The Intel Core i3-14100 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in eight of the fourteen evaluated specifications. Its most significant technical advantage over the Intel Core i5-10600K is its L2 cache, which is 233% larger. This substantial improvement in cache capacity provides the primary performance edge for the newer processor, allowing it to outperform the older model across the majority of the measured categories.

Users prioritizing modern architecture and the efficiency of a significantly larger L2 cache should select the Intel Core i3-14100. Conversely, those who require a higher total core count should choose the Intel Core i5-10600K, as it offers a 50% advantage in that specific area. Selecting between these two components depends entirely on whether your workload benefits more from the superior cache architecture of the newer model or the increased core count of the older unit.