Intel Core i5-4690K vs Intel Core i7-3770K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3770K and Intel Core i5-4690K are both end-of-life desktop processors that sit in the same performance percentile. The data shows a clear split: the i7-3770K dominates in Cinebench workloads across every version, while the i5-4690K takes a decisive lead in Geekbench. These results are counterintuitive given that the i7-3770K is the older part, but the benchmark breakdown reveals exactly why each chip excels in different scenarios.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the total sweep of the Cinebench suite by the i7-3770K. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i7-3770K wins both multicore and singlecore tests with remarkable consistency. The multicore deltas are nearly identical across all three versions: 14.8% ahead in R15 (558 vs 486), 14.8% ahead in R20 (2327 vs 2027), and 14.8% ahead in R23 (5542 vs 4828). This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

The singlecore Cinebench results tell a similar story. The i7-3770K leads by 14.7% in R15 (78 vs 68) and by 14.7% in R20 (328 vs 286), with the R23 singlecore gap again at 14.8% (782 vs 681). This is particularly notable because the i5-4690K is the newer architecture, yet it loses every Cinebench singlecore contest by a substantial margin.

However, the Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. The i5-4690K wins multicore Geekbench by 20.1% (3789 vs 3027) and singlecore Geekbench by 33.4% (1292 vs 860). These are massive margins, far larger than the Cinebench deltas in the opposite direction. The singlecore Geekbench gap is especially striking — a 33.4% advantage for the i5-4690K suggests the Haswell architecture has a fundamental efficiency edge that Cinebench does not capture.

The win tally favors the i7-3770K at 6 wins versus 2 for the i5-4690K. Yet the average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the i7-3770K averages 1688, while the i5-4690K averages 1682, a 0.3% difference. This paradox — where one chip wins most tests but the aggregate score is flat — indicates that the Cinebench and Geekbench workloads are measuring very different aspects of performance.

FAQ

Q: Why does the i7-3770K win all Cinebench tests but lose Geekbench so badly?

A: The benchmark data shows a complete split. The i7-3770K leads by 14.8% in every Cinebench multicore test and 14.7-14.8% in every Cinebench singlecore test, while the i5-4690K counters with 20.1% and 33.4% leads in Geekbench multicore and singlecore respectively. This suggests the two benchmark suites stress different parts of the architecture.

Q: Which processor has more threads, and does that explain the Cinebench results?

A: The i7-3770K has 8 threads versus 4 threads for the i5-4690K, both with 4 cores. The Cinebench multicore advantage of 14.8% for the i7-3770K is consistent with the thread count difference, as Cinebench clearly scales with simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Are the clock speeds identical between the two processors?

A: Yes, both the i7-3770K and i5-4690K have a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Despite identical clock speeds, the i5-4690K achieves 33.4% higher Geekbench singlecore scores, which points to architectural efficiency rather than frequency.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The i7-3770K has a TDP of 77, while the i5-4690K has a TDP of 88. The i7-3770K delivers more threads and wins 6 of 8 benchmarks while consuming less power according to the spec sheets.

Q: Do both processors use the same memory configuration?

A: Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel buses and identical memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The memory support is the same, so memory bandwidth does not explain the benchmark differences.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i7-3770K's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-5850HQ with a 0% delta, while the i5-4690K's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon D-1528 at 0.3% ahead. Both chips sit at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are mid-range performers in the broader market.

Architecture Differences

The most significant architectural difference is the thread count: the i7-3770K supports 8 threads while the i5-4690K supports only 4, despite both having 4 cores. This hyper-threading capability explains the i7-3770K's consistent 14.8% advantage in Cinebench multicore tests, where additional threads can be fully utilized.

The underlying architectures differ by generation. The i7-3770K uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on the Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-4690K uses the newer Haswell architecture on Intel Socket 1150. Both are built on the same 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors, but the die sizes differ: 160 mm² for the i7-3770K versus 177 mm² for the i5-4690K. The larger die on the i5-4690K suggests more complex logic per core, which likely contributes to its superior Geekbench performance.

