, while the 3550H excels in the older R15 test suite, possibly due to its 8 threads and different memory architecture.

The practical takeaway is that the 3550H is better for legacy applications and lightly threaded older software, while the i5-4690K is stronger in current-generation rendering and Geekbench-style mixed workloads. Users running modern productivity suites or content creation tools would likely prefer the Intel part, while those stuck on older software versions would see better results from the AMD chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in their underlying designs. The i5-4690K uses Intel's Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Ryzen 5 3550H uses AMD's Zen+ architecture (codename Picasso) on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. It also has 4 cores but doubles the thread count to 8 via SMT.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i5-4690K has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The 3550H has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. This means the Intel chip has 50% more L3 cache, which can help in cache-sensitive workloads, while the AMD chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Clock speeds are also starkly different. The i5-4690K runs at a 3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, while the 3550H runs at only 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The Intel part's much higher base clock gives it an advantage in lightly threaded tasks, while the AMD part relies on its extra threads to overcome its clock deficit in multi-threaded scenarios.

Power characteristics favor the mobile AMD chip massively. The i5-4690K has a TDP of 88 watts, while the 3550H is rated at just 35 watts, a 53-watt difference that reflects their different market segments: desktop versus mobile. The i5-4690K supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the 3550H supports DDR4 (its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database). Both have integrated graphics: Intel HD 4600 versus Radeon Vega 8. The i5-4690K uses Intel Socket 1150 with PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes from the CPU, while the 3550H uses AMD Socket FP5 with PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, the AMD part does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4690K has only 4 threads, despite both having 4 cores.

Q: Which processor is better for single-threaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 3550H wins in Cinebench R15 single-core (144 vs 68) and Cinebench R23 single-core (886 vs 681), but the i5-4690K wins in Geekbench single-core (1292 vs 1001). The result depends on which benchmark you trust.

Q: Is the i5-4690K still competitive in modern workloads?

A: Yes, the data shows it beats the 3550H by 22.9% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 17.8% in Geekbench multi-core, despite being an older desktop part.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690K boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H boosts to 3.70 GHz.

Q: Can the Ryzen 5 3550H be overclocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked. The i5-4690K has an unlocked multiplier.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i5-4690K supports DDR3, while the Ryzen 5 3550H supports DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Threads: 4 (Intel) vs 8 (AMD)
• Base clock: 3.50 GHz (Intel) vs 2.10 GHz (AMD)
• Boost clock: 3.90 GHz (Intel) vs 3.70 GHz (AMD)
• TDP: 88 W (Intel) vs 35 W (AMD)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1150 (Intel) vs AMD Socket FP5 (AMD)
• Architecture: Haswell (Intel) vs Zen+ (AMD)
• Process node: 22 nm (Intel) vs 12 nm (AMD)
• Foundry: Intel vs GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: 1,400 million (Intel) vs 4,940 million (AMD)
• Die size: 177 mm² (Intel) vs 210 mm² (AMD)
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core (Intel) vs 96 KB per core (AMD)
• L2 cache: 256 KB per core (Intel) vs 512 KB per core (AMD)
• L3 cache: 6 MB shared (Intel) vs 4 MB shared (AMD)
• Memory support: DDR3 (Intel) vs DDR4 (AMD)
• Memory bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s (Intel) vs not recorded (AMD)
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes CPU only (Intel) vs Gen 3 (AMD)
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 4600 (Intel) vs Radeon Vega 8 (AMD)
• Market segment: Desktop (Intel) vs Mobile (AMD)
• Production status: End-of-life (Intel) vs Active (AMD)
• Release date: June 2014 (Intel) vs January 2019 (AMD)
• Multiplier unlocked: Yes (Intel) vs No (AMD)
• Part number: SR21A (Intel) vs YM3500C4T4MFG (AMD)

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six recorded head-to-head benchmarks split evenly, but the margin patterns are informative. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 3550H wins by 34.5%, scoring 742 versus 486. That is the largest multi-core gap in either direction. The single-core R15 test shows the 3550H winning by 52.8%, 144 versus 68, the largest overall delta in the dataset. These two results suggest the AMD chip has a decisive advantage in the older Cinebench R15 workload, likely due to its 8 threads and newer architecture.

The i5-4690K fights back in Cinebench R23 multi-core, winning by 22.9% with a score of 4828 versus 3929.5. That is a substantial reversal from the R15 result, indicating the newer R23 workload scales much better with the Intel part's higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-4690K wins by 17.8% (3789 vs 3217), and in Geekbench single-core, it wins by 29.1% (1292 vs 1001). The Geekbench single-core result is particularly notable because it contradicts the Cinebench single-core results, where the 3550H won by 23.1%. The Intel part's 3.90 GHz boost clock likely drives its Geekbench single-core advantage, while the 3550H's higher instructions-per-clock efficiency may explain its Cinebench wins.

Looking at the aggregate averages, the i5-4690K sits at 1682 points, just 1.8% above the 3550H's 1653. Both CPUs land at the 40th percentile overall, placing them in the same performance tier despite their architectural differences. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Core i7-3770K and Core i7-5850HQ, both at 1688 (0.3% apart), and the Ryzen 7 3750H at 1690 (0.5% apart). The 3550H's nearest rivals are the Core i7-4810MQ at 1651 (0.1% apart) and the Core i5-4670K at 1656 (0.2% apart). These groupings confirm that the two CPUs are competitive with different sets of processors, with the Intel part edging toward higher overall scores.

The Verdict

The data does not declare a single overall winner, as the head-to-head record is tied at three wins each. The choice between these two CPUs depends entirely on workload priorities. The Ryzen 5 3550H is the better choice for users running Cinebench R15-era software or any application that benefits from its 8 threads and larger per-core caches. It also offers a massive power efficiency advantage at 35 watts versus 88 watts, making it the only realistic option for laptops or compact systems.

The Intel Core i5-4690K is the better choice for modern multi-threaded workloads as measured by Cinebench R23 and Geekbench. Its 22.9% lead in R23 multi-core and 17.8% lead in Geekbench multi-core show it holds up well against a much newer mobile chip. The Geekbench single-core win by 29.1% suggests the Intel part has strong per-thread performance despite its older architecture.

For a desktop builder with access to DDR3 memory and a willing to run an unlocked multiplier, the i5-4690K offers better modern benchmark performance at the cost of much higher power draw. For a mobile user or someone building a low-power system, the 3550H is the clear pick, especially given its active production status and DDR4 support. The database shows two processors that happen to land in the same performance tier but achieve it through opposite strategies: raw clock speed and cache on the Intel side, thread count and efficiency on the AMD side.