Core i5-4690 vs Core i5-6500

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.

Core i5-4690 vs Core i5-6500 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-4690 vs Core i5-6500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-4690

2014

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,584 vs 5,600).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.5 vs 23.4 PassMark/$ ($272 MSRP vs $239 MSRP).
❌29.2% higher power demand at 84W vs 65W.

Core i5-6500

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $33 less on MSRP ($239 MSRP vs $272 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 23.4 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($239 MSRP vs $272 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 84W, a 19W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-6500 better than Core i5-4690?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-4690 is ahead with a 0.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-6500 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-6500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-6500 is the better buy right now. Core i5-6500 comes in $33 cheaper on MSRP at $239 MSRP versus $272 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i5-4690 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 14.1% better value on MSRP (23.4 vs 20.5 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-6500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-4690 vs Core i5-6500 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

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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

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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

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-4690 was priced at $272, while the Core i5-6500 came in at $239. On launch pricing ($272 vs $239), Core i5-6500 was $33 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-4690 delivers 20.5 pts/$ vs 23.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-6500 — making the Core i5-6500 the 13.2% better value option.

Feature	Core i5-4690	Core i5-6500
MSRP	$272	$239-12%
Performance per Dollar	20.5	23.4+14%
Release Date	2014	2015

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