Core i7-3720QM vs Core i5-4690
Core i7-3720QM
Core i5-4690
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 i7-3720QM is positioned at rank 50 and the Core i5-4690 is on rank 786, so the Core i7-3720QM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3720QM
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4690
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3720QM | Core i5-4690 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3720QM | Core i5-4690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) |
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 i7-3720QM and Core i5-4690
Core i7-3720QM
The Core i7-3720QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,591 points. Launch price was $378.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3720QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-4690's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-3720QM versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-4690 — a 8% clock advantage for the Core i5-4690 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-3720QM uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-4690 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3720QM scores 5,591 against the Core i5-4690's 5,584 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-3720QM. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-3720QM | Core i5-4690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.9 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.5 GHz+35% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,591 | 5,584 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3720QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-4690 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3720QM | Core i5-4690 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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