The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in eleven out of fourteen measured specifications. Its most significant technical advantage over the Intel Core i7-8700K is its L3 cache, which is 167% larger. This substantial memory capacity provides the primary performance edge for the AMD processor across the majority of the evaluated categories, establishing it as the superior option based on the total number of winning specifications.

Users prioritizing overall technical efficiency and the benefits of a larger L3 cache should select the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X. Conversely, the Intel Core i7-8700K remains a viable alternative for those who specifically require the 7% higher boost clock speed provided by that unit. Choosing between these two components depends on whether your specific workload relies more heavily on the cache capacity offered by the former or the frequency advantage found in the latter.