The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victory across nine of the sixteen evaluated categories. Its most significant technical advantage is its NPU performance, which is 100% better than that of the Intel Core i5-12400F. This substantial lead in specialized processing capability establishes the former as the superior choice for users prioritizing modern hardware acceleration features over the more limited architectural specifications found in the latter.

Users who require advanced NPU capabilities for specialized tasks should choose the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G to leverage its primary performance advantage. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-12400F is the logical selection for budget-conscious builders, as it holds a 46% advantage in MSRP. By weighing the necessity of integrated AI-focused hardware against the significant cost savings offered by the Intel option, buyers can align their purchase with either high-end feature requirements or strict financial constraints.