Intel Core i5-4690T vs Intel Core i7-2600S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the Intel Core i7-2600S across every measured workload. In the six head-to-head comparisons, the i7-2600S wins all six, with the i5-4690T failing to secure a single victory. The margins are uniformly small, ranging from a 0.7% delta to a 0.9% delta, which places these two processors in a tightly contested performance band.

The largest single gap appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-2600S scores 233 against 231 for the i5-4690T, a delta of 0.9%. The multi-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-2600S posts 396 versus 393, a 0.8% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1651 against 1640, a 0.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core records 3933 for the i7-2600S and 3905 for the i5-4690T, again a 0.7% margin. The single-core results in R15 are exactly tied at 55 for both processors, with the i7-2600S listed as the winner by a 0% delta.

These numbers indicate a processor that is consistently ahead, but not by a meaningful operational margin. In real-world terms, a 0.7% to 0.9% difference is within the range of run-to-run variance for many applications. The i7-2600S does hold a slight edge in every category, which speaks to its higher base and boost clocks despite its older architecture. The i5-4690T, with a lower 2.50 GHz base clock and 3.50 GHz boost clock, comes close in every test but cannot overtake the i7-2600S, which runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this pattern. The i7-2600S has an average benchmark score of 1146, while the i5-4690T averages 1129. That 17-point gap places the i7-2600S in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, with the i5-4690T also in the 32nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the i7-2600S include the AMD Opteron 4284 at an identical 1146 average score with a 0% delta, the Intel Core i7-3612QE at 1147 with a -0.1% delta, the AMD Opteron 4332 HE at 1144 with a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i5-4430 at 1149 with a -0.3% delta. The i5-4690T sits near the Intel Core i7-3612QM at 1129 with a 0% delta, the Intel Core i7-2720QM at 1128 with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core i3-4370 at 1130 with a -0.1% delta, and the Intel Core i5-3330S at 1128 with a 0.1% delta.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-2600S wins in every recorded benchmark category, but the nature of its victories is instructive. It leads in all three multi-core Cinebench tests, which is expected given its 8 threads against the i5-4690T's 4 threads. The i7-2600S also wins all three single-core tests, with the R15 result being a dead heat and the R20 and R23 results showing 0.9% and 0.7% leads respectively. This single-core advantage stems from its higher clock speeds: 3.80 GHz boost versus 3.50 GHz boost.

The i5-4690T has no benchmark wins in this dataset. However, its losses are so narrow that it remains competitive on a point-by-point basis. The largest deficit it faces is 0.9%, which means that in workloads where the benchmark score is the deciding factor, the i5-4690T is never far behind. Its advantage lies outside the raw Cinebench scores: it draws 45 watts of power against 65 watts for the i7-2600S, a 20-watt difference that matters in thermal-constrained systems. The i5-4690T also integrates the Intel HD 4600 graphics, a newer generation than the Intel HD 2000 in the i7-2600S, which changes the integrated graphics capability without altering CPU compute scores.

For workloads that utilize thread count, the i7-2600S is the clear pick based on the data. For workloads that stress the integrated GPU or demand lower power draw, the i5-4690T has structural advantages that the benchmark scores do not capture.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built on different process nodes. The i7-2600S uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 32 nm process, while the i5-4690T uses the Haswell architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process. The transistor counts differ substantially: the i7-2600S contains 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, while the i5-4690T packs 1,400 million transistors onto a smaller 177 mm² die. This density improvement reflects the newer manufacturing node.

The cache hierarchies differ in the L3 segment. The i7-2600S has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4690T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both processors use 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i7-2600S has 8 threads from its 4 cores, while the i5-4690T has 4 threads from its 4 cores, meaning the i7-2600S uses Hyper-Threading and the i5-4690T does not.

The integrated graphics solutions are different generations. The i7-2600S carries Intel HD 2000, while the i5-4690T carries Intel HD 4600. The i5-4690T also lists a memory bandwidth figure of 25.6 GB/s in the database, while the i7-2600S does not have a recorded memory bandwidth value. Both support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows several clear divergences. The i7-2600S has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4690T has 4 cores and 4 threads. The base clock is 2.80 GHz for the i7-2600S and 2.50 GHz for the i5-4690T. The boost clock is 3.80 GHz for the i7-2600S and 3.50 GHz for the i5-4690T. The thermal design power is 65 watts for the i7-2600S and 45 watts for the i5-4690T.

The sockets are incompatible. The i7-2600S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-4690T uses Intel Socket 1150. The process node differs: 32 nm for the i7-2600S, 22 nm for the i5-4690T. The transistor count is 1,160 million versus 1,400 million. The die size is 216 mm² versus 177 mm². The L3 cache is 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2000 versus Intel HD 4600. The i5-4690T lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, which is absent for the i7-2600S.

The release dates differ: the i7-2600S was released in January 2011, while the i5-4690T was released in April 2014. The i7-2600S is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i5-4690T has no recorded production status. The part numbers are SR00E for the i7-2600S and SR1QT for the i5-4690T. Both are desktop market segments from Intel, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, which is 0.30 GHz higher than the 3.50 GHz boost clock of the Intel Core i5-4690T.

Q: How do the multi-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S scores 3933 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-4690T scores 3905. The i7-2600S leads by 0.7%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i7-2600S and the Intel Core i5-4690T have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i5-4690T has a TDP of 45 watts. The i5-4690T draws 20 watts less.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S has 8 threads from 4 cores, while the Intel Core i5-4690T has 4 threads from 4 cores.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The Intel Core i7-2600S has an average benchmark score of 1146, and the Intel Core i5-4690T has an average benchmark score of 1129.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-2600S uses Intel Socket 1155, and the Intel Core i5-4690T uses Intel Socket 1150.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows the Intel Core i7-2600S as the faster processor in every benchmark where both were measured. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins between 0.7% and 0.9%, and holds a 17-point average benchmark score advantage (1146 versus 1129). Its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, combined with 8 threads, give it a consistent edge in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests.

The Intel Core i5-4690T, however, is not a distant second. Its largest deficit is 0.9%, which is a narrow gap by any standard. It draws 45 watts versus 65 watts, a significant power advantage, and its Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics are a newer generation than the Intel HD 2000 in the i7-2600S. The i5-4690T also uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, which brings a smaller die size of 177 mm² and a higher transistor count of 1,400 million.

The choice between these two depends on which specifications matter more to a given system. The i7-2600S is the benchmark leader and offers 8 threads, which helps in threaded workloads. The i5-4690T offers lower power consumption, newer integrated graphics, and a more recent architecture. Both processors sit in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals overlap in average score range. The data does not show a dominant winner; it shows a narrow leader in compute benchmarks and a structural alternative in power and graphics capability.