Intel Core i5-8269U vs Intel Core i7-4790T Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4790T and Intel Core i5-8269U are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they serve different market segments and come from different eras. The data shows the i5-8269U is consistently faster across every benchmark in the comparison, despite its lower TDP and mobile classification. The i7-4790T, an end-of-life desktop part from the Haswell generation, falls behind in all six head-to-head tests, with the i5-8269U winning by roughly 11% in both single-core and multi-core workloads. Both processors hold the same 41st percentile ranking among all CPUs, indicating they are performance peers in the broader landscape, but the newer mobile chip clearly has the edge in raw speed.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-8269U wins every single head-to-head test. It leads by 11% or more in all six Cinebench comparisons, making it the superior choice for anyone prioritizing computational performance. The i5-8269U achieves this with a 28W TDP, compared to the i7-4790T's 45W TDP, meaning it delivers better performance while consuming less power. This makes the i5-8269U the obvious pick for new builds or upgrades where performance per watt matters. The i7-4790T, with its older Haswell architecture and DDR3 memory support, is only relevant for someone maintaining a legacy Intel Socket 1150 system who cannot or will not change platforms. The data shows no scenario where the i7-4790T outperforms the i5-8269U, so the choice is straightforward: the i5-8269U is the better processor. The only reason to choose the i7-4790T is platform compatibility, not performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-4790T has an average benchmark score of 1755, while the i5-8269U has an average score of 1748. The difference is negligible, with the i7-4790T being only 0.4% higher, placing both in the same performance tier.

Q: How does the i5-8269U compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-8269U has an average score of 1748, which is 0.1% below the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE (1750), 0.1% above the Intel Core i7-980X (1746), 0.3% above the Intel Core i5-6600 (1744), and 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U (1742).

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache between the two processors?

A: The i7-4790T has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-8269U has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-4790T has a 33% larger L3 cache, which could benefit certain workloads, but the benchmark data does not show this translating into a performance advantage.

Q: Are both processors the same generation?

A: No. The i7-4790T is from the Core i7 (Haswell) generation, released in 2014, while the i5-8269U is from the Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) generation, released in 2018. The i5-8269U uses a 14 nm process node, while the i7-4790T uses a 22 nm node.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The i5-8269U has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, which is 0.30 GHz higher than the i7-4790T's 3.90 GHz boost clock. This higher boost clock is likely a contributing factor to the i5-8269U's superior single-core performance.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i7-4790T is end-of-life, meaning it is no longer in active production. The i5-8269U is still active, indicating it remains a current product.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The i7-4790T is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, fabricated by Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It is a desktop processor designed for Intel Socket 1150. The i5-8269U is built on the Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel, with a smaller die size of 123 mm². It is a mobile processor designed for Intel BGA 1356.

The cache hierarchies differ in the L3 cache. The i7-4790T has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-8269U has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have identical L1 cache (64 KB per core) and L2 cache (256 KB per core). The i7-4790T supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i5-8269U supports DDR4 memory, but its memory bus and bandwidth are not specified in the data. The i7-4790T has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-8269U's PCIe configuration is not listed. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-4790T features Intel HD 4600, while the i5-8269U features Iris Pro Plus.

The production statuses reflect their age: the i7-4790T is end-of-life, released in April 2014, while the i5-8269U is active, released in April 2018. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either. The i7-4790T has a part number of SR1QS, while the i5-8269U's part number is not listed. Both processors do not support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical: both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clocks are similar, with the i7-4790T at 2.70 GHz and the i5-8269U at 2.60 GHz, a difference of 0.10 GHz in favor of the i7-4790T. The boost clocks differ more significantly, with the i5-8269U reaching 4.20 GHz compared to the i7-4790T's 3.90 GHz, a 0.30 GHz advantage for the i5-8269U.

The TDP is a major differentiator. The i7-4790T has a 45W TDP, while the i5-8269U has a 28W TDP. The i5-8269U consumes 37.8% less power while delivering better performance, as shown in the benchmarks. The sockets are different: the i7-4790T uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i5-8269U uses Intel BGA 1356, meaning they are not interchangeable. The process node differs, with the i7-4790T on 22 nm and the i5-8269U on 14 nm. The die size is 177 mm² for the i7-4790T and 123 mm² for the i5-8269U. The transistor count is 1,400 million for the i7-4790T, while the i5-8269U's transistor count is not specified. The L3 cache is 8 MB for the i7-4790T and 6 MB for the i5-8269U. Memory support differs: DDR3 for the i7-4790T and DDR4 for the i5-8269U. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600 for the i7-4790T and Iris Pro Plus for the i5-8269U. The market segment is desktop for the i7-4790T and mobile for the i5-8269U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-8269U wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with the i7-4790T trailing by roughly 11% in every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-8269U scores 609 against the i7-4790T's 541, a delta of -11.2% for the i7-4790T. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5-8269U scores 85 versus the i7-4790T's 76, a delta of -10.6%. The pattern continues in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-8269U scores 2538 compared to the i7-4790T's 2258, a delta of -11%. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-8269U scores 358 versus the i7-4790T's 318, a delta of -11.2%. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the i5-8269U at 6044 and the i7-4790T at 5378, a delta of -11%. Finally, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-8269U scores 853 against the i7-4790T's 759, a delta of -11%.

The largest delta is -11.2% in both Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R20 single-core, while the smallest is -10.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The consistency of the ~11% deficit across all workloads suggests a uniform performance advantage for the i5-8269U rather than a workload-specific edge. In absolute terms, the i5-8269U is ahead by 68 points in R15 multi-core, 9 points in R15 single-core, 280 points in R20 multi-core, 40 points in R20 single-core, 666 points in R23 multi-core, and 94 points in R23 single-core.

Additionally, the i7-4790T has Geekbench scores of 3520 multi-core and 1193 single-core, which are not compared head-to-head. The i5-8269U's average benchmark score of 1748 is slightly lower than the i7-4790T's 1755, but this aggregate figure masks the head-to-head results where the i5-8269U is clearly faster.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-8269U wins in every benchmark category present in the data. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 11% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, making it the better choice for rendering, video encoding, or any parallel processing task. In single-core workloads, it also leads by roughly 11% across all three Cinebench versions, indicating superior performance in lightly-threaded applications like web browsing, office productivity, and older games. The i5-8269U also wins on efficiency, delivering higher performance with a 28W TDP compared to the i7-4790T's 45W TDP. This makes the i5-8269U the better option for compact systems, laptops, or any build where heat and power are considerations.

The i7-4790T does not win any benchmark comparison. Its only advantages are in specifications that do not translate to measured performance wins: it has a larger 8 MB L3 cache versus the i5-8269U's 6 MB, and it has a slightly higher base clock of 2.70 GHz versus 2.60 GHz. It also supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a specified bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, whereas the i5-8269U's memory bandwidth is not listed. The i7-4790T is a desktop socket 1150 part, which could be relevant for someone with an existing motherboard, but the performance data does not support choosing it for speed. The i7-4790T's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3, which has an average score of 1756 and is only 0.1% faster, and the Intel Core i5-5675C, which is 0.2% faster. These rivalries are tight, but the i7-4790T does not have a similar competitive edge over the i5-8269U. For any use case where performance is the priority, the i5-8269U is the clear winner.