The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in nine out of fourteen measured specifications. Its most significant advantage is the L3 cache, which is 167% larger than that found in the Intel Core i7-8700K. This substantial difference in cache capacity provides the primary technical edge for the Ryzen processor, establishing it as the superior option across the majority of the evaluated performance metrics.

Users prioritizing high-capacity cache for data-intensive tasks should choose the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X for its clear architectural advantage. Conversely, the Intel Core i7-8700K remains a viable alternative for those who specifically require its 33% higher max turbo power rating. Selecting between these two components depends on whether your specific workload benefits more from the significantly expanded L3 cache of the Ryzen or the higher power ceiling provided by the Intel processor.