The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is the objective winner of this comparison, securing more total spec victories across the evaluated fields. Its most significant technical advantage is the L3 cache, which is 113% larger than that of the Intel Core i9-12900K. This substantial capacity difference represents the primary performance differentiator between the two processors, providing the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X with a clear lead in this specific architectural category.

Users prioritizing the massive L3 cache advantage should select the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X for their build. Conversely, those who place a higher value on the Intel Core i9-12900K and its 75% larger L2 cache should opt for the Intel alternative. Your final decision should depend on whether your specific computing requirements benefit more from the superior L3 cache capacity of the AMD processor or the increased L2 cache capacity offered by the Intel component.