CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4690 vs Intel Core i5-4670
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.
The fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch, with 3.8 GHz turbo benefiting bursty office and development workloads.
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.
The 3.8 GHz turbo provides the best single-threaded performance among launch Haswell i5s, helping in older games, but four threads remain a hard limit for modern titles.
Virtualization
VT-d support allows for good basic virtualization and PCIe passthrough, though the 4-core/4-thread limit restricts running multiple heavy VMs.
vPro and VT-d features are excellent for IT management, but four threads limit practical virtualization workloads.
Efficiency
The 84W TDP is manageable but inefficient by modern standards, drawing significantly more power per operation than current architectures.
84W TDP is the standard for the Haswell i5 lineup; the higher clocks do not come with a power penalty thanks to good binning.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- AVX2 supported but insufficient for modern AI workloads
- Not suitable for machine learning tasks
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 and FMA3 available for basic vector operations
- DDR3 bandwidth constrains any AI inference workload
- Not suitable for local AI applications
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
- 3.8 GHz turbo is the fastest among launch locked Haswell i5s
- Good for eSports and older AAA titles with a dedicated GPU
- Bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs in CPU-intensive titles
- No Hyper-Threading limits 1% low frame rates
- Best paired with GTX 1060 or RX 580 class GPUs
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
- Fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch with 3.8 GHz turbo
- vPro technology for enterprise IT management
- TXT and TSX for security and transactional memory
- Full instruction set including BMI1/BMI2 and F16C
- Strong single-threaded performance for its era
Cons
- vPro features unnecessary for most home users
- More expensive than i5-4570 with negligible gaming performance difference
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- DDR3 memory platform is obsolete
- Quickly superseded by Devils Canyon i5-4690
- TSX disabled on C0 stepping via microcode errata
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 i5-4670
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- AMD A10-6800KRival
APU Desktop
Devils Canyon refresh with improved thermal interface and slightly higher clocks on the same platform.
Compare head-to-headUnlocked multiplier for overclocking if you need more performance from the same generation.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Six cores and twelve threads on a modern AM4 platform with DDR4 at similar used-market pricing.
- Intel Core i5-12400FAlt
Modern six-core with twelve threads that dramatically outperforms the i5-4670 at lower power.
Skylake successor with DDR4 support, better efficiency, and a newer platform for similar cost.
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 reviewThe fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch with unique vPro and TXT enterprise features. A strong performer in its day, but quickly superseded by Devils Canyon and rendered obsolete by modern budget CPUs.
Best for: Repairing an enterprise desktop system that requires vPro features on LGA 1150
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4690 or Intel Core i5-4670?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4670 comes out ahead with a score of 7.4/10. 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 i5-4670?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4690 leads with a gaming performance score of 56/100 among Intel Core i5-4690 and Intel Core i5-4670.
Do Intel Core i5-4690 and Intel Core i5-4670 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 i5-4670 (4,620). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.