CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4690 vs Intel Core i5-4570
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. Launched in May 2014 as part of the Haswell Refresh, the Intel Core i5-4690 served as the standard locked quad-core offering for the LGA 1150 platform. Unlike its K-series counterpart, this processor focused on business and mainstream desktop use, incorporating support for Intel vPro, VT-d, and TSX instructions.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Performs reliably in standard office applications and light multitasking, but multi-threaded rendering or compilation tasks are slow compared to modern CPUs.
Handles basic office and web tasks well, but compilation times and heavy multitasking expose its limits.
Gaming
Capable of 60+ FPS in older esports and mainstream titles at 1080p, but struggles with modern games that rely heavily on more than four threads.
Competent with older titles and eSports games, but modern AAA titles expose the four-thread limitation severely.
Virtualization
VT-d support allows for good basic virtualization and PCIe passthrough, though the 4-core/4-thread limit restricts running multiple heavy VMs.
VT-x and VT-d are present but four threads severely constrain any practical virtualization workload.
Efficiency
The 84W TDP is manageable but inefficient by modern standards, drawing significantly more power per operation than current architectures.
84W TDP for this performance level is unremarkable; modern processors deliver 2-3x the performance at similar power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- AVX2 supported but insufficient for modern AI workloads
- Not suitable for machine learning tasks
- No AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 available but insufficient for meaningful inference
- DDR3 bandwidth too low for AI workloads
- Not suitable for any local AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Adequate for older DirectX 11 games
- No unlocked multiplier limits tuning to BCLK adjustments only
- Four threads cause bottlenecking in modern AAA titles
- Best paired with mid-range GPUs like GTX 960 or RX 570
- Capable with eSports titles like CS:GO and Dota 2
- Bottlenecks mid-range and above modern GPUs
- DDR3 memory limits performance in open-world games
- No Hyper-Threading reduces 1% low frame rates
- Best paired with GTX 1060 or slower for balanced performance
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Reliable locked performance for daily use
- Supports Intel vPro for enterprise management
- Includes VT-d for virtualization passthrough
- Lower cost on the used market compared to i7 variants
- Includes Intel HD 4600 for basic display tasks
Cons
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- TSX-NI disabled via microcode due to errata
- No Hyper-Threading limits multi-threaded performance
- 84W TDP is inefficient compared to modern chips
- LGA 1150 platform is end-of-life
- Only supports DDR3 memory
Pros
- Was excellent value at launch for mainstream users
- TSX and TXT support uncommon in this price segment
- Good turbo boost delta of 400 MHz
- Wide compatibility with H81 through Z97 chipsets
- Low used-market pricing makes it viable for repairs
Cons
- Only 4 threads without Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier eliminates overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- DDR3 memory platform is obsolete
- No longer receives security microcode updates
- TSX was disabled on most systems due to errata
- Significantly outperformed by modern i3 processors
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-4690
- AMD FX-8320Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4670Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4770Rival
High-End Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4590Rival
Mainstream Desktop
Choose this if you have a Z87/Z97 motherboard and want to overclock for better gaming performance.
Compare head-to-headOffers Hyper-Threading for 8 threads, making it a much better drop-in upgrade for multi-threaded tasks on LGA 1150.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
A modern alternative with 6 cores and 12 threads, offering vastly superior performance and platform features.
- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
A budget modern option that drastically outperforms the 4690 in every metric while using less power.
Intel Core i5-4570
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- AMD A10-6800KRival
APU Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4340Rival
Budget Desktop
Slightly higher clocks at similar pricing, providing a small but free performance uplift.
Compare head-to-headHigher base and turbo clocks for users needing maximum performance on LGA 1150.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Six cores and twelve threads on a modern DDR4 platform at similar used-market pricing.
Modern budget CPU that significantly outperforms the i5-4570 in single-threaded tasks.
Compare head-to-headDevils Canyon refresh with improved thermal interface and slightly higher clocks.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-4690 is a solid, locked Haswell Refresh quad-core that offered excellent reliability for office and mainstream users. The inclusion of VT-d and TSX made it unique, though the TSX feature was later disabled via microcode.
Best for: Upgrading an older office PC or homelab server bound to the LGA 1150 platform that requires VT-d for PCIe passthrough.
Read the full reviewA solid mid-range performer that was the go-to recommendation for mainstream PC builders in 2013-2014, but its four-thread limitation and DDR3 platform make it impractical for modern workloads.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in an existing LGA 1150 system where motherboard reuse is necessary
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4690 or Intel Core i5-4570?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4570 comes out ahead with a score of 7.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-4690 or Intel Core i5-4570?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4690 leads with a gaming performance score of 56/100 among Intel Core i5-4690 and Intel Core i5-4570.
Do Intel Core i5-4690 and Intel Core i5-4570 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1150 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4690 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4690 (5,050), Intel Core i5-4570 (4,310). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.