The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G is the objective winner of this comparison, securing a lead in nine out of sixteen measured specifications. Its most significant advantage over the Intel Core i5-12400 is its NPU performance, which is 100% better. This substantial lead in specialized processing capability establishes the Ryzen 7 8700G as the superior option for users prioritizing modern hardware acceleration features within their system architecture.

Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G if your workflow requires the advanced NPU performance provided by its architecture. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-12400 is the better selection for budget-conscious builders, as it holds a 42% advantage in MSRP. Selecting between these two processors depends entirely on whether your priority is maximizing specialized hardware capabilities or minimizing the initial cost of your build.