Intel Core i3-9100E vs Intel Core i5-4690S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-9100E wins every single recorded comparison against the Intel Core i5-4690S. Across six Cinebench tests, the i3-9100E posts a consistent lead of roughly 17% in both single-core and multi-core workloads.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-9100E scores 559 against the i5-4690S's 464, a 17% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 78 versus 65, a 16.7% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i3-9100E hits 2330 in multi-core versus 1935 for the i5-4690S, again 17% ahead. Its single-core R20 score of 328 beats 273 by 16.8%.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend. The i3-9100E manages 5549 multi-core and 783 single-core, while the i5-4690S trails at 4609 and 650 respectively. Both deltas sit at 16.9% and 17%. There is no test where the older i5-4690S pulls ahead, and the win count stands at 6 for the i3-9100E, 0 for the i5-4690S.

The average benchmark score in the database tells the same story. The i3-9100E averages 1605, placing it near the Intel Core i7-10610U (1611, 0.3% faster) and the Intel Core i7-970 (1613, 0.5% faster). The i5-4690S averages 1551, which sits just above the Intel Core i7-4760HQ (1549, 0.2% slower) and just below the Intel Core i3-9300 (1554, 0.2% faster). Both CPUs land at the 39th percentile of all recorded CPUs, meaning they occupy similar overall standings, but the i3-9100E consistently does more work per unit time in every benchmark.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-9100E wins all multi-core tests. It scores 559 in Cinebench R15, 2330 in R20, and 5549 in R23, versus 464, 1935, and 4609 for the i5-4690S. That is a 17% lead in each case.

Q: Is the i5-4690S better in single-core performance?

A: No. The i3-9100E also wins every single-core test. Its scores are 78 in R15, 328 in R20, and 783 in R23, compared to 65, 273, and 650 for the i5-4690S. The deltas range from 16.7% to 17%.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither supports hyper-threading, so the performance gap comes from architectural and clock differences, not thread count.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-9100E supports ECC memory. The i5-4690S does not list ECC support in the database.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The i5-4690S supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-9100E supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-4690S averages 1551, roughly matching the Intel Core i7-4760HQ (1549) and trailing the Intel Core i3-9300 (1554) by 0.2%. The i3-9100E averages 1605, sitting close to the Intel Core i7-10610U (1611) and Intel Core i7-970 (1613), while leading the Intel Core i7-1060G7 (1591) by 0.9%.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel design eras. The i5-4690S uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The i3-9100E uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with a smaller die size of 126 mm². The transistor count for the i3-9100E is not recorded in the database.

Both CPUs share the same per-core cache layout: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The fundamental memory interface differs, however. The i5-4690S runs DDR3 on a dual-channel bus delivering 25.6 GB/s. The i3-9100E runs DDR4 on a dual-channel bus delivering 38.4 GB/s, a 50% increase in theoretical bandwidth.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i5-4690S carries Intel HD 4600, while the i3-9100E carries UHD Graphics 630. The i3-9100E additionally supports ECC memory, which the i5-4690S does not.

The sockets are incompatible. The i5-4690S uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i3-9100E uses Intel Socket 1151. Both CPUs provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The i3-9100E is listed as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-4690S has no recorded production status. The i5-4690S launched in April 2014 with a launch MSRP of $224. The i3-9100E launched in August 2018 with a launch MSRP of $122.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for most users. The Intel Core i3-9100E outperforms the Intel Core i5-4690S in every benchmark recorded, with a consistent 17% margin across single-core and multi-core tests. It also offers newer memory technology, higher bandwidth, ECC support, and a more modern integrated GPU.

The i5-4690S has no benchmark wins in the database. Its only advantages are architectural in terms of platform legacy: it uses the older Socket 1150, which may matter if a user already owns a compatible motherboard. But for raw performance, the i3-9100E is strictly ahead.

The i3-9100E also carries a lower launch MSRP ($122 versus $224), though pricing should not be the deciding factor alone. The performance gap is real and reproducible across all six Cinebench iterations.

Users building a new system should pick the i3-9100E without hesitation. Users upgrading an existing Haswell platform might keep the i5-4690S to avoid a motherboard change, but they should expect no performance gain from staying with the older chip.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications:

• Base clock: i5-4690S at 3.20 GHz, i3-9100E at 3.10 GHz
• Boost clock: i5-4690S at 3.90 GHz, i3-9100E at 3.70 GHz
• Process node: 22 nm (i5-4690S) versus 14 nm (i3-9100E)
• Die size: 177 mm² (i5-4690S) versus 126 mm² (i3-9100E)
• Transistors: 1,400 million (i5-4690S), not recorded for i3-9100E
• Memory support: DDR3 (i5-4690S) versus DDR4 (i3-9100E)
• Memory bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s (i5-4690S) versus 38.4 GB/s (i3-9100E)
• ECC memory: Not supported (i5-4690S) versus supported (i3-9100E)
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 4600 (i5-4690S) versus UHD Graphics 630 (i3-9100E)
• Socket: Socket 1150 (i5-4690S) versus Socket 1151 (i3-9100E)
• Production status: Not recorded (i5-4690S) versus end-of-life (i3-9100E)
• Release date: April 2014 (i5-4690S) versus August 2018 (i3-9100E)
• Launch MSRP: $224 (i5-4690S) versus $122 (i3-9100E)

Both CPUs share 4 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and a locked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-9100E wins in every measured category. It is faster in single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, offers higher memory bandwidth, supports ECC memory, and includes a newer integrated graphics solution. Its smaller 14 nm die and larger 126 mm² area relative to the 22 nm process suggest better thermal efficiency per transistor, though the database does not record power draw beyond the 65 W TDP shared by both.

The Intel Core i5-4690S has no benchmark wins. Its only practical advantage is platform continuity for users already on Socket 1150 motherboards with DDR3 memory. If a user owns such a system and cannot justify a full platform change, the i5-4690S remains a functional quad-core option. But it will trail the i3-9100E by roughly 17% in all rendering workloads.

For new builds, the i3-9100E is the only rational pick. It dominates in compute performance, supports modern DDR4 memory, and includes ECC capability for workstation uses. The i5-4690S is a legacy part that the data shows as strictly slower in every recorded benchmark.