Intel Core i5-4690K vs Intel Core i7-4810MQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-4690K and Intel Core i7-4810MQ are both Haswell parts from the same generation, but they target different platforms. The desktop i5-4690K is a 4-core, 4-thread chip, while the mobile i7-4810MQ is a 4-core, 8-thread chip. Their benchmark results split sharply by test suite, with the i7-4810MQ winning in Cinebench and the i5-4690K winning in Geekbench.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-4810MQ scores 516 against the i5-4690K's 486, a 5.8% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, 72 for the i7-4810MQ versus 68 for the i5-4690K, a 5.6% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-4810MQ posts 2154 multicore and 304 single-core, while the i5-4690K manages 2027 and 286 respectively. That works out to a 5.9% edge for the i7-4810MQ in both metrics. Cinebench R23 shows the same story: 5129 versus 4828 multicore and 724 versus 681 single-core, again a 5.9% advantage for the mobile part. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i7-4810MQ wins by roughly 5.6% to 5.9%, a consistent margin that reflects its extra threads and slightly higher boost clock.

The picture flips completely in Geekbench. The i5-4690K scores 3789 multicore against the i7-4810MQ's 3203, an 18.3% lead. Single-core Geekbench is also in the i5-4690K's favor, 1292 versus 1106, a 16.8% advantage. These are large deltas, far larger than the Cinebench margins. The desktop chip wins 2 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, but it wins them by a much wider margin than the i7-4810MQ's Cinebench victories.

The average benchmark score tells a different story from the individual wins. The i5-4690K averages 1682 across all recorded tests, while the i7-4810MQ averages 1651. Both sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i5-4690K's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1528 at 1677 (0.3% behind), the Intel Core i7-5850HQ at 1688 (0.3% ahead), the Intel Core i7-3770K at 1688 (0.3% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H at 1690 (0.5% ahead). The i7-4810MQ's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H at 1653 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-5675R at 1648 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i5-4670K at 1656 (0.3% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-5700HQ at 1645 (0.4% behind). Both chips are clustered tightly with their peers, with all deltas under 1% except the i5-4690K's small lead over the Xeon D-1528.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-4810MQ dominates Cinebench workloads. Every Cinebench iteration, from R15 through R23, shows the mobile chip ahead by roughly 6%. This is a rendering-oriented benchmark family that scales with thread count, and the i7-4810MQ's 8 threads give it a structural advantage over the i5-4690K's 4 threads. The single-core Cinebench wins are smaller but still consistent, which suggests the i7-4810MQ's boost behavior in these tests is comparable to or slightly better than the desktop part.

The i5-4690K wins decisively in Geekbench. Its 18.3% multicore lead and 16.8% single-core lead are the largest margins in the entire comparison. Geekbench's workload mix includes memory access patterns and integer tasks that respond well to higher clock speeds and lower latency, and the i5-4690K's 3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost clearly outperform the i7-4810MQ's 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost in this suite. The desktop chip also benefits from being on the Intel Socket 1150 platform, which typically allows more sustained power delivery than a mobile Socket G3 design.

For productivity users, the choice depends on the application. Rendering and multi-threaded content creation favor the i7-4810MQ. General computing, web workloads, and applications that lean on single-thread performance favor the i5-4690K. The average benchmark score slightly favors the i5-4690K, 1682 versus 1651, but that 1.9% gap is small enough that real-world differences will depend heavily on the specific workload.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Haswell architecture, codename Haswell, and are built on Intel's 22 nm process at the same foundry. Both have 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm². The cache layout is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3.

The core counts differ. The i5-4690K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-4810MQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. This is the defining architectural difference between the two. The i7-4810MQ's Hyper-Threading support allows each physical core to handle two threads, which explains its Cinebench advantage in multi-threaded tests. The i5-4690K has no Hyper-Threading, so its thread count equals its core count.

