Intel Core i5-4430 vs Intel Core i5-4690T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along a single axis: the Intel Core i5-4430 wins every recorded Cinebench test. Across all six head-to-head comparisons, the i5-4430 takes a 1.7% to 1.8% lead in each workload. The i5-4690T does not win a single test in the database. This is not a close contest in any individual metric, but the margins are consistent enough that the i5-4430 emerges as the clear compute leader.

The i5-4430's advantage is most pronounced in single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 56 against 55 for the i5-4690T, a 1.8% delta. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 single-core (235 vs 231, 1.7% delta) and Cinebench R23 single-core (561 vs 551, 1.8% delta). These are small but uniform gaps, suggesting the i5-4430's higher base clock of 3.00 GHz provides a consistent edge over the i5-4690T's 2.50 GHz base clock, even though the i5-4690T boosts higher to 3.50 GHz.

Multi-core results mirror the single-core pattern. The i5-4430 leads by 1.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (400 vs 393), Cinebench R20 multi-core (1669 vs 1640), and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3974 vs 3905). Since both chips have four cores and four threads, the multi-core delta is driven entirely by sustained clock behavior under load. The i5-4430's higher base clock appears to hold up better in all-core workloads, despite the i5-4690T's higher boost ceiling.

The i5-4690T's role is different. Its 45 W TDP against the i5-4430's 84 W TDP makes it the power-efficient option, but the database shows no benchmark where that lower power draw translates into a performance win. The i5-4690T sits at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, while the i5-4430 sits at the 33rd percentile. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the i5-4430 is the clear pick. For users prioritizing thermal and power constraints, the i5-4690T offers a meaningful efficiency advantage, but that advantage does not show up in Cinebench scores.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental design. They are built on Intel's Haswell architecture, use the 22 nm process node, and are fabricated by Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. Both have four physical cores and four threads, with no hyper-threading. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 cache is 256 KB per core, and L3 cache is 6 MB shared. Both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory.

The key architectural differences are clock behavior, power envelope, and PCIe configuration. The i5-4430 runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.20 GHz, while the i5-4690T runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.50 GHz. The i5-4690T's boost clock is 0.30 GHz higher, but its base clock is 0.50 GHz lower. This creates a trade-off: the i5-4690T can reach a higher peak frequency for short bursts, but the i5-4430 maintains a higher floor for sustained workloads.

The TDP difference is substantial. The i5-4430 is rated at 84 W, while the i5-4690T is rated at 45 W. This nearly halves the thermal design power, which directly affects cooling requirements and system power budgets. The i5-4690T's lower TDP is the primary reason it boosts higher: it has thermal headroom for short bursts, but sustained all-core loads likely throttle it back toward its lower base clock.

The PCIe configuration also differs. The i5-4430 lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count, while the i5-4690T explicitly lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). This suggests the i5-4690T has a more explicitly documented PCIe allocation, though both support the same PCIe generation. Memory bandwidth is listed for the i5-4690T at 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-4430 entry does not include a bandwidth figure.

The integrated graphics are identical: both use Intel HD 4600. The socket is the same Intel Socket 1150, and both are locked processors with no unlocked multiplier. Release dates differ, with the i5-4430 launching on 2013-06-01 and the i5-4690T launching on 2014-04-30. Part numbers also differ: SR14G for the i5-4430, SR1QT for the i5-4690T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430 has a 3.00 GHz base clock, while the Intel Core i5-4690T has a 2.50 GHz base clock.

Q: Which processor boosts to a higher frequency?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690T boosts to 3.50 GHz, which is 0.30 GHz higher than the Intel Core i5-4430's 3.20 GHz boost clock.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have four cores and four threads, with no hyper-threading on either chip.

Q: How does the TDP compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430 has a TDP of 84 W, while the Intel Core i5-4690T has a TDP of 45 W, making the i5-4690T significantly more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430 wins with a score of 3974, compared to 3905 for the Intel Core i5-4690T, a 1.8% lead.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430 has an average benchmark score of 1149, while the Intel Core i5-4690T has an average score of 1129.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Base Clock: 3.00 GHz (i5-4430) vs 2.50 GHz (i5-4690T)
• Boost Clock: 3.20 GHz (i5-4430) vs 3.50 GHz (i5-4690T)
• TDP: 84 W (i5-4430) vs 45 W (i5-4690T)
• Memory Bandwidth: Not listed (i5-4430) vs 25.6 GB/s (i5-4690T)
• PCIe: Gen 3 (i5-4430) vs Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) (i5-4690T)
• Release Date: 2013-06-01 (i5-4430) vs 2014-04-30 (i5-4690T)
• Part Number: SR14G (i5-4430) vs SR1QT (i5-4690T)
• Percentile vs All CPUs: 33 (i5-4430) vs 32 (i5-4690T)
• Average Benchmark Score: 1149 (i5-4430) vs 1129 (i5-4690T)

All other specifications match: 4 cores, 4 threads, 22 nm process, 1,400 million transistors, 177 mm² die, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC memory, Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, desktop market segment, locked multiplier, and Intel Socket 1150.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-4430 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the margins are narrow and consistent. In every test except one, the delta is exactly 1.8%. The sole exception is Cinebench R20 single-core, where the delta is 1.7%.

Starting with single-core performance, the i5-4430 scores 56 in Cinebench R15 single-core against 55 for the i5-4690T. This 1.8% lead is the smallest absolute gap in the dataset, but it establishes the pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-4430 scores 235 against 231, a 1.7% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-4430 scores 561 against 551, another 1.8% delta. These results suggest that the i5-4430's higher base clock provides a reliable advantage in lightly threaded workloads, despite the i5-4690T's higher boost clock.

Multi-core performance follows the same trajectory. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4430 scores 400 against 393, a 1.8% delta. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-4430 scores 1669 against 1640, again 1.8%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-4430 scores 3974 against 3905, once more 1.8%. The consistency of the 1.8% delta across five of six tests is notable. It indicates that the performance gap is not workload-dependent; it is a systematic difference in sustained clock delivery.

The largest single-score gap in absolute terms is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-4430 leads by 69 points. The smallest absolute gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the lead is just 1 point. Across all six tests, the i5-4430 accumulates 6 wins with 0 losses. The i5-4690T's best relative showing is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it trails by only 1.7%, its narrowest margin of defeat.

The broader database context reinforces this picture. The i5-4430's average benchmark score of 1149 places it 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-3612QE (1147) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Opteron 4284 (1146). It trails the Intel Core i3-8145UE (1154) by 0.4%. The i5-4690T's average score of 1129 ties it with the Intel Core i7-3612QM (1129) and places it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-2720QM (1128). It trails the Intel Core i3-4370 (1130) by 0.1%.

These rival comparisons show that both chips sit in a tightly packed performance band. The i5-4430's nearest rivals are all within 0.4% of its average score, and the i5-4690T's nearest rivals are within 0.1%. The head-to-head delta of 1.8% between the two chips is therefore larger than the spread among their respective nearest rivals. In practical terms, the i5-4430 is the faster processor in every recorded test, but the i5-4690T's lower TDP makes it the more thermally efficient choice for constrained systems. The data does not show any scenario where the i5-4690T's higher boost clock translates into a benchmark win.