Intel Core i5-4690K vs Intel Core i7-4910MQ Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split. The Intel Core i7-4910MQ wins six of eight head-to-head tests, all of them in the Cinebench suite, with consistent margins around 10%. However, the Intel Core i5-4690K dominates both Geekbench tests, with a single-core advantage of 13.6% and a multi-core advantage of 11.1%. This is not a straightforward victory for either part. The i7-4910MQ is the choice for workloads that mirror Cinebench’s rendering engine, where its eight threads provide a clear edge. The i5-4690K is the pick for Geekbench-style tasks, which appear to favor its higher base clock and desktop-oriented design. Given that the i7-4910MQ carries a launch MSRP of $570 and the i5-4690K a launch MSRP of $243, the data suggests the i5-4690K offers superior performance in specific legacy single-threaded scenarios, while the i7-4910MQ justifies its position for multithreaded rendering. The overall average benchmark scores are close, with the i7-4910MQ at 1716 and the i5-4690K at 1682, a difference of only 2%, but the distribution of wins reveals distinct strengths.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 22 nm process node, with the same Haswell architecture and codename. They share the same foundry, Intel, and identical transistor counts of 1,400 million, as well as the same die size of 177 mm². The fundamental divergence lies in thread configuration. The i7-4910MQ has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4690K has 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the i7-4910MQ can process twice as many threads simultaneously, which is the primary driver behind its Cinebench victories. The cache hierarchy also differs: the i7-4910MQ has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4690K has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The i7-4910MQ is a mobile part, using the Intel Socket G3, with a thermal design power (TDP) of 47 watts. The i5-4690K is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1150, with a TDP of 88 watts. This TDP gap is significant, as the i7-4910MQ is designed for laptops and achieves its performance within a much tighter power envelope. The i5-4690K is multiplier unlocked, meaning it can be overclocked, while the i7-4910MQ is locked. Both integrate Intel HD 4600 graphics, support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and have identical memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The PCIe interface is the same: Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The release dates are close, with the i7-4910MQ appearing on 2014-01-19 and the i5-4690K on 2014-06-01. The i7-4910MQ has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i5-4690K has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and the same boost clock of 3.90 GHz. This base clock difference is likely why the i5-4690K excels in Geekbench single-core, where sustained lower-thread performance benefits from the higher base frequency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent for the i7-4910MQ. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 536 against the i5-4690K’s 486, a delta of 10.3%. The single-core R15 test shows the same 10.3% margin, with 75 versus 68. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-4910MQ again leads by 10.3% in multi-core (2236 vs 2027) and by 10.1% in single-core (315 vs 286). The R23 tests continue the pattern: multi-core 5326 vs 4828 (10.3% delta) and single-core 752 vs 681 (10.4% delta). This uniformity across Cinebench versions suggests that the i7-4910MQ’s advantage is structural, likely tied to its additional threads and larger L3 cache. The single-core Cinebench wins are curious, as the i5-4690K has a higher base clock, but the i7-4910MQ still manages a 10% lead, which may indicate that the mobile chip’s boost behavior is more aggressive in these specific workloads.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-4690K scores 3789 against the i7-4910MQ’s 3368, a delta of 11.1% in favor of the desktop part. The single-core test is even more lopsided: 1292 versus 1116, a 13.6% advantage for the i5-4690K. This suggests that Geekbench’s workload characteristics reward the i5-4690K’s higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) and possibly its desktop-optimized memory latency, despite the i7-4910MQ having more threads and cache. The i5-4690K also has a higher average benchmark score relative to its nearest rivals, sitting at 1682, while the i7-4910MQ is at 1716. In the nearest rivals data, the i7-4910MQ is nearly tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U (1715, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-4860HQ (1720, -0.2%), while the i5-4690K is close to the Intel Core i7-3770K (1688, -0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H (1690, -0.5%). The i5-4690K’s percentile rank is 40, versus 41 for the i7-4910MQ, indicating they sit in the same performance tier globally.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-4910MQ has 8 threads, while the i5-4690K has 4. The i7-4910MQ’s base clock is 2.90 GHz, while the i5-4690K’s is 3.50 GHz. Both share a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The TDP is 47 watts for the i7-4910MQ and 88 watts for the i5-4690K. The i7-4910MQ uses Intel Socket G3, while the i5-4690K uses Intel Socket 1150. The L3 cache is 8 MB for the i7-4910MQ and 6 MB for the i5-4690K. The market segment is Mobile for the i7-4910MQ and Desktop for the i5-4690K. The i7-4910MQ has a locked multiplier, while the i5-4690K is multiplier unlocked. The release dates differ: 2014-01-19 for the i7-4910MQ and 2014-06-01 for the i5-4690K. The launch MSRP is $570 for the i7-4910MQ and $243 for the i5-4690K. The part numbers are SR1PT for the i7-4910MQ and SR21A for the i5-4690K. Both have the same L1 and L2 cache sizes per core, same memory support (DDR3, dual-channel), same memory bandwidth (25.6 GB/s), same ECC memory support (false), same PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes), same integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), and same process node, transistors, and die size.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-4910MQ has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4690K has 4 threads.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-4910MQ scores 5326, which is 10.3% higher than the i5-4690K’s 4828.

