CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-9100TE
Core i5-4690
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i3-9100TE vs Intel Core i5-4690
The Intel Core i3-9100TE and Intel Core i5-4690 are both quad-core, four-thread desktop processors, but they represent very different design philosophies and eras. The i3-9100TE is a low-power Coffee Lake part built on a 14 nm process, while the i5-4690 is a higher-clocked Haswell chip on 22 nm. Benchmark data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy: the i5-4690 wins every single head-to-head test, with margins that remain remarkably stable across all workloads. The i3-9100TE counters with a dramatically lower thermal envelope and modern platform features, but the raw compute results are unambiguous.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head dataset is one-sided. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i5-4690 wins every round, with the deltaPct hovering tightly between -17.8% and -18% in the i3-9100TE's favor (i.e., the i5 leads by roughly 18%). This consistency suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.
In Cinebench R15, the i5-4690 scores 479 in multi-core against the i3-9100TE's 393, a difference of -18%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 67 versus 55, a -17.9% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-4690 posts 1996 multi-core and 281 single-core, while the i3-9100TE manages 1638 and 231 respectively, both showing -17.9% and -17.8% deltas. The newest Cinebench R23 test confirms the trend: the i5-4690 reaches 4754 multi-core and 671 single-core, versus 3900 and 550 for the i3-9100TE, with -18% deltas on both.
Notably, the i3-9100TE also has a Geekbench result in its pack, 3214 multi-core and 1105 single-core, but the i5-4690 has no Geekbench scores listed, so no direct comparison is possible there. The absence of this data point means the head-to-head comparison rests entirely on the Cinebench suite, which is consistent in its verdict.
The average benchmark score tells a similar story at a higher level: the i3-9100TE averages 1386 across all its benchmarks, while the i5-4690 averages 1375. These averages are nearly identical, but they include different test sets, making the head-to-head Cinebench numbers the more reliable apples-to-apples comparison. The i5-4690's percentile ranking (36th vs. 37th for the i3-9100TE) is also nearly tied, but that percentile is computed against different benchmark mixes.
The -18% margin is significant in practical terms. It means the i5-4690 completes rendering tasks roughly 18% faster than the i3-9100TE. This is not a marginal edge; it is a full generational-clock advantage showing up consistently. The i5-4690's higher base clock (3.40 GHz vs. 2.20 GHz) and boost clock (3.80 GHz vs. 3.20 GHz) explain the majority of this gap, since both chips share the same core and thread counts (4 cores, 4 threads) and the same L3 cache size (6 MB shared).
The Verdict
From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Core i5-4690 is the superior performer. It wins all six head-to-head tests with a uniform ~18% margin, which translates directly to faster rendering and compute throughput across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. A user prioritizing raw CPU performance in multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads should choose the i5-4690 without hesitation.
However, the i3-9100TE is not without merit. Its 35 W TDP is less than half of the i5-4690's 84 W TDP, making it the clear choice for thermally constrained systems or low-power builds. It also supports DDR4 memory and ECC memory, whereas the i5-4690 is limited to DDR3 and lacks ECC. The i3-9100TE has a newer integrated GPU (UHD Graphics 630 vs. Intel HD 4600), a smaller die size (126 mm² vs. 177 mm²), and a more modern 14 nm process node versus 22 nm. For a system builder who values efficiency and modern platform features over raw compute speed, the i3-9100TE is the pragmatic pick.
The verdict depends on the metric that matters most. If the benchmark score is the sole criterion, the i5-4690 wins outright. If the system's power budget, memory type, and ECC requirement are the primary constraints, the i3-9100TE is the only viable option among these two. The data shows a clear performance leader, but it also shows a clear efficiency leader, and the choice hinges on which priority dominates.
