Intel Core i5-4690S vs Intel Core i7-4760HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4690S and Intel Core i7-4760HQ are both 22nm Haswell parts, but they target different segments: the former is a desktop chip, while the latter is a mobile processor. Despite this, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1551 for the i5-4690S and 1549 for the i7-4760HQ, a delta of just 0.2%. This near-parity in aggregate hides a decisive split in individual tests, where the i7-4760HQ wins every single head-to-head comparison by a consistent margin. The i5-4690S holds a slight edge in overall percentile ranking (39th vs 38th), but the benchmark data tells a story of a mobile chip that outmuscles its desktop counterpart in every measured workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the uniformity of the i7-4760HQ's victory. Across six benchmark tests — three Cinebench versions, each with multi-core and single-core runs — the i7-4760HQ wins all six. The deltas are remarkably consistent, hovering around 14% in every case. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-4760HQ scores 539 against the i5-4690S's 464, a 13.9% advantage. The single-core test shows a similar story: 76 vs 65, a 14.5% gap. This consistency suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-4760HQ posts 2249 multi-core and 317 single-core, while the i5-4690S manages 1935 and 273 respectively. The deltas are 14% and 13.9%. In Cinebench R23, the pattern holds: 5355 vs 4609 multi-core (13.9% delta) and 756 vs 650 single-core (14% delta). The fact that the percentage gap remains nearly constant across all three Cinebench versions — and across both multi-threaded and single-threaded tests — indicates that the i7-4760HQ's advantage is not tied to thread scaling or cache behavior, but rather to a fundamental per-core efficiency edge.

The i5-4690S's best showing is in Geekbench, where it scores 3251 multi-core and 1163 single-core. However, the i7-4760HQ does not have corresponding Geekbench entries in the head-to-head comparison, so these numbers only illustrate the i5's absolute performance, not a direct comparison. The aggregate benchmark score places the i5-4690S at 1551, just 0.2% above the i7-4760HQ's 1549, but this average is pulled up by the Geekbench results that are absent from the direct comparison. In the tests where both chips have scores, the i7-4760HQ leads by 13.9% to 14.5% across the board.

It is worth remembering the i5-4690S's nearest rivals include the i7-4760HQ at a 0.2% delta, but also the Intel Core i3-9300 (1554, -0.2%) and AMD FX-8350 (1557, -0.4%). This positions the i5-4690S in a tight cluster of mid-range performers. The i7-4760HQ, meanwhile, sits at the same level, with its own nearest rival list showing the i5-4690S at -0.1% delta. The data suggests that despite the i7-4760HQ's superior head-to-head results, the two chips are effectively peers in the broader CPU landscape, separated by fractions of a percent in average score.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ wins in all multi-core tests. It scores 539 vs 464 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 2249 vs 1935 in R20 multi-core, and 5355 vs 4609 in R23 multi-core. The delta is 13.9% in each multi-core test.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap the same as multi-core?

A: Yes, nearly identical. The i7-4760HQ leads by 14.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core (76 vs 65), 13.9% in R20 single-core (317 vs 273), and 14% in R23 single-core (756 vs 650). The consistency across all tests is notable.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-4690S has an average benchmark score of 1551, while the i7-4760HQ scores 1549. This is a 0.2% difference in favor of the i5-4690S, despite the i7-4760HQ winning every head-to-head test.

Q: What are their percentile rankings among all CPUs?

A: The i5-4690S ranks in the 39th percentile, and the i7-4760HQ ranks in the 38th percentile. The desktop chip is one percentile point higher overall.

Q: Does the i7-4760HQ have more threads?

A: Yes. The i7-4760HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4690S has 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the i7-4760HQ supports Hyper-Threading, while the i5-4690S does not.

Q: What is the production status difference?

A: The i7-4760HQ is marked as "End-of-life" in production status, while the i5-4690S has no production status listed in the data.

The Verdict

For raw performance in every benchmark tested, the Intel Core i7-4760HQ is the clear winner. It beats the i5-4690S by roughly 14% in all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three software versions. If a user's priority is maximum compute throughput in rendering and CPU-bound tasks, the data unambiguously points to the i7-4760HQ.

