Intel Core i5-4690 vs Intel Core i5-6500TE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4690 and the Intel Core i5-6500TE are both 4-core, 4-thread desktop processors, but they target different priorities. The i5-4690 is a Haswell part with high clock speeds and an 84W TDP, while the i5-6500TE is a Skylake part with a 35W TDP and a newer platform. The recorded benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the efficiency story runs in the opposite direction.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4690 wins all six recorded Cinebench comparisons. The margins are remarkably consistent, ranging from 11.5% to 11.9% across every test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4690 scores 479 against 428 for the i5-6500TE, a lead of 11.9%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 67 versus 60, an 11.7% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-4690 posts 1996 multi-core and 281 single-core, while the i5-6500TE manages 1787 and 252 respectively, deltas of 11.7% and 11.5%. Cinebench R23 shows the same story: 4754 versus 4255 in multi-core (11.7%) and 671 versus 600 in single-core (11.8%).

The consistency of these margins is telling. The i5-4690 does not just edge ahead in one workload; it maintains a near-uniform 11 to 12 percent advantage across every Cinebench generation and both single and multi-threaded tests. This points to a fundamental clock-speed and core-efficiency gap rather than a workload-specific quirk. The i5-4690's base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz are both substantially higher than the i5-6500TE's 2.30 GHz and 3.30 GHz, and that advantage shows up in every measured scenario.

The i5-6500TE does have a higher average benchmark score in the database at 1399 versus 1375 for the i5-4690, and a slightly better percentile rank at 37 versus 36. However, that average includes Geekbench results for the i5-6500TE (2749 multi-core, 1062 single-core) that have no direct counterpart in the i5-4690's recorded data, so the two averages are not directly comparable. In the tests where both chips were measured head-to-head, the i5-4690 wins every time.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces the picture. The i5-4690 sits within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-1030NG7, which has an average score of 1376. The i5-6500TE sits within 0.1% of the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 at 1401. Both chips occupy a crowded mid-range band, but the head-to-head results separate them clearly.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-4690. It leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core (479 vs 428, +11.9%), R20 multi-core (1996 vs 1787, +11.7%), and R23 multi-core (4754 vs 4255, +11.7%).

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

A: The i5-4690 also wins single-core. It scores 67 vs 60 in R15 (+11.7%), 281 vs 252 in R20 (+11.5%), and 671 vs 600 in R23 (+11.8%).

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The i5-6500TE has a 35W TDP, while the i5-4690 has an 84W TDP. The i5-6500TE is the lower-power part by a wide margin, which makes it suitable for compact or thermally constrained systems.

Q: Which CPU supports more memory types?

A: The i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-4690 supports DDR3 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, and the i5-6500TE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Which is the newer release?

A: The i5-6500TE was released on 2015-10-10, while the i5-4690 was released on 2014-04-30. The i5-6500TE is also marked as end-of-life in the database.

Q: How do their average scores compare?

A: The i5-6500TE has a higher average benchmark score at 1399, versus 1375 for the i5-4690. However, the i5-6500TE's average includes Geekbench results that the i5-4690 does not have recorded, so the head-to-head Cinebench results are the more reliable comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-4690 wins on raw compute performance. It takes all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 11.5% and 11.9%. If the workload is CPU-bound rendering, encoding, or compilation, the i5-4690 is the stronger choice. Its higher clocks (3.40 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) give it a consistent edge in both lightly threaded and fully loaded scenarios.

The i5-6500TE wins on efficiency and platform flexibility. Its 35W TDP is less than half of the i5-4690's 84W, making it suitable for compact or passively cooled systems. It also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, giving builders more options, and it has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-6500TE also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (1399 vs 1375) and percentile rank (37 vs 36), though those figures are influenced by Geekbench results not recorded for the i5-4690.

For a low-power media server or a small-form-factor build, the i5-6500TE is the sensible pick. For a system where performance is the priority and power draw is not a concern, the i5-4690 is clearly ahead.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every major specification except core and thread counts, which are both 4 cores and 4 threads.

• Base clock: 3.40 GHz (i5-4690) vs 2.30 GHz (i5-6500TE)
• Boost clock: 3.80 GHz (i5-4690) vs 3.30 GHz (i5-6500TE)
• TDP: 84W (i5-4690) vs 35W (i5-6500TE)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1150 (i5-4690) vs Intel Socket 1151 (i5-6500TE)
• Process node: 22 nm (i5-4690) vs 14 nm (i5-6500TE)
• Die size: 177 mm² (i5-4690) vs 122 mm² (i5-6500TE)
• Transistor count: 1,400 million (i5-4690); not recorded for the i5-6500TE
• Memory support: DDR3 (i5-4690) vs DDR3 and DDR4 (i5-6500TE)
• Memory bandwidth: not recorded for the i5-4690; 34.1 GB/s for the i5-6500TE
• PCIe: Gen 3 (i5-4690) vs Gen 3 with 16 lanes, CPU only (i5-6500TE)
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD 4600 (i5-4690) vs HD Graphics 530 (i5-6500TE)
• Release date: 2014-04-30 (i5-4690) vs 2015-10-10 (i5-6500TE)
• Production status: not recorded for the i5-4690; end-of-life for the i5-6500TE
• Launch MSRP: not recorded for the i5-4690; $192 for the i5-6500TE
• Part number: not recorded for the i5-4690; SR2LR for the i5-6500TE

The cache layout is identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Both are dual-channel memory parts, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The i5-4690 is built on Intel's Haswell architecture, while the i5-6500TE uses Skylake. This is a generational jump: Haswell is a 22 nm design, while Skylake is 14 nm. The smaller process node gives the i5-6500TE a smaller die at 122 mm² versus 177 mm² for the i5-4690, and it is the reason the i5-6500TE can achieve a 35W TDP despite a newer architecture.

The i5-4690 compensates with significantly higher clocks: 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, versus 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost for the i5-6500TE. That clock advantage, combined with the Haswell core design, is enough to overcome the architectural improvements in Skylake in every recorded benchmark.

The memory controller differs as well. The i5-4690 supports DDR3 only, while the i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The i5-6500TE also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, a figure not recorded for the i5-4690.

The integrated graphics are different generations: Intel HD 4600 on the i5-4690 versus HD Graphics 530 on the i5-6500TE. The PCIe implementation also differs, with the i5-6500TE specifying Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4690 simply lists Gen 3.

The i5-6500TE is a newer part, released on 2015-10-10 versus 2014-04-30 for the i5-4690, and it is marked as end-of-life in the database. The i5-4690's production status is not recorded.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split. If you need compute performance, the Intel Core i5-4690 is the winner. It beats the i5-6500TE in every head-to-head Cinebench test, with margins between 11.5% and 11.9%. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.40/3.80 GHz versus 2.30/3.30 GHz) deliver a consistent advantage across single and multi-threaded workloads.

If you need a low-power part, the i5-6500TE is the better choice. Its 35W TDP is less than half of the i5-4690's 84W, and it supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, giving it more flexibility for compact builds. It also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (1399 vs 1375) and percentile rank (37 vs 36), though those figures include Geekbench results that the i5-4690 does not have recorded.

The i5-6500TE is the newer part, released on 2015-10-10 versus 2014-04-30, and it is built on a smaller 14 nm process with a smaller die (122 mm² versus 177 mm²). It is also marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4690's production status is not recorded.

In practical terms: choose the i5-4690 for a performance-oriented desktop where power draw is not a concern. Choose the i5-6500TE for a low-power system, a small-form-factor build, or a platform where DDR4 memory support matters. The i5-6500TE's launch MSRP was $192.