Clock speeds also differ. The i5-4690K runs at 3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The i7-4810MQ runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The desktop chip has a 0.70 GHz higher base clock and a 0.10 GHz higher boost clock. This explains the Geekbench results, where the i5-4690K's higher clocks and lower latency give it a clear edge.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The i5-4690K has a TDP of 88 watts, while the i7-4810MQ has a TDP of 47 watts. The mobile part draws 41 watts less, which reflects its intended use in laptops where cooling and battery life are constrained. The desktop part can sustain higher power draw, which helps it maintain performance in burst workloads.

The i5-4690K uses the Intel Socket 1150 platform, while the i7-4810MQ uses Intel Socket G3. The desktop chip has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The mobile chip has a locked multiplier. The i5-4690K's launch MSRP was $243, while the i7-4810MQ's launch MSRP was $378.

Memory support is identical. Both use DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus and 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both integrate Intel HD 4600 graphics. Both are end-of-life products. The i5-4690K was released in June 2014, while the i7-4810MQ was released in January 2014.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. If the workload is primarily multi-threaded rendering, the i7-4810MQ is the better choice. Its 8 threads deliver a consistent 5.8% to 5.9% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, and that edge holds in both multi-core and single-core variants of the test. The mobile chip also runs at a much lower TDP, 47 watts versus 88 watts, which makes it a more efficient option for sustained all-core workloads.

If the workload involves general computing, web browsing, office applications, or anything that resembles Geekbench's test mix, the i5-4690K is the stronger performer. Its 18.3% multicore lead and 16.8% single-core lead in Geekbench are decisive. The higher base clock and boost clock, combined with the desktop platform's power delivery, give it a latency advantage that shows up clearly in this benchmark.

The average benchmark scores are close, 1682 for the i5-4690K and 1651 for the i7-4810MQ, and both sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs. Neither chip is a clear overall winner. The i5-4690K wins the average by 1.9%, but that margin is within the noise of real-world application differences.

For a desktop builder who wants to overclock, the i5-4690K is the only option, since its multiplier is unlocked. The i7-4810MQ is locked, and it is a mobile part, so it is not suitable for a desktop build without an adapter. For a laptop user who needs multi-threaded rendering performance, the i7-4810MQ is the better fit, despite its lower clock speeds.

The Geekbench results favor the i5-4690K by such a wide margin that it should be the default recommendation for general-purpose use. The Cinebench results favor the i7-4810MQ by a smaller margin, so the mobile chip only makes sense when rendering is the primary task.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-4810MQ scores 5129, while the Intel Core i5-4690K scores 4828. The i7-4810MQ leads by 5.9%.

Q: Which CPU is faster in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690K scores 3789, while the Intel Core i7-4810MQ scores 3203. The i5-4690K leads by 18.3%.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus and 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690K has a TDP of 88 watts, while the Intel Core i7-4810MQ has a TDP of 47 watts.

Q: Can either CPU be overclocked?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690K has an unlocked multiplier and can be overclocked. The Intel Core i7-4810MQ has a locked multiplier and cannot.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690K averages 1682, while the Intel Core i7-4810MQ averages 1651. Both sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4690K | Intel Core i7-4810MQ |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 88 W | 47 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket G3 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $243 | $378 |

| Part Number | SR21A | SR1PV |

| Release Date | June 2014 | January 2014 |

The two CPUs share the same Haswell architecture, 22 nm process, 1,400 million transistors, 177 mm² die size, and cache layout. The i5-4690K has 4 threads, while the i7-4810MQ has 8 threads. The desktop chip has higher base and boost clocks, 3.50 GHz and 3.90 GHz respectively, against the mobile chip's 2.80 GHz and 3.80 GHz. The i7-4810MQ has a significantly lower TDP at 47 watts. The i5-4690K is the only one with an unlocked multiplier. Both support DDR3 memory, dual-channel buses, 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. Neither supports ECC memory. Both are end-of-life products from the Haswell generation.