AMD Ryzen 7 3750H vs Intel Core i5-4690K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H and Intel Core i5-4690K represent two very different design philosophies from opposite ends of the hardware timeline. One is a modern 12 nm mobile chip built for efficiency, while the other is a 22 nm desktop part from a previous generation with a higher thermal ceiling. The data reveals a surprisingly balanced contest, with each processor taking three wins in the head-to-head benchmark suite, though the margins vary wildly depending on the workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 7 3750H dominates the older Cinebench R15 tests, and it does so with authority. In the multicore R15 run, the AMD chip scores 734 against Intel’s 486, a decisive 51% advantage. This is a massive gap that highlights the benefit of simultaneous multithreading; the Ryzen 7 presents eight threads to the scheduler, while the i5-4690K is limited to four. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided in relative terms: the 3750H posts 144 versus just 68 for the i5-4690K, a 111.8% difference. That number looks anomalous given the other tests, but the data is clear: in this specific legacy workload, the AMD part nearly doubles the Intel score.

The picture reverses when looking at the newer Cinebench R23 suite. Intel’s desktop chip takes the multicore R23 test with a score of 4828, beating the Ryzen 7 3750H’s 3897 by 19.3%. This is a significant turnaround. Despite having half the threads, the i5-4690K’s higher sustained power delivery and older but robust Haswell architecture allow it to outperform the mobile chip in this longer, more demanding render. However, the single-core R23 result swings back to AMD: the Ryzen 7 scores 971 versus 681 for Intel, a 42.6% win. This suggests the Zen+ core is far more efficient per clock in this test, even though the i5-4690K has a higher base clock.

Geekbench results favor Intel. The i5-4690K scores 3789 in multicore, beating the 3750H’s 3446 by 9.1%. The single-core Geekbench test is the largest win for Intel in absolute terms: 1292 versus 950, a 26.5% margin. This is notable because the Ryzen 7 3750H has a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz compared to the i5-4690K’s 3.90 GHz, yet it still loses significantly in this synthetic test. The data indicates Intel’s per-core performance in Geekbench is simply stronger, likely due to architectural advantages in that specific workload.

Overall, the win tally is even at three apiece, but the magnitude of the losses matters. The Ryzen 7 3750H’s biggest win is an enormous 111.8% in R15 single-core, while Intel’s biggest win is a more modest 26.5% in Geekbench single-core. In the two multicore tests, the results are split: AMD wins R15 by 51%, Intel wins R23 by 19.3%. This suggests the 3750H excels in older, shorter bursts of work, while the i5-4690K holds up better in modern, sustained loads or memory-sensitive tasks. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—1690 for AMD and 1682 for Intel—with a deltaPct of just 0.5% in favor of the Ryzen 7, placing both chips in the 40th percentile of all CPUs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H has an average benchmark score of 1690, while the Intel Core i5-4690K has an average of 1682. The difference is a marginal 0.5% in favor of the AMD chip, and both sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690K wins this test decisively. It scores 4828, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H scores 3897, giving Intel a 19.3% lead. This is despite the Intel chip having only 4 threads compared to the AMD chip’s 8 threads.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H always faster in single-core tests?

A: No. The AMD chip wins single-core in Cinebench R15 (144 vs 68, a 111.8% lead) and Cinebench R23 (971 vs 681, a 42.6% lead), but it loses in Geekbench single-core. The Intel Core i5-4690K scores 1292 versus 950, a 26.5% advantage for Intel.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i5-4690K has a TDP of 88 watts. This makes the AMD chip a mobile-oriented, low-power part, whereas the Intel chip is a desktop component with a much higher thermal envelope.

Q: Which processor supports more threads simultaneously?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H supports 8 threads from its 4 cores. The Intel Core i5-4690K has 4 cores but only 4 threads, as it lacks Hyper-Threading technology.

Q: What are the memory type differences between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Intel Core i5-4690K supports DDR3 memory, also in dual-channel, and has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the workload and the platform. For users running legacy Cinebench R15 workloads, the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is the clear pick, offering a 51% multicore and a staggering 111.8% single-core advantage. Its modern Zen+ architecture delivers superior per-thread performance in these older tests.

For modern applications like Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i5-4690K is the better performer, taking the multicore test by 19.3% and the Geekbench single-core test by 26.5%. The data shows that despite being an older desktop chip with fewer threads, the i5-4690K can outmuscle the mobile Ryzen 7 in sustained, complex workloads that stress memory bandwidth and raw core clock.

The mobile market segment for the Ryzen 7 3750H means it operates within a 35 W TDP, while the i5-4690K is an 88 W desktop part. Users who require a low-power solution for a laptop or compact system should choose the AMD chip, as it delivers competitive scores in many tests while drawing far less power. Conversely, users with a desktop Socket 1150 motherboard who prioritize modern multi-core rendering and Geekbench performance should pick the Intel i5-4690K. The 0.5% average score difference is negligible, so the decision rests on specific benchmark preferences and platform requirements. The Intel chip also has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4690K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, whereas the Intel chip has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz but a slightly lower boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The TDP is a major difference: 35 W for AMD versus 88 W for Intel.

They use different sockets: AMD uses Socket FP5, while Intel uses Socket 1150. The memory support also differs, with the Ryzen 7 3750H using DDR4 and the i5-4690K using DDR3. Intel lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while AMD does not provide a figure. The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD has Radeon Vega 10, while Intel has HD 4600. The market segments are opposite, with AMD targeting Mobile and Intel targeting Desktop. Finally, the Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip is still active in production.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these chips is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 7 3750H is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, and belongs to the 3000 series. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with a transistor count of 4,940 million and a die size of 210 mm². The Intel Core i5-4690K uses the older Haswell architecture, also codenamed Haswell, and is built on a 22 nm process by Intel. It has only 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm².

Cache hierarchies are distinct. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite having a smaller total cache, the AMD chip’s larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations reflect its newer design.

Both support PCIe Gen 3, but Intel specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD does not list a lane count. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The AMD chip’s integrated Radeon Vega 10 is a newer, more capable GPU than Intel’s HD 4600. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the AMD chip is locked. The Ryzen 7 3750H was released in January 2019, while the i5-4690K came out in June 2014, a difference of roughly five years that explains the process node and transistor advantages for AMD. The Intel chip’s launch MSRP was $243, though the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP.