Intel Core i5-4690S vs Intel Core i5-7440HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7440HQ and the Intel Core i5-4690S are both quad-core, four-thread processors, but they come from different eras and target different market segments. The 7440HQ is a mobile part built on the Kaby Lake architecture, while the 4690S is a desktop chip based on the older Haswell design. Benchmark results show these two CPUs are remarkably close in raw performance, with the desktop 4690S holding a slight edge in most tests, despite the 7440HQ's newer architecture. The data paints a picture of two processors whose performance is nearly indistinguishable in practice, with differences that are often within the margin of error.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690S has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz, compared to the 2.80 GHz base clock of the Intel Core i5-7440HQ.

Q: How much faster is the i5-4690S in the Geekbench multicore test?

A: The i5-4690S scores 3251 in Geekbench multicore, which is 6.4% higher than the 3043 score posted by the i5-7440HQ.

Q: Does the i5-7440HQ win any benchmark comparisons?

A: Yes, the i5-7440HQ wins the Geekbench singlecore test with a score of 1184, which is 1.8% ahead of the i5-4690S's score of 1163. It also ties in the Cinebench R15 singlecore test.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these two processors?

A: The i5-7440HQ has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i5-4690S has a higher TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Which processor has a larger die size?

A: The i5-4690S has a larger die size of 177 mm², compared to the 126 mm² die of the i5-7440HQ. The i5-4690S also contains 1,400 million transistors.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No, the i5-7440HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5-4690S only supports DDR3.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct architectural generations from Intel. The i5-7440HQ is built on the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-H codename, and is manufactured on a 14 nm process node. In contrast, the i5-4690S uses the Haswell architecture on a larger 22 nm process node. This generational gap explains some of the physical differences, such as the die size: the i5-7440HQ has a smaller die at 126 mm², while the i5-4690S has a larger die at 177 mm² and a transistor count of 1,400 million.

Both processors feature four cores and four threads, with identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory support differs, as the i5-7440HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-4690S is limited to DDR3 only. The i5-4690S has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, a figure not specified for the i5-7440HQ.

The integrated graphics also differ between the two chips. The i5-7440HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i5-4690S has the older Intel HD 4600. Both processors use the same PCIe configuration, supporting Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The sockets are entirely different, with the i5-7440HQ using Intel BGA 1440 for mobile integration, while the i5-4690S uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktop platforms. The i5-7440HQ was released in 2017 and is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4690S was released in 2014 with no production status given.

The clock speeds favor the desktop part in terms of base frequency, with the i5-4690S running at 3.20 GHz compared to the 2.80 GHz of the i5-7440HQ. However, the boost clocks are closer, with the i5-4690S boosting to 3.90 GHz and the i5-7440HQ boosting to 3.80 GHz. The mobile chip operates at a lower TDP of 45 watts, whereas the desktop chip has a TDP of 65 watts. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-7440HQ has a part number of SR32R, and the i5-4690S is identified as SR1QP.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core i5-4690S is the marginally faster processor overall, winning 6 out of 8 head-to-head comparisons. The i5-7440HQ takes 2 wins, with one being a tie in the Cinebench R15 singlecore test. The most significant victory for the i5-4690S comes in Geekbench multicore, where it leads by 6.4%. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison, suggesting the desktop part has a more substantial advantage in that particular workload.

However, the performance gap is narrow in most tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-4690S wins by only 0.2%, and in R20 multicore, the margin is just 0.1%. The i5-7440HQ does secure a win in Geekbench singlecore, outperforming the i5-4690S by 1.8%. For users prioritizing single-threaded performance in that specific benchmark, the mobile chip has a slight edge.

The choice between these two CPUs depends heavily on the platform. The i5-7440HQ is a mobile processor, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. The i5-4690S is a desktop processor, intended for traditional desktop builds. Given the near-identical performance, the deciding factor is not raw speed but the form factor and platform requirements. The data shows a 45-watt mobile chip that essentially matches a 65-watt desktop chip from an older generation, which reflects the efficiency gains of the newer Kaby Lake architecture. For a desktop user, the i5-4690S offers a slight performance edge. For a mobile user, the i5-7440HQ provides comparable performance in a lower-power package.

Specification Differences

The core specifications reveal a clear generational divide between these two processors. The most fundamental difference is the architecture and process node, with the i5-7440HQ using Kaby Lake on 14 nm, while the i5-4690S uses Haswell on 22 nm. This leads to different physical characteristics: the i5-7440HQ has a die size of 126 mm², while the i5-4690S has a die size of 177 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors.

Clock speeds differ, with the i5-4690S having a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the i5-7440HQ's base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The TDP also varies significantly, as the i5-7440HQ is rated at 45 watts, while the i5-4690S is rated at 65 watts.

The memory support is another distinguishing factor. The i5-7440HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4, whereas the i5-4690S supports only DDR3. The i5-4690S has a specified memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, a specification not listed for the i5-7440HQ. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-7440HQ featuring Intel HD Graphics 630 and the i5-4690S featuring Intel HD 4600.

The sockets are incompatible, with the i5-7440HQ using Intel BGA 1440 and the i5-4690S using Intel Socket 1150. The market segments are also different, as the i5-7440HQ is a mobile processor and the i5-4690S is a desktop processor. The release dates show a three-year gap, with the i5-7440HQ released in 2017 and the i5-4690S released in 2014. The production status for the i5-7440HQ is listed as end-of-life, while no status is given for the i5-4690S. The part numbers are SR32R for the i5-7440HQ and SR1QP for the i5-4690S.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results show a consistent, albeit small, advantage for the i5-4690S across most tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-4690S scores 464 against the i5-7440HQ's 463, a margin of 0.2%. The singlecore test in R15 is a dead tie, with both processors scoring 65. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-4690S again takes the multicore lead with 1935 versus 1933, a 0.1% difference. In the R20 singlecore test, the i5-4690S wins 273 to 272, a 0.4% advantage.

The Cinebench R23 results follow the same pattern. In multicore, the i5-4690S scores 4609, while the i5-7440HQ scores 4603, a 0.1% difference. The singlecore test shows the i5-4690S winning 650 to 649, a 0.2% margin. These Cinebench results indicate that the two processors are essentially equivalent in rendering and general compute workloads, with the i5-4690S holding a very slight edge.

The Geekbench tests provide the most interesting divergences. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4690S wins decisively with a score of 3251 compared to 3043 for the i5-7440HQ, representing a 6.4% advantage. This is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison, suggesting that the i5-4690S has a more significant advantage in this particular workload. Conversely, in Geekbench singlecore, the i5-7440HQ takes the win with a score of 1184 against 1163 for the i5-4690S, a 1.8% lead. This is the only test where the i5-7440HQ achieves a clear victory.

Overall, the data shows a processor landscape where the older desktop chip, the i5-4690S, retains a slight performance lead over its newer mobile counterpart. The i5-7440HQ's win in Geekbench singlecore demonstrates that the newer architecture can compete effectively in single-threaded tasks. The 6.4% multicore gap in Geekbench is notable, but the near-identical Cinebench scores temper any conclusion about a general multicore superiority. The i5-7440HQ's lower TDP of 45 watts versus 65 watts for the i5-4690S is a significant advantage for mobile applications, even if it doesn't translate to a performance lead. The benchmark data, therefore, reflects a trade-off between raw performance and power efficiency, with the i5-4690S being slightly faster but consuming more power, and the i5-7440HQ being more efficient but marginally slower in most tests.