Cache allocation also differs. Both have identical L1 and L2 caches at 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively, but the i7-3770K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB on the i5-4690K. The larger L3 cache on the i7-3770K supports its 8-thread workload, while the i5-4690K's smaller cache is paired with fewer threads.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-3770K features Intel HD 4000, while the i5-4690K features Intel HD 4600. Both processors support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), and neither supports ECC memory. The production status is end-of-life for both, and both have unlocked multipliers for overclocking.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two processors are clear and limited to a few key fields. The i7-3770K has 8 threads versus 4 threads on the i5-4690K, a direct result of hyper-threading support. The TDP differs: 77 for the i7-3770K versus 88 for the i5-4690K, making the older chip more power-efficient on paper.

The sockets are different: Intel Socket 1155 for the i7-3770K and Intel Socket 1150 for the i5-4690K. This means they are not interchangeable in motherboards. The architecture and codename differ as well — Ivy Bridge versus Haswell — with the i5-4690K representing a newer design.

The die size is 160 mm² for the i7-3770K and 177 mm² for the i5-4690K, despite identical transistor counts of 1,400 million. The L3 cache is 8 MB on the i7-3770K versus 6 MB on the i5-4690K. The integrated graphics differ (Intel HD 4000 versus Intel HD 4600), and the part numbers are SR0PL for the i7-3770K and SR21A for the i5-4690K.

The release dates differ, with the i7-3770K launching on 2012-04-28 and the i5-4690K on 2014-06-01. The launch MSRP is $313 for the i7-3770K and $243 for the i5-4690K. Everything else — base clock, boost clock, process node, foundry, memory support, memory bus, memory bandwidth, ECC support, PCIe configuration, and market segment — is identical between the two.

The Verdict

The data paints a nuanced picture. The i7-3770K wins 6 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests, while the i5-4690K wins both Geekbench tests by large margins. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i7-3770K at 1688 and the i5-4690K at 1682, a 0.3% difference.

For workloads that resemble Cinebench — rendering, content creation, and multi-threaded compute — the i7-3770K is the clear choice. Its 8 threads deliver a consistent 14.8% advantage over the i5-4690K across all Cinebench versions, and it achieves this while drawing less power (77 TDP versus 88). The i7-3770K also offers more L3 cache at 8 MB versus 6 MB.

For workloads that resemble Geekbench — which often reflects everyday application performance, single-threaded tasks, and memory latency patterns — the i5-4690K is superior. Its 33.4% lead in Geekbench singlecore is a massive gap that cannot be ignored. The i5-4690K also has a lower launch MSRP of $243 versus $313 for the i7-3770K.

The choice depends entirely on the target workload. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-specific winner. The i7-3770K is the better multi-threaded processor, while the i5-4690K is the better single-threaded and Geekbench-oriented processor.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3770K wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 for both multicore and singlecore tests. This covers rendering engines and 3D animation workloads that rely on sustained multi-threaded execution. The 14.8% multicore advantage and the 14.7-14.8% singlecore advantage across all three Cinebench versions indicate that the i7-3770K is better suited for professional content creation and compute-heavy tasks. Its larger 8 MB L3 cache and 8-thread support give it a structural edge in these scenarios.

The i5-4690K wins in Geekbench multicore and singlecore tests. The 20.1% multicore lead and the 33.4% singlecore lead suggest the Haswell architecture is more efficient per clock in general-purpose computing. For tasks like web browsing, office productivity, and lighter applications that Geekbench approximates, the i5-4690K delivers a noticeably snappier experience. The i5-4690K also has the advantage of a lower launch MSRP at $243, which may matter for system builders despite being an end-of-life product.

The win distribution is lopsided in count — 6 wins for the i7-3770K versus 2 for the i5-4690K — but the magnitude of the i5-4690K's Geekbench wins is larger than any single Cinebench win for the i7-3770K. The aggregate average scores are nearly tied, confirming that neither processor is categorically superior. The i7-3770K is the choice for threaded workloads and rendering, while the i5-4690K is the choice for single-threaded performance and general application responsiveness.