The Intel Core i5-13400F is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victory in ten out of fourteen measured specifications. While the Intel Core i5-10600K maintains a significant lead in base clock speed, which is 64% higher than its counterpart, the Intel Core i5-13400F provides a much more substantial technical advantage. Its most impactful improvement is the L2 cache, which is 533% larger than that found in the Intel Core i5-10600K.

Users who prioritize high base clock speeds for specific operational requirements should choose the Intel Core i5-10600K. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-13400F is the superior choice for those who benefit from a significantly larger L2 cache and the broader range of technical advantages offered by the newer architecture. Selecting between these two processors depends on whether your workload relies more heavily on raw base clock frequency or the expanded cache capacity provided by the newer model.