Core i5-4690 vs Core i5-6500
Core i5-4690
Core i5-6500
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-4690 is positioned at rank 786 and the Core i5-6500 is on rank 715, so the Core i5-6500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4690
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4690 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($120) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($123) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4690 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($120) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($123) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-4690 and Core i5-6500
Core i5-4690
The Core i5-4690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,584 points. Launch price was $346.
Core i5-6500
The Core i5-6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,600 points. Launch price was $192.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-4690 and Core i5-6500 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-4690 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-6500 — a 8% clock advantage for the Core i5-4690 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-4690 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-6500 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4690 scores 5,584 against the Core i5-6500's 5,600 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-6500. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i5-4690 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+8% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 5,584 | 5,600 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4690 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-6500 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4690 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-4690 launched at $272 MSRP, while the Core i5-6500 debuted at $239. At current prices ($120 vs $123), the Core i5-4690 is $3 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-4690 delivers 46.5 pts/$ vs 45.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-6500 — making the Core i5-4690 the 2.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-4690 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $272 | $239-12% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $120-2% | $123 |
| Performance per Dollar | 46.5+2% | 45.5 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2015 |
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