The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing a lead in seven out of fourteen measured specifications. Its most significant advantage over the competition is its total core count, which is 50% higher than that of the Intel Core i3-12100F. This core density provides the primary technical edge for the Ryzen processor, establishing it as the more capable option across the majority of the evaluated hardware metrics.

Users prioritizing multi-threaded workloads should select the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 to leverage its superior core count. Conversely, those who prioritize the specific architectural benefits of the Intel Core i3-12100F should choose it for its L2 cache, which is 67% larger than the cache found in the Ryzen alternative. Your final decision should depend on whether your specific computing needs favor the higher core capacity of the Ryzen or the expanded L2 cache of the Intel.