The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and the Intel Core i5-12600K result in an objective tie across the evaluated technical specifications. While both processors demonstrate competitive strengths, the primary differentiator lies in their cache architecture. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 holds a significant advantage in L3 cache capacity, which is 60% larger than its counterpart. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-12600K provides a substantial lead in memory hierarchy, featuring an L2 cache that is 217% larger than the one found in the Ryzen.

Users prioritizing the specific benefits of a larger L3 cache should select the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 for their build. Those who require the architectural advantages provided by a significantly larger L2 cache should opt for the Intel Core i5-12600K instead. Because these components are evenly matched across the remaining technical fields, the final decision should be based entirely on whether your specific workload benefits more from the superior L3 capacity or the superior L2 capacity.