The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is the objective winner of this comparison, securing a lead in six out of fourteen measured specifications. Its most significant advantage over the Intel Core i5-12600K is its L3 cache capacity, which is 60% larger. This substantial difference in cache architecture serves as the primary factor distinguishing the performance profile of the Ryzen 7 5800X from its competitor across the evaluated technical fields.

Users who prioritize the specific benefits of a larger L3 cache should select the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X for their build. Conversely, those who require the architectural advantages provided by the Intel Core i5-12600K should opt for that processor instead, as it offers a 138% larger L2 cache. Choosing between these two components depends entirely on whether your specific workload requirements favor the superior L3 cache capacity or the significantly larger L2 cache.