Core i5-4690T vs Core i7-6970HQ
Core i5-4690T
Core i7-6970HQ
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 i5-4690T is positioned at rank 704 and the Core i7-6970HQ is on rank 486, so the Core i7-6970HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4690T
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6970HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4690T | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($98) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4690T | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($98) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-4690T and Core i7-6970HQ
Core i5-4690T
The Core i5-4690T 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,620 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i7-6970HQ
The Core i7-6970HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,632 points. Launch price was $623.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4690T packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-6970HQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-4690T versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-6970HQ — a 5.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-6970HQ (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-4690T uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-6970HQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4690T scores 4,620 against the Core i7-6970HQ's 4,632 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-6970HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4690T vs 8 MB on the Core i7-6970HQ.
| Feature | Core i5-4690T | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.8 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 4,620 | 4,632 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4690T uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6970HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4690T | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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