Where Each One Wins
Intel Core i5-4690 wins on raw performance. Every Cinebench test falls in its favor: multi-core R15 (479 vs. 393), single-core R15 (67 vs. 55), multi-core R20 (1996 vs. 1638), single-core R20 (281 vs. 231), multi-core R23 (4754 vs. 3900), and single-core R23 (671 vs. 550). The ~18% lead is uniform across all releases of Cinebench, indicating that the i5-4690's higher clock speeds (base 3.40 GHz, boost 3.80 GHz) provide a consistent advantage in both lightly threaded and fully loaded scenarios. This makes it the better choice for video rendering, 3D model compilation, or any CPU-bound task where time-to-completion matters.
Intel Core i3-9100TE wins on efficiency and platform features. Its 35 W TDP is a decisive advantage over the i5-4690's 84 W TDP, enabling smaller coolers and lower operating costs in always-on or compact systems. It supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-4690 is restricted to DDR3 with no bandwidth figure listed. The i3-9100TE also includes ECC memory support, which the i5-4690 lacks, making it suitable for entry-level servers or workstations where data integrity is critical. Its integrated UHD Graphics 630 is a newer generation than the i5-4690's Intel HD 4600, and its 14 nm process with a 126 mm² die size indicates a more power-efficient design than the 22 nm, 177 mm² Haswell die. The i3-9100TE also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5-4690 lists only "Gen 3" without lane count.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
A: The Intel Core i5-4690 is faster in every multi-core test. It scores 479 vs. 393 in Cinebench R15, 1996 vs. 1638 in R20, and 4754 vs. 3900 in R23, each representing an ~18% lead for the i5-4690.
Q: Does the i3-9100TE win any benchmark?
A: No. In the head-to-head dataset, the i5-4690 wins all six Cinebench tests. The i3-9100TE has a Geekbench score (3214 multi-core, 1105 single-core), but the i5-4690 has no Geekbench result listed for comparison.
Q: What is the power consumption difference?
A: The i3-9100TE has a TDP of 35 W, while the i5-4690 has a TDP of 84 W. The i3-9100TE consumes less than half the power of the i5-4690, making it far more suitable for low-power builds.
Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?
A: Only the i3-9100TE supports ECC memory (listed as true). The i5-4690 does not support ECC (listed as false).
Q: What memory types do they support?
A: The i3-9100TE supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4690 supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory, but no bandwidth figure is listed.
Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?
A: The i3-9100TE features UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-4690 features Intel HD 4600. Both are integrated GPUs, but the i3-9100TE's is from a newer generation.
Architecture Differences
The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The i3-9100TE is a Coffee Lake part (14 nm process, 126 mm² die size) from the Core i3 Coffee Lake Refresh generation, while the i5-4690 is a Haswell part (22 nm process, 177 mm² die size) from the Core i5 Haswell generation. This generational split explains several key differences.
Core and clock architecture: Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, but the i5-4690 runs at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 3.80 GHz, whereas the i3-9100TE is limited to 2.20 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The i5-4690's clock advantage is the primary driver of its ~18% benchmark lead.
Cache hierarchy: Both chips feature identical cache structures: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. This means the performance gap is not due to cache capacity differences.
Memory and platform: The i3-9100TE uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC support. The i5-4690 uses DDR3 with dual-channel memory and no ECC support. The i3-9100TE also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4690 lists PCIe Gen 3 without specifying lane count.
Power and die: The i3-9100TE's 35 W TDP is a major architectural advantage of the newer 14 nm process, compared to the i5-4690's 84 W TDP on 22 nm. The i3-9100TE's die size of 126 mm² is substantially smaller than the i5-4690's 177 mm², and the i5-4690's transistor count is listed at 1,400 million, while the i3-9100TE's transistor count is not provided.
Socket and graphics: The i3-9100TE uses Intel Socket 1151 and integrates UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150 and integrates Intel HD 4600. The i3-9100TE was released on 2019-03-31 with a launch MSRP of $122, while the i5-4690 was released on 2014-04-30 with no MSRP listed. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-9100TE is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4690's production status is not specified.