Q: Which one wins in Geekbench single-core?

A: The i5-4690K wins with a score of 1292, which is 13.6% higher than the i7-4910MQ’s 1116.

Q: Are the base clocks the same?

A: No, the i5-4690K has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the i7-4910MQ has a base clock of 2.90 GHz. Their boost clocks are identical at 3.90 GHz.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference?

A: The i7-4910MQ has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4690K has 6 MB.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: Only the i5-4690K has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-4910MQ has a locked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has the higher TDP?

A: The i5-4690K has a TDP of 88 watts, while the i7-4910MQ has a TDP of 47 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-4910MQ wins decisively in all Cinebench tests, which are rendering workloads that scale with thread count. Its 8 threads and 8 MB L3 cache provide a 10.3% lead in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, and even a 10.1% to 10.4% lead in single-core variants. This makes it the logical choice for 3D rendering, video encoding, or any application that uses the Cinebench engine or similar parallel processing. The mobile design, with its 47 watt TDP, also makes it suited for laptops, though the locked multiplier limits tuning. The data shows its average benchmark score of 1716 is slightly above its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-4860HQ, which scores 1720, a 0.2% difference in favor of the rival, but the i7-4910MQ still edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U by 0%.

The i5-4690K wins in Geekbench, both single-core and multi-core. The single-core victory is notable at 13.6%, and the multi-core win at 11.1% is surprising given its 4-thread limitation. This suggests that Geekbench’s tests are more sensitive to the i5-4690K’s 3.50 GHz base clock and desktop power characteristics. The unlocked multiplier is another advantage, as users can push the clock higher beyond the stock 3.90 GHz boost, potentially extending its lead in these workloads. The i5-4690K’s average benchmark score of 1682 is close to the Intel Core i7-3770K, with a delta of -0.3%, indicating it competes with older i7 parts. For legacy single-threaded applications, database queries, or tasks that don’t leverage more than 4 threads, the i5-4690K is the superior choice based on the recorded benchmarks.

The overall win count favors the i7-4910MQ at 6 wins versus 2, but the magnitude of the i5-4690K’s Geekbench wins is larger than the i7-4910MQ’s Cinebench wins. The i5-4690K’s single-core delta of -13.6% is the largest margin in any test, while the i7-4910MQ’s largest is -10.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This means that for users prioritizing single-thread performance, the i5-4690K offers a more pronounced advantage than the i7-4910MQ does in multithreaded tasks. Conversely, for users who need consistent multithreaded rendering performance, the i7-4910MQ provides a reliable 10% uplift across all Cinebench versions. The choice depends entirely on the workload: the i7-4910MQ for Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-4690K for Geekbench-style integer and floating-point operations. The i5-4690K’s higher base clock and unlocked multiplier make it a more flexible desktop option, while the i7-4910MQ’s efficiency and thread count make it a strong mobile workstation part.