Intel has been a trendsetter in the high-tech processor segment for many years. On the one hand, this allowed her to lay a solid foundation for the formation of an army of fans of her products. On the other hand, holding on to the background of competition with AMD forces the manufacturer to constantly increase the quality properties of products. In this sense, the Intel Core i5-4690 processor should be considered as one of the examples confirming the desire of developers to move forward. The development has many features, the implementation of which was made possible thanks to the Haswell microarchitecture. However, the latter was seriously revised, which allowed the creators of the processor to significantly increase its performance.
Specifications
Even by the time of the announcement, the model caused a strong resonance in the world of computer enthusiasts, which indicates the high expectations that were associated with the Core i5-4690. The characteristics against this background do not seem particularly outstanding, but they should be noted to understand the value of the processor:
- The processor socket is LGA1150.
- Microarchitecture - Haswell.
- The number of cores is 4.
- The manufacturing process is 22 nmu.
- Frequency - 3500 MHz.
- The design power limit is 84 watts.
- The system bus is DMI.
- The multiplier coefficient is 35.
- The graphics core is Graphics in the 4,600 series.
- The core frequency (at face value) is 350 MHz.
- Dynamic frequency - 1 200 MHz.
- The maximum operating temperature is about 73 ° C.
It is worth noting that the device works well in Boost 2 overclocking mode, which is initially configured for automatic operation. But the peculiarity of this format of operation of the Core i5-4690 is low voltage drops, which affects many processors during overclocking. In this case, the corridor of voltage drops does not exceed 1.264 V.
Haswell Refresh Technology
If you strictly approach the evaluation of processors developed on the basis of Haswell Refresh, then it is unlikely that serious changes in the characteristics and, especially, performance for user needs will be revealed. Nevertheless, the main task of the experts promoting this concept was precisely the increase in clock frequencies. As a result, Haswell acquired the i5-4690 as an add-on about 200 MHz. But users were not particularly pleased with this fact, but with the fact that the cost of models with increased performance practically does not differ from devices based on the previous architecture.
Nevertheless, the skeptics do not leave the idea that the entire Haswell line is nothing more than a dummy. As arguments of this opinion, an unusual marketing move is given by Intel - to announce the entire processor family at once, and not to release them separately. This suggests that the manufacturer has no truly new ideas. One way or another, but improvements in performance are a fact. You can only judge how significant the changes are, but they are, and the Core i5-4690 is a confirmation of this.
Place in the family
The model is still a simplified version against the background of its brothers in the family. For example, in comparison with the leaders of the line, the processor is not equipped with Hyper-Trading technology. In addition, it features a L3 cache trimmed by 2 MB, as well as a reduced clock speed, despite overclocking in order to increase basic performance. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the Intel Core i5-4690 from taking the place of the senior processor in its series. For example, if you compare the device with i5-4670, then the frequency will be a gain of 100 MHz. Again, it affects the membership of models that have received the Haswell Refresh platform. It is worth recalling the Boost 2 turbo mode, due to which the processor stably works at a frequency of 3.7 GHz. This aspect brings the processor closer to the i7 series. By the way, the analog of this family has the same graphics core.
Technological advantages of the processor
First of all, the model attracts attention with the Haswell Refresh action, thanks to which the manufacturer significantly increased sales of new series. But if we look at the Intel Core i5-4690 processor in more detail, then we can find many other advantages, although not of such a large scale:
- The presence of four cores capable of providing productive work in four-threaded mode.
- Boost 2 technology provides dynamic overclocking while maintaining safety requirements during processor operation.
- Integrated graphics core Graphics 4 600 series.
- Smart Cache is a technology that optimizes the function of cores and cache memory. In practical use, this means increased productivity, faster operation, and minimized power consumption.
- The presence of a memory controller that supports memory modules such as DDR3 and dual-channel mode.
Performance
In this part, the processor paid off, although there were no surprises. Resource-intensive applications can be processed at high speed, just like a 3D gaming process. However, experts do not recommend fully placing the entire load on the Intel Core i5-4690 alone, since much depends on the graphics subsystem. If the video card is capable of handling demanding processes, then replacing the computer’s backbone with Intel’s development can be pointless. It is for gamers that the advertised increase in clock frequency does not bode anything supernatural.
That is, of course, the processor is quite worthy of getting the status of gaming and high-performance. But competitors of the Core i5-4690 also have similar options, although for a higher fee. If we compare the model with similar old platform configurations, then the situation will obviously be in favor of the 4690th. True, here the difference is noticeable, but does not give the impression of a major breakthrough.
CPU power consumption
Along with performance, according to the logic of things, other processor characteristics, in particular energy and thermal, should have changed. And in this part, the device manifests itself ambiguously. Haswell Refresh technologies that are implemented primarily eliminate downtime. During tests of the Core i5-4690, only general indicators of the power supply of motherboards, graphic accelerators, etc. are detected. However, the situation changes dramatically when loading. According to various estimates, processor power consumption increases from 5 to 7% compared to its predecessors. This means that the same performance increases due to overclocking with an increase in the voltage that feeds the core of the device.
As for the temperature regime, there were no serious positive changes. And even of good quality, the fans with which the Intel Core i5-4690 Box processor is equipped do not fully solve the heating problems.
Positive processor reviews
As the manufacturer oriented this model, most of the positive feedback is addressed to its performance. Rarely can one come across complaints on this part, although if a deep analysis is carried out, sometimes users also note good alternative options for similar potential. But in this case, build quality and reliability cannot be discounted - even the Intel Core i5-4690 oem processor is different. The reviews, however, recommend purchasing the Box modification, as it comes with a cooler and gives it a 3-year warranty. Among the positive feedback you can find the mention of turbo mode, which also pleased many. And this is no accident, since tests show a noticeable increase in performance due to regular overclocking.
Negative processor reviews
If you take into account the expectations of Haswell fans, there can be even more negative opinions. We can say that all the flaws of the processor will be covered by its increased performance, but this is not enough in the modern world of advanced components. So, for stable work with demanding games and programs you have to pay with an increase in temperature. As a result, users complain about the need to purchase powerful coolers, which increases the total cost of the computer.
And in this regard, it should be noted that the performance was increased precisely due to the increase in power consumption of the device. That is, when Intel emphasizes that the Core i5-4690 processor on the Haswell platform gained an increase in its efficiency, remaining in the previous price segment, this is true, but not quite. The fact is that you will have to pay for this performance in other ways, among which is the purchase of new fans for cooling.
Conclusion
There is no sense in evaluating the i5-4690 series in isolation from the Haswell line as a whole, since the fundamental approach to developing this processor has the same problems. The fact is that the manufacturer tried to provide users with an increase in the basic characteristics at a basic level. As a result, the processor received a slight increase in technical potential, but otherwise no improvement occurred. This is partly due to the fact that Intel does not have worthy competitors and, as a result, motivation for fundamentally new developments.
Of course, it is impossible not to cancel the fact of a real increase in productivity in the Haswell family, but such changes are more likely to resemble attempts to simulate activities for show, rather than work to achieve new heights and offer the audience better modern solutions. On the other hand, it is possible that systematic work on the gradual improvement of processors will form the basis for future discoveries, as has already happened more than once with Intel.