Intel Core i5-4690T vs Intel Core i7-3612QE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QE has an average benchmark score of 1147, while the Intel Core i5-4690T scores 1129. The i7-3612QE also sits at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i5-4690T's 32nd percentile.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The i7-3612QE wins every multi-core test in the head-to-head data. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 399 against 393 for the i5-4690T, a 1.5% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the margin is 1666 to 1640 (1.6%), and in Cinebench R23 multicore, it is 3967 to 3905 (1.6%).

Q: Which chip has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QE has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4690T has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores, but the i7 supports Hyper-Threading, which the i5 does not.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i5-4690T has a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i7-3612QE operates at a 2.10 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost, yet it still edges out the i5 in every recorded benchmark.

Q: Do these processors share the same integrated graphics?

A: No. The i7-3612QE uses Intel HD 4000, while the i5-4690T uses Intel HD 4600. The i5's graphics are from the newer Haswell generation.

Q: Which chip has a higher thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The i5-4690T has a TDP of 45 watts, which is higher than the i7-3612QE's 35 watts. This is notable because the i7 is the mobile part, while the i5 is a desktop chip.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-3612QE wins all six head-to-head tests against the Intel Core i5-4690T. The victories are narrow but consistent, ranging from 1.5% to 1.8% across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

In single-core tests, the i7-3612QE leads by 1.8% in Cinebench R15 (56 vs 55), 1.7% in Cinebench R20 (235 vs 231), and 1.6% in Cinebench R23 (560 vs 551). These are small margins, but they appear in every iteration of the Cinebench suite, suggesting a reproducible advantage.

The multi-core results tell the same story. The i7-3612QE scores 399 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 393 (1.5% lead), 1666 versus 1640 in R20 (1.6% lead), and 3967 versus 3905 in R23 (1.6% lead). The i5-4690T never takes a single win.

For the i5-4690T, the wins are not in raw performance but in platform attributes. It supports DDR3 memory with a stated bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3612QE has no memory bandwidth figure recorded in the database. The i5 also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), a feature not listed for the i7. Additionally, the i5-4690T runs at higher clocks (2.50 GHz base, 3.50 GHz boost), which explains why the gap is so small despite the i7's extra threads.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm process node and contain 1,400 million transistors. The core difference lies in their microarchitectures: the i7-3612QE uses Ivy Bridge, while the i5-4690T uses Haswell.

The i7-3612QE is a mobile part in the Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) generation, released on 2012-04-28. It uses the Intel BGA 1023 socket. The i5-4690T is a desktop part in the Core i5 (Haswell) generation, released on 2014-04-30, and uses Intel Socket 1150.

Die size differs slightly: the i7-3612QE measures 160 mm², while the i5-4690T measures 177 mm². Both have identical cache layouts: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-3612QE includes Intel HD 4000, while the i5-4690T includes Intel HD 4600, which is the newer generation of Intel's iGPU.

Threading is another divergence. The i7-3612QE supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-4690T is limited to 4 threads. This is the primary architectural reason the i7 wins multi-core tests despite lower clock speeds.

Memory support is only listed for the i5-4690T (DDR3), with no such field for the i7-3612QE. The i5 also has PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) listed, a feature absent from the i7's record. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-3612QE has 8 threads, while the i5-4690T has 4 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.10 GHz for the i7 versus 2.50 GHz for the i5. Boost clocks differ: 3.10 GHz for the i7 versus 3.50 GHz for the i5.

TDP is notably different. The i7-3612QE has a 35 watt TDP, while the i5-4690T has a 45 watt TDP. This is counterintuitive given the i7's mobile positioning.

Sockets are different: Intel BGA 1023 for the i7, Intel Socket 1150 for the i5. The architectures differ (Ivy Bridge vs Haswell), as do the codenames and generations. Die size differs: 160 mm² for the i7, 177 mm² for the i5.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4000 for the i7, Intel HD 4600 for the i5. The i5-4690T lists DDR3 memory support and 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the i7-3612QE has no memory support or bandwidth figures in the database. The i5 also lists PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only), which the i7 does not.

Release dates differ: 2012-04-28 for the i7, 2014-04-30 for the i5. Part numbers are SR0ND for the i7 and SR1QT for the i5. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-3612QE across all six Cinebench tests. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7 wins by 1.8% (56 vs 55). The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 multicore, at 1.5% (399 vs 393).

In Cinebench R20, the i7-3612QE leads by 1.7% in single-core (235 vs 231) and 1.6% in multi-core (1666 vs 1640). The Cinebench R23 results show a 1.6% lead in both single-core (560 vs 551) and multi-core (3967 vs 3905).

The consistency of these margins is striking. Every test falls between 1.5% and 1.8%, regardless of single-core or multi-core workload. This suggests the i7-3612QE's advantage is not workload-specific but a general characteristic of the chip.

The i5-4690T's higher clocks (2.50 GHz base, 3.50 GHz boost) should theoretically give it an edge in single-core tests, yet it loses there too. The i7-3612QE's Ivy Bridge architecture, despite being older, appears to have better instructions-per-clock efficiency in these workloads.

For multi-core tests, the i7's 8 threads versus the i5's 4 threads explain the consistent wins. The i5's clock advantage of 0.40 GHz base and 0.40 GHz boost is not enough to overcome the threading deficit.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The i7-3612QE averages 1147, placing it between the AMD Opteron 4284 (1146, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-4430 (1149, -0.2% delta). The i5-4690T averages 1129, matching the Intel Core i7-3612QM (1129, 0% delta) and sitting near the Intel Core i7-2720QM (1128, 0.1% delta).

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-3612QE as the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins between 1.5% and 1.8%. Its average benchmark score of 1147 exceeds the i5-4690T's 1129 by roughly 1.6%.

The i7-3612QE is the pick for users prioritizing raw CPU performance in Cinebench workloads, particularly multi-threaded rendering. Its 8 threads give it a structural advantage that higher clocks on the i5-4690T cannot fully offset. The 35 watt TDP also makes it the more power-efficient choice, an unexpected bonus given its performance lead.

The i5-4690T is the pick for users who need a desktop platform with modern I/O. It supports DDR3 memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and uses the Socket 1150 platform. It also includes the newer Intel HD 4600 graphics. Its higher clocks (2.50 GHz base, 3.50 GHz boost) narrow the performance gap, but they do not close it.

For single-core tasks, the i5-4690T's clock advantage is real, yet the i7-3612QE still wins by 1.6% to 1.8%. This indicates the i7's architecture is more efficient per clock in these tests.

The i5-4690T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3612QM (1129, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i3-4370 (1130, -0.1% delta). The i7-3612QE's rivals include the Intel Core i7-2600S (1146, 0.1% delta) and the AMD Opteron 4284 (1146, 0.1% delta). Both chips sit in a crowded mid-range field, but the i7-3612QE holds a consistent edge over its direct comparison target.

The verdict is straightforward: the Intel Core i7-3612QE is the better performer in every recorded benchmark, while the Intel Core i5-4690T offers superior platform features and higher clock speeds. Choose the i7-3612QE for maximum compute throughput and efficiency; choose the i5-4690T for its desktop socket, DDR3 support, PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and newer integrated graphics.