Intel Core i5-4690

The Intel Core i5-4690 is a desktop processor built on Intel's 22 nm Haswell architecture, operating at a base clock of 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, positioning it as a straightforward quad-core part without Hyper-Threading. Its aggregate benchmark average of 1371 places it at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, indicating a mid-range standing that has been surpassed by modern entry-level parts but remains functional for older workloads. The data shows a processor that was once a mainstream staple, now competing with low-power mobile chips and early Ryzen offerings.

How It Compares

The i5-4690 sits in an extremely tight cluster of rivals, with its nearest competitor being the AMD Opteron 6376, which scores an average of 1370. The delta between them is a mere 0.1% in favor of the Intel part, making this a statistical tie. The Opteron is a server-class chip, and the benchmark results indicate that the desktop i5-4690 matches its multi-threaded output despite having far fewer cores, which speaks to the efficiency of the Haswell design per-thread.

Against the Intel Core i7-3740QM, the i5-4690 trails by 0.3%, with the rival scoring 1375. This is a notable comparison because the i7-3740QM is a mobile quad-core processor with Hyper-Threading, yet the desktop i5-4690 nearly equals it in average score. The benchmark data suggests that the i5-4690’s higher sustained clock speeds compensate for the lack of extra threads, yielding comparable overall performance in mixed workloads.

The Intel Core i5-1030NG7, a modern low-power Ice Lake part, scores 1377, putting the i5-4690 0.4% behind. This is a striking result: a 2014 desktop chip with a 22 nm process is essentially on par with a 10 nm mobile processor from several years later. The benchmarks indicate that raw core count and clock speed still matter, as the newer chip’s architectural advantages are neutralized by its lower thermal envelope.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 scores 1379, giving it a 0.5% lead over the i5-4690. This is the largest gap in the rival set, but it remains marginal. The Ryzen chip benefits from a more modern architecture and higher IPC, yet the i5-4690’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz helps it stay competitive. The data shows that the i5-4690 is not decisively outperformed by any of these parts, but it also does not decisively lead any of them.

Power and Thermals

The i5-4690 carries a TDP of 84 watts, placing it in a mainstream desktop power class. This figure is typical for mid-range quad-core processors of its generation, indicating that it requires a standard air cooler rather than an exotic liquid solution. A capable air cooler with a 92mm or 120mm fan would suffice for stock operation, as the 22 nm process keeps heat density manageable at these clock speeds.

The thermal behavior implied by the 84 W TDP suggests that the processor can sustain its 3.80 GHz boost clock under moderate multi-threaded loads without excessive throttling, provided the chassis has adequate airflow. The data does not include specific temperature readings, but the power envelope is modest enough that a stock Intel cooler or a budget tower cooler would keep it within safe limits. For users pairing this with a discrete graphics card, the combined system heat remains within the reach of a standard mid-tower case with one rear exhaust fan.

The locked multiplier means that users cannot overclock to increase power draw, so the 84 W figure is effectively a ceiling for the processor's consumption. This makes thermal planning straightforward: the cooling required is for 84 W of continuous load, not for an overclocked state. The lack of an unlocked multiplier also means that the processor will not demand more cooling than its stock specification suggests, simplifying cooler selection for builds that prioritize quiet operation.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-4690 uses the Intel Socket 1150 platform, which was designed for the Haswell generation of processors. This socket supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, meaning the memory controller is paired with two channels for bandwidth. The platform does not support ECC memory, as indicated by the `eccMemory: false` field, which aligns with its consumer desktop positioning.

PCIe support is Gen 3, which provides sufficient bandwidth for graphics cards and NVMe storage adapters of its era. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600, a capable iGPU for basic display output and legacy gaming, though it is not designed for demanding 3D workloads. The memory support is limited to DDR3, which is an older standard, so users building a system today would need to source compatible modules rather than using newer DDR4 or DDR5.

The upgrade path for this socket is limited to other Socket 1150 processors, which were primarily Haswell and Haswell Refresh parts. Since the i5-4690 is a mid-range quad-core, a user could potentially move to a higher-tier i7 on the same socket for more threads, but the platform is otherwise at the end of its lifespan. The 22 nm process node and 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die size are fixed characteristics of this design, and there is no support for newer memory standards or PCIe Gen 4, so this platform is best suited for a budget rebuild or a dedicated legacy system.

FAQ

Q: What is the benchmark percentile ranking of the Intel Core i5-4690?

A: The i5-4690 ranks at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly a third of the processors in the benchmark database.

Q: How does the i5-4690 compare to the AMD Opteron 6376 in average benchmark scores?

A: The i5-4690 scores 1371 on average, while the Opteron 6376 scores 1370, giving the Intel part a 0.1% advantage, which is effectively a tie.

Q: What is the TDP of the i5-4690 and what does it imply for cooling?

A: The TDP is 84 watts, which is a mainstream desktop figure that implies a standard air cooler with a modest heatsink and fan is sufficient for stock operation.

Q: Does the i5-4690 support ECC memory?

A: No, the processor does not support ECC memory, as the data explicitly lists `eccMemory: false`.

Q: What socket does the i5-4690 use and what memory type does it support?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1150 and supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the boost clock speed of the i5-4690?

A: The boost clock speed is 3.80 GHz, up from the base clock of 3.40 GHz.

Benchmark Performance

The Cinebench results provide a detailed view of the i5-4690’s performance across different rendering workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the processor scores 477, while in the single-core test it scores 67. The multi-core score is modest by modern standards, but the single-core score of 67 out of a possible 100 indicates that the architecture still delivers respectable per-thread performance for its age.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score rises to 1991, and the single-core score is 280. The R20 multi-core result is more than four times the R15 multi-core score, which reflects the different scaling of the two test versions rather than a change in processor behavior. The single-core score of 280 in R20 is consistent with a 3.80 GHz Haswell part, showing that clock speed remains the primary driver of single-threaded performance.

In Cinebench R23, the most demanding test in the set, the i5-4690 scores 4742 in multi-core and 669 in single-core. The multi-core score of 4742 is roughly 2.4 times the R20 score, again due to test version scaling. The single-core score of 669 is the most telling metric: it places the i5-4690 in the same league as the rival processors in the nearestRivals list, where the average benchmark scores are all within 0.5% of each other.

Comparing directly to rivals, the i5-4690’s average score of 1371 is 0.1% higher than the AMD Opteron 6376’s 1370, 0.3% lower than the Intel Core i7-3740QM’s 1375, 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i5-1030NG7’s 1377, and 0.5% lower than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200’s 1379. These deltas are all within the margin of error for most benchmark runs, indicating that the i5-4690 is functionally equivalent to all four rivals in aggregate performance.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 4742 can be contextualized against these rivals: since the average scores are nearly identical, the i5-4690 delivers similar rendering throughput to the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200, which scores 1379 on average. The single-core R23 score of 669 shows that the i5-4690’s 3.80 GHz boost clock allows it to keep pace with newer architectures in lightly threaded tasks, even though those newer chips have higher IPC per clock. The benchmark data collectively indicates that the i5-4690 is a balanced performer for its era, with no single workload category where it falls significantly behind its nearest competitors.