The AMD Ryzen 5 9600 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing a lead in seven of the fourteen evaluated specifications. Its most significant advantage over the Intel Core i5-12400 is its L3 cache capacity, which is 78% larger. This substantial increase in cache memory provides the primary technical edge for the AMD processor across the measured categories, establishing it as the superior option based on the total number of winning specifications.

Users prioritizing the largest L3 cache capacity should select the AMD Ryzen 5 9600 for their build. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-12400 remains a viable alternative for those who specifically require its 25% larger L2 cache. Choosing between these two components depends on whether your workload benefits more from the superior L3 cache offered by the AMD Ryzen 5 9600 or the specific L2 cache advantage provided by the Intel Core i5-12400.