Intel Core i5-4690 vs Intel Core i5-7400T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows a clear sweep: the Intel Core i5-4690 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The i5-7400T does not post a single win in any of the Cinebench tests. This is not a narrow victory either; the margins are consistent and substantial across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

The i5-4690 leads by roughly 19.5% in every tested scenario. The smallest delta is 19.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core, and the largest is 19.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core. Multi-core deltas sit at 19.4% to 19.5%. This uniformity suggests the advantage is not workload-specific but stems from a fundamental performance gap.

For the i5-7400T, the story is about efficiency rather than raw throughput. Its 35 W TDP is less than half of the i5-4690's 84 W TDP. In thermally constrained systems, such as small-form-factor desktops or all-in-one machines, the i5-7400T's lower power draw could make it the more practical choice. However, in pure computational output, the data does not support it.

The i5-4690 also holds a higher relative position in the database. Its average benchmark score is 1375, compared to 1348 for the i5-7400T. Both sit at the 36th percentile of all CPUs, but the i5-4690's average score is higher. The i5-7400T's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-4670 with an identical average score of 1347, while the i5-4690's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-1030NG7, scores 1376. This places the i5-4690 in a slightly higher performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and process nodes. The i5-4690 uses Intel's Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, fabricated by Intel. The i5-7400T uses Kaby Lake on a 14 nm process, also by Intel. The process shrink is significant, as it allows the i5-7400T to achieve a much lower TDP of 35 W versus 84 W, while still maintaining a functional turbo clock.

The i-4690 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i5-7400T runs at 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The i5-4690's clocks are substantially higher, which explains its benchmark advantage. The i5-7400T compensates with a newer microarchitecture, but the raw clock deficit is too large to overcome.

Cache sizes are identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyperthreading. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a supported feature on either chip.

Memory support differs. The i5-4690 uses DDR3, while the i5-7400T uses DDR4. The i5-7400T also lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i5-4690. Both are dual-channel. The i5-7400T also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4690 simply lists PCIe Gen 3 without lane count.

Integrated graphics are different: the i5-4690 has Intel HD 4600, while the i5-7400T has HD 630. The latter is a newer iGPU, but the benchmark data does not include graphics comparisons, so no performance conclusion is drawn here.

Sockets are incompatible. The i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the i5-7400T uses Intel Socket 1151. This means upgrades between these two would require a new motherboard. The i5-4690 was released in late April 2014, while the i5-7400T arrived in early January 2017.

The i5-7400T has a part number, SR332, and its production status is listed as Active. The i5-4690 has no part number or production status listed.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690 scores 671, which is 19.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-7400T's 562.

• Q: How much more power does the i5-4690 draw compared to the i5-7400T?

A: The i5-4690 has a TDP of 84 W, while the i5-7400T has a TDP of 35 W. The i5-4690 draws more than twice the power at its rated TDP.

• Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: No. The i5-4690 supports DDR3, while the i5-7400T supports DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

• Q: Can I use the same motherboard for both?

A: No. The i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the i5-7400T uses Intel Socket 1151. They are not pin-compatible.

• Q: Which CPU has a larger average benchmark score?

A: The i5-4690 has an average score of 1375, which is higher than the i5-7400T's 1348. Both are in the 36th percentile of all CPUs.

• Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the i5-7400T wins?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows the i5-4690 winning all six tests, with the i5-7400T having zero wins.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Base Clock: i5-4690: 3.40 GHz. i5-7400T: 2.40 GHz.
• Boost Clock: i5-4690: 3.80 GHz. i5-7400T: 3.00 GHz.
• TDP: i5-4690: 84 W. i5-7400T: 35 W.
• Socket: i5-4690: Intel Socket 1150. i5-7400T: Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture: i5-4690: Haswell. i5-7400T: Kaby Lake.
• Process Node: i5-4690: 22 nm. i5-7400T: 14 nm.
• Transistor Count: i5-4690: 1,400 million. i5-7400T: not listed.
• Die Size: i5-4690: 177 mm². i5-7400T: not listed.
• Memory Support: i5-4690: DDR3. i5-7400T: DDR4.
• Memory Bandwidth: i5-4690: not listed. i5-7400T: 38.4 GB/s.
• PCIe: i5-4690: Gen 3. i5-7400T: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated Graphics: i5-4690: Intel HD 4600. i5-7400T: HD 630.
• Release Date: i5-4690: 2014-04-30. i5-7400T: 2017-01-02.
• Part Number: i5-4690: not listed. i5-7400T: SR332.
• Production Status: i5-4690: not listed. i5-7400T: Active.

Identical specifications include 4 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, 6 MB shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC memory support, no unlocked multiplier, and a Desktop market segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single delta in the entire dataset is in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the i5-4690 leads by 19.6%. The i-4690 scores 67, while the i5-7400T scores 56. This is a 11-point difference. In multi-core R15, the i5-4690 scores 479 to the i5-7400T's 401, a 19.5% delta.

The Cinebench R20 results follow the same pattern. The i5-4690 scores 1996 in multi-core, against 1672 for the i5-7400T, a 19.4% delta. In single-core, the i5-4690 scores 281 versus 236, a 19.1% delta. The margin narrows slightly in single-core, but not enough to change the outcome.

In the newest Cinebench R23 suite, the i5-4690 widens the gap in multi-core to 19.4%, scoring 4754 versus 3981. The single-core R23 scores are 671 and 562, also a 19.4% delta. These consistent 19% margins indicate that the i5-4690's higher clock speeds give it a fixed advantage across all workload types, regardless of core count scaling.

The i5-7400T does have one unique benchmark result: Geekbench scores. It records 2864 in multi-core and 1014 in single-core. The i5-4690 has no Geekbench result in the database, so no direct comparison can be made for that suite. This omission does not change the overall conclusion, as the Cinebench suite shows a comprehensive victory for the i5-4690.

From a performance perspective, the i5-4690 is the clear compute winner. The i5-7400T's redeeming factor is its power envelope, which is 35 W versus 84 W. That makes the i5-7400T a better fit for low-power or silent builds, but any user prioritizing raw throughput should look at the i5-4690. The data shows no scenario where the i5-7400T outperforms the i5-4690 in the recorded tests.