Intel Core i5-4690 vs Intel Core i5-6500

The Intel Core i5-4690 (Haswell S, fourth generation) and the Intel Core i5-6500 (Skylake S, sixth generation) are Intel's mainstream desktop processors.

The Intel Core i5-4690 (22 nm) and the Intel Core i5-6500 (14 nm) each have four cores, four threads, and 6 MB of L3 cache. The i5-4690 offers 26 GB/s memory bandwidth and Intel HD Graphics 4600. The i5-6500 has 34 GB/s memory bandwidth and Intel HD Graphics 530. Both support PCIe 3.0.

In benchmarks, both processors show very similar single-core and multi-core performance. Observed differences are significantly below the 10 percent threshold. For gaming, both offer comparable performance. Core count and single-core performance are similar. Actual gaming performance primarily depends on the external graphics card.

Neither features 3D cache. The Intel Core i5-6500, due to its 14 nm manufacturing process, tends to be more energy-efficient than the 22 nm Intel Core i5-4690. As older models, both are primarily available on the used market. Price-performance depends on individual offers.

The i5-6500 might have a slightly higher resale value. The Intel Core i5-4690 offers solid Haswell performance. The Intel Core i5-6500 scores with more modern Skylake architecture, 14 nm efficiency, higher memory bandwidth, and better integrated graphics. If energy efficiency and more modern features are a priority, the Intel Core i5-6500 is more advantageous.