However, the aggregate picture is more nuanced. The i5-4690S posts a higher average benchmark score (1551 vs 1549) and a higher percentile ranking (39th vs 38th). This is driven by its Geekbench results — 3251 multi-core and 1163 single-core — which are not directly compared to the i7-4760HQ. The i5-4690S also comes from the desktop segment with a 65W TDP, whereas the i7-4760HQ is a mobile part at 47W TDP.

The choice depends on context. For anyone building or upgrading a desktop system on Intel Socket 1150, the i5-4690S is the relevant part, and its performance is competitive with the broader field. For mobile deployments where the i7-4760HQ's BGA 1364 socket applies, the i7-4760HQ offers superior benchmark results in the tested workloads, along with a lower TDP. The i7-4760HQ's 8 threads versus the i5-4690S's 4 threads likely contributes to its multi-core advantage, but even in single-core tests, the i7-4760HQ holds a 14% lead, which cannot be explained by thread count alone.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specifications. The most obvious difference is market segment: the i5-4690S is a Desktop processor, while the i7-4760HQ is Mobile. This is reflected in their sockets — the i5-4690S uses Intel Socket 1150, and the i7-4760HQ uses Intel BGA 1364. The TDP also differs: the i5-4690S draws 65W, while the i7-4760HQ consumes 47W.

Clock speeds show a significant gap. The i5-4690S has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i7-4760HQ runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, the i7-4760HQ wins every benchmark, which points to architectural efficiency differences. Thread counts also differ: the i5-4690S has 4 threads, the i7-4760HQ has 8.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-4690S features Intel HD 4600, while the i7-4760HQ has Intel HD 5200. The launch MSRP is only listed for the i5-4690S at $224; the i7-4760HQ has no launch MSRP data. Production status marks the i7-4760HQ as end-of-life, with no such status for the i5-4690S. The part numbers are SR1QP for the i5-4690S and SR1BM for the i7-4760HQ. Release dates are close: the i5-4690S launched on 2014-04-30, and the i7-4760HQ on 2014-01-31.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Haswell architecture and a 22nm process node from Intel, with 1,400 million transistors. However, the codenames differ: the i5-4690S is Haswell, while the i7-4760HQ is Crystalwell. This codename difference corresponds to a die size disparity — the i5-4690S has a die size of 177 mm², while the i7-4760HQ's die is 264 mm². The larger die on the i7-4760HQ likely accommodates the more powerful Intel HD 5200 graphics, but it also suggests a different physical implementation.

Cache configurations are identical: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is also the same — DDR3, dual-channel, with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The generation labels differ slightly: the i5-4690S is listed as "Core i5 (Haswell)", and the i7-4760HQ as "Core i7 (Crystal Well)".

The transistor count being identical at 1,400 million, combined with the larger die on the i7-4760HQ, implies that the i7-4760HQ packs additional functionality — likely the Iris-class graphics — into a less dense arrangement. The architecture differences, therefore, are not about core design but about the surrounding silicon: the i7-4760HQ's Crystalwell codename signals an enhanced graphics and memory implementation, whereas the i5-4690S sticks to a smaller, simpler die.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-4760HQ wins every head-to-head benchmark in the data. This includes all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core. For users prioritizing pure compute performance — rendering, video encoding, CPU-intensive simulations — the i7-4760HQ is the superior choice based on the benchmark results. Its 8 threads give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, but its 14% single-core lead shows it is also faster on a per-thread basis.

The i5-4690S wins on the aggregate metrics. It has a higher average benchmark score (1551 vs 1549) and a higher percentile ranking (39th vs 38th). Its Geekbench scores — 3251 multi-core and 1163 single-core — are strong absolute numbers, though no direct Geekbench comparison exists for the i7-4760HQ. In the broader CPU landscape, the i5-4690S sits in a cluster with the i3-9300, Xeon E3-1268L v5, and FX-8350, all within 0.4% of its average score.

For desktop users, the i5-4690S is the only viable option between the two, given its Socket 1150 and desktop market segment. Its 65W TDP is higher than the i7-4760HQ's 47W, but that is expected for a desktop part. The i7-4760HQ's mobile BGA 1364 socket and end-of-life status limit its applicability to pre-built laptops or embedded systems. In such systems, the i7-4760HQ's benchmark dominance makes it the stronger performer, and its lower TDP is an additional benefit for thermal-constrained mobile chassis. The verdict is clear: the i7-4760HQ wins on performance, the i5-4690S wins on overall standing and desktop relevance.