CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4690 and Intel Core i7-2600 are separated by three years of architecture, yet they land in the same performance class. The i5-4690 (Haswell, 22 nm) wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the i7-2600 (Sandy Bridge, 32 nm) counters with hyper-threading and more cache. The data shows a consistent, narrow victory for the newer chip, with margins that rarely exceed 5% in either multi-core or single-core tests. This is not a generational blowout; it is a nuanced matchup where IPC improvements and thread count trade blows.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-4690 sweeps all six recorded benchmark tests, but the victories are modest. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4690 scores 479 against the i7-2600's 455, a 5.3% lead. The single-core R15 result is closer: 67 versus 64, a 4.7% advantage. This pattern repeats across the entire Cinebench suite. In R20 multi-core, the i5-4690 posts 1996 while the i7-2600 manages 1897, a 5.2% gap. The single-core R20 shows 281 versus 267, again 5.2%. R23 multi-core follows with 4754 against 4519 (5.2%), and R23 single-core is 671 versus 638 (5.2%).

The consistency is striking. Every multi-core and single-core delta in R20 and R23 is exactly 5.2%, suggesting that the i5-4690's architectural efficiency advantage is uniform across workloads. The older i7-2600's hyper-threading does not close the gap in Cinebench, despite having 8 threads to the i5-4690's 4. The i5-4690 also holds the edge in R15, though the margin is slightly larger in multi-core (5.3%) than single-core (4.7%). The i7-2600 has no wins here, zero in six tests.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this. The i5-4690 averages 1375, while the i7-2600 averages 1370. That is a 0.4% difference in the aggregate, even though the i5-4690 wins every individual test. The i7-2600 does have additional Geekbench results (multi-core 2409, single-core 712) that the i5-4690 lacks, but those are not head-to-head comparisons. Looking at nearest rivals, the i5-4690 sits just below the Intel Core i5-1030NG7 (1376, -0.1%) and just above the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 (1379, -0.3%). The i7-2600 matches the AMD Opteron 6376 exactly (1370, 0% delta) and edges out the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 (1368, 0.1%).

Architecture Differences

The i5-4690 is built on Intel's Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the i7-2600 uses Sandy Bridge on 32 nm. The newer process gives the i5-4690 a smaller die size (177 mm² versus 216 mm²) despite packing more transistors, 1,400 million versus 1,160 million. The i5-4690's transistor density is significantly higher, which explains its per-clock efficiency advantage.

Cache configuration differs substantially. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i7-2600 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i5-4690's 6 MB. That extra 2 MB of L3 is the i7-2600's main structural advantage, though it does not translate into benchmark wins. The i5-4690 compensates with a newer memory controller and integrated graphics: Intel HD 4600 versus the i7-2600's Intel HD 2000.

Both chips support DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, and neither supports ECC. The i5-4690 uses Socket 1150, while the i7-2600 uses Socket 1155, they are not interchangeable. The i5-4690 has PCIe Gen 3, and the i7-2600 also has PCIe Gen 3 but with 16 lanes limited to the CPU. The i7-2600 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4690's production status is not listed. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is limited on both.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The i7-2600 has 8 threads via hyper-threading on 4 cores. The i5-4690 has 4 threads on 4 cores. Despite this 2x thread count advantage, the i7-2600 loses all multi-core benchmarks.

Q: How much faster is the i5-4690 in multi-core workloads?

A: The i5-4690 leads by 5.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (479 vs 455) and 5.2% in both R20 (1996 vs 1897) and R23 (4754 vs 4519) multi-core tests.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The i5-4690 wins single-core tests by 4.7% in R15 (67 vs 64) and 5.2% in both R20 (281 vs 267) and R23 (671 vs 638).

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-2600 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-4690 has 6 MB. The i7-2600's larger cache does not overcome the i5-4690's newer architecture.

Q: Are these CPUs on the same socket?

A: No. The i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i7-2600 uses Intel Socket 1155. They are physically incompatible.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The i5-4690 averages 1375, and the i7-2600 averages 1370. Both sit at the 36th percentile of all CPUs.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious split: the i5-4690 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-2600 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Both run at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost to 3.80 GHz, so clock speeds are identical. TDP differs, the i5-4690 is rated at 84 W, the i7-2600 at 95 W. The i5-4690 uses a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die; the i7-2600 uses 32 nm with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die.

Cache is another divider: the i5-4690 has 6 MB of shared L3, the i7-2600 has 8 MB. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core). The integrated graphics differ, HD 4600 on the i5-4690 versus HD 2000 on the i7-2600. Memory support is the same (DDR3, dual-channel), but PCIe configs differ: the i5-4690 lists "Gen 3" while the i7-2600 specifies "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)".

Release dates are three years apart: the i7-2600 launched on 2011-01-08, the i5-4690 on 2014-04-30. The i7-2600 is end-of-life and has a part number (SR00B); the i5-4690 has no part number listed. Neither has a launch MSRP in the data.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-4690 wins everywhere the data measures. It takes all six head-to-head benchmarks, every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, both multi-core and single-core. The margins are consistent, ranging from 4.7% to 5.3%. For a builder prioritizing raw rendering performance in Cinebench-class workloads, the i5-4690 is the clear choice. Its lower TDP (84 W vs 95 W) makes it easier to cool, and its newer HD 4600 iGPU is a meaningful upgrade over HD 2000 for systems without a discrete graphics card.

The i7-2600's advantages are structural rather than benchmark-based. It has 8 threads to the i5-4690's 4, which matters in scenarios not captured by these tests, heavily threaded productivity apps that scale beyond Cinebench's workload. Its 8 MB of L3 cache versus 6 MB provides more on-die storage for repeated data access. The i7-2600 also has a Geekbench result (multi-core 2409, single-core 712) that shows a different performance profile, though the i5-4690 has no Geekbench data for comparison.

For platform flexibility, the i7-2600's Socket 1155 is older but was widespread in pre-built systems. The i5-4690's Socket 1150 requires a newer motherboard. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a deciding factor.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4690 outperforms the Intel Core i7-2600 in every measured benchmark. Across six Cinebench tests, the i5-4690 leads by 4.7% to 5.3%, with the margins nearly identical in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The i7-2600's hyper-threading and larger 8 MB L3 cache do not compensate for the architectural improvements in Haswell, the 22 nm process, denser transistor layout (1,400 million vs 1,160 million), and more efficient execution engine.

A builder choosing between these two should pick the i5-4690 for any workload where Cinebench scores correlate with real-world performance, rendering, video encoding, or general desktop responsiveness. The i5-4690 also runs cooler (84 W vs 95 W TDP) and has better integrated graphics (HD 4600 vs HD 2000). The i7-2600 retains value only in systems already built around Socket 1155 or in niche multi-threaded applications where the extra threads and cache might matter more than the benchmark deltas suggest. The average scores are nearly identical (1375 vs 1370), so in aggregate these are comparable CPUs, but the i5-4690 is faster in every single test that was run, and that is what the data supports.