The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victory across the majority of measured specifications. Its most significant technical advantage is the L3 cache, which provides a 60% improvement over the Intel Core i5-12600KF. This substantial cache capacity serves as the primary differentiator between the two processors, establishing the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 as the superior option based on the total count of winning specifications.

Users prioritizing cache-dependent performance should select the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 for their build. Conversely, those who require a higher total core count should opt for the Intel Core i5-12600KF, as it offers a 25% advantage in that specific category. Choosing between these two components depends entirely on whether your workload benefits more from the increased L3 cache provided by the AMD option or the higher core count found in the Intel alternative.