The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victory in ten out of fourteen measured specifications. Its most significant technical advantage is the L3 cache, which is 167% larger than that of the Intel Core i3-12100F. This substantial memory capacity provides the primary performance edge for the Ryzen processor across the evaluated metrics, establishing it as the superior component in terms of raw hardware specifications.

Users prioritizing high-end hardware capabilities should select the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X to leverage its superior cache architecture. Conversely, the Intel Core i3-12100F is the appropriate choice for budget-conscious builders, as it maintains a 65% advantage in MSRP. Choosing between these two components depends on whether the user values the increased memory resources provided by the Ryzen model or the lower cost associated with the Intel alternative.