CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4690S vs Intel Core i5-6500T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4690S is a power-optimized variant of the standard Haswell Refresh quad-core processor, designed for users who prioritize thermal efficiency and lower power consumption over maximum clock speeds. Launched in May 2014 with a 65W TDP, it significantly reduces the thermal footprint compared to the 84W i5-4690.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Snappy for everyday office tasks and web browsing. Prolonged multi-threaded workloads will run slightly slower than the 84W models due to lower base clocks and power limits.
Adequate for office tasks but slow for rendering or heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Single-core performance is strong due to the 3.9 GHz turbo, matching the 4690K in lightly threaded games. Sustained multi-core loads will drop clocks to maintain the 65W envelope.
Low base and boost clocks severely limit gaming performance compared to 65W parts.
Virtualization
VT-d support is excellent for basic homelabs, but the 4-core/4-thread limit and power-constrained turbo behavior restrict heavy virtualization workloads.
4 threads and low clocks make it poorly suited for VMs.
Efficiency
A clear step up in efficiency over the 84W Haswell parts, generating less heat and allowing for near-silent operation at stock settings.
Excellent performance-per-watt for a 14nm quad-core of its era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 performance is throttled by the 65W power limit
- Not recommended for AI workloads
- Insufficient thread count and low clocks make AI inference impractical
Content Creation
Gaming
- 3.9 GHz turbo ensures high single-core burst performance
- 65W limit may cause clock drops in CPU-heavy open-world games
- Excellent for 60 FPS 1080p gaming with appropriate GPUs
- Low heat output benefits compact ITX cases
- Low clock speeds cause sub-60fps frame rates in CPU-heavy titles
- Not recommended for gaming without a GPU
- Suffers from severe 1% low frame drops
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 65W TDP runs cool and quiet
- 3.9 GHz turbo boost provides strong single-core speed
- Includes VT-d and vPro for enterprise/homelab use
- Excellent for small form factor and HTPC builds
- Lower power consumption saves on electricity over time
Cons
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- 3.2 GHz base clock limits sustained multi-threaded performance
- Only supports DDR3 memory
- LGA 1150 platform is end-of-life
- TSX-NI disabled via microcode due to errata
- Harder to find than standard 84W models
Pros
- Extremely low 35W TDP
- Runs very cool and quiet
- True quad-core design
- Good for basic SFF and NAS builds
Cons
- Low base and boost clocks
- Locked multiplier
- Only 4 threads
- Hard to find boxed retail versions
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-4690S
- AMD FX-8320ERival
Low-Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570SRival
Low-Power Desktop
- AMD A10-7800Rival
APU Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4690TRival
Ultra-Low-Power Desktop
- Intel Core i7-4790SRival
Low-Power Desktop
Choose the standard 84W version if your case has adequate cooling and you need higher sustained multi-core clocks.
Compare head-to-headChoose this if you want the ability to overclock and are not constrained by thermals.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
A modern low-power alternative with 6 cores, 12 threads, and vastly better efficiency for a new build.
- Intel Core i5-12400TAlt
A modern 35W/65W alternative that obliterates this CPU in performance while using a fraction of the power.
Intel Core i5-6500T
- AMD Pro A12-8800BRival
Low Power OEM
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-6500Rival
Standard Desktop
- Intel Core i3-6100TRival
Low Power Budget
- AMD A10-7870KRival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4590TRival
Previous Gen Low Power
6 cores and 9 threads in the same 35W envelope for cheap on the used market.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500Alt
Massively faster and more efficient for a similar price point.
Modern low-power champion with incredible single-core speeds.
Compare head-to-head- Intel N100Alt
Modern ultra-low-power solution for NAS and basic SFF builds.
- AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GEAlt
OEM-only but excellent 6-core/12-thread 35W alternative.
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-4690S is a smart choice for compact systems, offering a 65W TDP without heavily sacrificing single-core performance thanks to a 3.9 GHz turbo boost, making it a versatile chip for its era.
Best for: Upgrading an older compact PC, HTPC, or ITX system where heat and noise are primary concerns and an LGA 1150 motherboard is already present.
Read the full reviewA capable low-power option in 2015, the i5-6500T sacrifices clock speeds for efficiency, making it strictly a budget/SFF salvage part today.
Best for: If you are buying a refurbished SFF office PC (like an HP EliteDesk or Dell OptiPlex) for basic home server duties, web browsing, or as a thin client, the i5-6500T is perfectly adequate. It runs incredibly cool and quiet, making it great for a living room PC that only handles 1080p streaming. However, you should never buy this processor standalone to build a new PC. Its low clocks and locked multiplier severely limit its potential, and modern low-power alternatives offer significantly better performance-per-watt. If you already own it, max out the RAM and add an NVMe SSD to extract the best possible everyday responsiveness, but do not invest in a dedicated GPU expecting a great gaming experience.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4690S or Intel Core i5-6500T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4690S comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. 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 i5-4690S or Intel Core i5-6500T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4690S leads with a gaming performance score of 55/100 among Intel Core i5-4690S and Intel Core i5-6500T.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-6500T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-4690S (65 W), Intel Core i5-6500T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-4690S and Intel Core i5-6500T use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-4690S: LGA 1150, Intel Core i5-6500T: LGA 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4690S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4690S (4,850), Intel Core i5-6500T (4,700). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.