Intel Core i3-N300 vs Intel Core i5-4690T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-N300 and Intel Core i5-4690T represent two very different eras of Intel design, and the benchmark data reflects a fascinating split. The i3-N300, a modern 8-core mobile part built on the 10 nm Gracemont architecture, faces off against the older 22 nm Haswell-based i5-4690T, a 4-core desktop chip. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—1135 for the i3-N300 versus 1129 for the i5-4690T—and both sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs. Yet the individual Cinebench results tell a story of divergent strengths, with the i3-N300 dominating early render tests while the i5-4690T fights back in the latest multi-core workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation occurs in Cinebench R20, where the i3-N300 delivers a crushing victory. In the multi-core test, the i3-N300 scores 2849 against the i5-4690T’s 1640, a 73.7% advantage. The single-core R20 result is nearly as lopsided: 401 versus 231, a 73.6% lead for the i3-N300. These are not marginal wins; they indicate that the newer Gracemont architecture holds a substantial per-clock and per-thread efficiency edge over Haswell in this workload.

Cinebench R15 shows a similar, though less extreme, pattern. The i3-N300 wins multi-core with 416 points versus 393, a 5.9% margin, and single-core with 85 versus 55, a 54.5% advantage. The single-core delta is particularly telling—the i3-N300’s 100 MHz higher boost clock (3.70 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) cannot alone explain a 54.5% gap. The architectural improvements in instruction handling and IPC are the primary drivers here.

However, the i5-4690T secures a decisive win in the most demanding test: Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here, the i5-4690T scores 3905 against the i3-N300’s 2546, a 34.8% margin. This reversal is striking given the R20 results. The sustained-load behavior of the two chips diverges significantly; the i5-4690T, despite a 45 W TDP versus the i3-N300’s 7 W, appears able to maintain higher sustained performance over the longer R23 render. The i5-4690T also wins R23 single-core, posting 551 versus 513, a 6.9% advantage. This suggests that in a shorter, lighter workload, the i3-N300’s efficiency shines, but under extended multi-threaded stress, the older desktop part’s higher power envelope and larger L2 cache (256 KB per core versus 2 MB per module) allow it to pull ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-N300 is the clear winner in older Cinebench versions and in single-core R15 and R20. For users running legacy applications or workloads that rely on older render engines, the i3-N300’s 54.5% to 73.7% margins make it the superior choice. Its 8 cores and 8 threads also give it a raw thread-count advantage over the i5-4690T’s 4 cores and 4 threads, which explains its dominance in R15 and R20 multi-core tests. The data shows that the i3-N300’s Gracemont cores, despite being efficiency-oriented, are substantially faster per thread than Haswell cores in these specific benchmarks.

The i5-4690T wins the R23 tests, both multi-core and single-core. This is where the older chip’s design shines. The 6 MB shared L3 cache is identical between the two, but the i5-4690T’s per-core L2 cache (256 KB per core) provides faster access for each thread than the i3-N300’s module-based 2 MB L2. Additionally, the i5-4690T’s 45 W TDP allows for higher sustained clocks under load, whereas the i3-N300’s 7 W TDP likely forces more aggressive power limiting during prolonged renders. For users running modern multi-threaded workloads that scale beyond a few minutes, the i5-4690T is the better performer, despite its age.

The practical split is clear: the i3-N300 wins short bursts and legacy benchmarks, while the i5-4690T wins sustained, modern multi-core renders. Users prioritizing quick, responsive tasks or older software should favor the i3-N300. Those running long video exports or 3D renders in current applications should consider the i5-4690T.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The i3-N300 has an average benchmark score of 1135, while the i5-4690T scores 1129. The difference is less than 1%, placing both at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How much faster is the i3-N300 in Cinebench R20 multi-core?

A: The i3-N300 scores 2849 versus the i5-4690T’s 1640, a 73.7% advantage. This is the largest single margin in the head-to-head results.

Q: Does the i5-4690T win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i5-4690T wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (3905 versus 2546, a 34.8% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (551 versus 513, a 6.9% lead).

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4690T has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i3-N300 doubles the thread count.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The i3-N300 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, which is 200 MHz higher than the i5-4690T’s 3.50 GHz. The i3-N300 also has a higher base clock of 100 MHz versus the i5-4690T’s 2.50 GHz.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the i3-N300 supports DDR5, along with DDR4. The i5-4690T is limited to DDR3 memory.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every core specification. The i3-N300 features 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4690T has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 100 MHz for the i3-N300 and 2.50 GHz for the i5-4690T; boost clocks are 3.70 GHz and 3.50 GHz, respectively. The TDP is a major differentiator: 7 W for the i3-N300 versus 45 W for the i5-4690T.

The memory support is entirely different. The i3-N300 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and a maximum bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4690T supports only DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe configurations also differ: the i3-N300 offers Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4690T offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different as well—the i3-N300 has UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-4690T has Intel HD 4600.

The market segments are distinct: the i3-N300 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1264, while the i5-4690T is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1150. The i3-N300 was released in 2023 and remains active in production; the i5-4690T was released in 2014 with no current production status. The launch MSRP for the i3-N300 is $309; the i5-4690T has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The i3-N300 is built on Intel’s 10 nm process using Gracemont architecture, part of the Alder Lake-N family. The i5-4690T uses the 22 nm process with Haswell architecture. This process shrink is a primary reason for the i3-N300’s massive efficiency advantage—it delivers competitive or superior performance at a fraction of the TDP.

Cache hierarchies differ structurally. The i3-N300 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 per module, with 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-4690T has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, also with 6 MB of shared L3. The i3-N300’s module-based L2 design is a departure from the per-core L2 of the i5-4690T. The i5-4690T’s larger per-core L2 may contribute to its R23 multi-core win, as each core has dedicated fast cache.

The i3-N300 is fabricated on a 10 nm node with no disclosed transistor count or die size. The i5-4690T, on the 22 nm node, has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. This makes the i5-4690T physically larger and more power-hungry, but also allows for higher sustained clocks due to the 45 W power budget.

Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either part. The i3-N300’s integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, a more modern iGPU unit than the i5-4690T’s HD 4600, though the benchmark data does not include graphics performance metrics. The i3-N300 also supports a single-channel memory bus, which is a notable limitation for a modern part, while the i5-4690T’s dual-channel DDR3 support offers higher bandwidth per channel, though the total bandwidth is lower at 25.6 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s.