Intel Core i3-8100T vs Intel Core i5-4690S Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690S wins all multi-core tests. It scores 3.1% higher in Cinebench R15 multicore (464 vs 450), 3.1% higher in Cinebench R20 multicore (1935 vs 1876), and 3.2% higher in Cinebench R23 multicore (4609 vs 4467). Geekbench multicore shows a 3.5% lead (3251 vs 3142).

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The i5-4690S also leads in every single-core test. The margin ranges from 3.2% in Cinebench R15 singlecore (65 vs 63) to 5.3% in Geekbench singlecore (1163 vs 1104). Its boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus the i3-8100T's fixed 3.10 GHz explains the consistent edge.

Q: Do they have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both processors have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither supports Hyper-Threading, so the performance gap comes entirely from clock speed and architecture differences rather than thread count.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-4690S is limited to DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Is there a difference in integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The i5-4690S includes Intel HD 4600, while the i3-8100T includes UHD Graphics 630. The newer UHD 630 is paired with the Coffee Lake architecture and DDR4 support.

Q: Which CPU has ECC memory support?

A: The Intel Core i3-8100T supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4690S does not. This makes the i3-8100T more suitable for builds where memory error correction matters.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4690S wins every single recorded test. Out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, it takes all 8 victories. The i3-8100T does not win a single workload category in the database.

However, the i3-8100T has structural advantages that matter outside raw compute. It runs on a 35 W TDP versus 65 W for the i5-4690S, making it the better choice for low-power or compact builds where heat output and cooling requirements are constrained. It also uses the Socket 1151 platform with DDR4 memory support and a newer 14 nm process node, which gives it platform-level longevity through modern motherboards, DDR4 RAM, and ECC memory capability.

The i5-4690S wins where raw processing speed is the priority. Its 3.90 GHz boost clock delivers a 5.3% advantage in Geekbench singlecore, the largest margin in the entire comparison. For older Socket 1150 platforms with DDR3 already in hand, it is the drop-in upgrade that does not require a platform change.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several core specifications. The i5-4690S has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i3-8100T has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and no boost clock at all. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Power draw differs substantially: the i5-4690S has a 65 W TDP, the i3-8100T a 35 W TDP. The process node differs too, with the i5-4690S on Intel's 22 nm node and the i3-8100T on 14 nm. Die size reflects this: 177 mm² for the i5-4690S versus 126 mm² for the i3-8100T. The i5-4690S has 1,400 million transistors; the i3-8100T does not have a recorded transistor count.

Memory support is a major split. The i5-4690S uses DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-8100T uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both are dual-channel. ECC memory is supported only on the i3-8100T. The i5-4690S uses Socket 1150, the i3-8100T uses Socket 1151. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4600 on the i5-4690S, UHD Graphics 630 on the i3-8100T. Cache configuration is identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The i5-4690S was released earlier, on 2014-04-30, and the i3-8100T on 2018-04-01. The i3-8100T is marked end-of-life, while the i5-4690S has no recorded production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the i5-4690S comes in Geekbench singlecore, where it scores 1163 against 1104, a 5.3% margin. This is the standout delta in the comparison and reflects the benefit of its 3.90 GHz boost clock in lightly threaded workloads.

In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the i5-4690S leads by 3.4% (273 vs 264). Cinebench R15 singlecore shows a 3.2% edge (65 vs 63), and Cinebench R23 singlecore also shows 3.2% (650 vs 630). The consistency across all single-core tests points to a stable clock advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Multi-core results follow the same pattern but with slightly smaller margins. Geekbench multicore shows the i5-4690S ahead by 3.5% (3251 vs 3142). Cinebench R15 multicore gives a 3.1% lead (464 vs 450), Cinebench R20 multicore gives 3.1% (1935 vs 1876), and Cinebench R23 multicore gives 3.2% (4609 vs 4467). The multi-core margins are tightly grouped between 3.1% and 3.5%, which makes sense given that both CPUs have identical 4-core, 4-thread configurations.

The i3-8100T never closes the gap to within 3%. Its best relative showing is Cinebench R15 multicore at 3.1% behind. Its worst is Geekbench singlecore at 5.3% behind. The i5-4690S wins all 8 benchmarks, with an average advantage across tests of roughly 3.5%.

In the broader database context, the i5-4690S sits at the 39th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 1551. The i3-8100T sits at the 38th percentile with an average score of 1500. The i5-4690S's closest rivals are the Intel Core i7-4760HQ (1549, 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i3-9300 (1554, 0.2% ahead), the Intel Xeon E3-1268L v5 (1557, 0.4% ahead), and the AMD FX-8350 (1557, 0.4% ahead). The i3-8100T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3770S (1498, 0.1% behind), the Intel Core i5-4590S (1493, 0.5% behind), the AMD Opteron 6344 (1492, 0.6% behind), and the Intel Core i7-8665U (1513, 0.8% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The i5-4690S is built on the Haswell architecture using Intel's 22 nm process. It uses Socket 1150 and is part of the Core i5 (Haswell) generation. The i3-8100T is built on Coffee Lake using Intel's 14 nm process, uses Socket 1151, and belongs to the Core i3 (Coffee Lake) generation.

The die size difference is notable: 177 mm² for Haswell versus 126 mm² for Coffee Lake. The newer 14 nm node allows the i3-8100T to pack similar functionality into a smaller die while running at a much lower 35 W TDP. The i5-4690S uses more silicon and more power to achieve slightly higher clock speeds.

Memory architecture is another major division. Haswell pairs with DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s, while Coffee Lake pairs with DDR4 at 38.4 GB/s. The 50% bandwidth advantage of the i3-8100T does not translate into a benchmark win in the recorded tests, which suggests the workloads in the database are not memory-bandwidth limited at these capacities.

The i3-8100T also adds ECC support, a feature absent from the i5-4690S. This is rare for a desktop Core i3 and gives it an edge in reliability-oriented builds. The integrated GPU generation also differs: HD 4600 on Haswell versus UHD Graphics 630 on Coffee Lake, though no benchmark data is recorded for either.

Both CPUs share the same cache hierarchy: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Both have 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. Neither is multiplier-unlocked, so overclocking is not a differentiator.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-4690S is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded in the database. It wins all 8 head-to-head tests with margins from 3.1% to 5.3%. Its 3.90 GHz boost clock gives it a meaningful single-core advantage, and its multi-core scores are consistently higher across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench. If raw compute throughput is the only criterion, the i5-4690S is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i3-8100T makes its case on platform and efficiency rather than performance. Its 35 W TDP is nearly half that of the i5-4690S, which matters in small-form-factor builds or systems with limited cooling. It supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, a 50% increase over the i5-4690S's DDR3 25.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory, which the i5-4690S does not. Its Socket 1151 platform is newer and gives access to modern motherboards and DDR4 RAM.

Who should pick which? Builders who already own a Socket 1150 DDR3 platform and want the fastest drop-in upgrade should choose the i5-4690S. It delivers better scores in every test without requiring a motherboard or memory change. Builders starting fresh, or those prioritizing low power draw, DDR4 support, ECC memory, and a smaller 126 mm² die on a 14 nm node, should choose the i3-4690S's rival. The i5-4690S was priced at a $224 launch MSRP, while the i3-8100T launched at $117, but that is a one-time historical figure and not a current purchase consideration.

For performance, the i5-4690S wins outright. For platform modernity and efficiency, the i3-8100T is the more sensible foundation. The data does not show a single scenario where the i3-8100T outperforms the i5-4690S in compute benchmarks, so the decision rests entirely on whether the newer socket, DDR4, and lower power envelope outweigh a consistent 3% to 5% performance deficit.