The Intel Core i5-14600KF is the objective winner of this comparison, securing a lead in eight of the sixteen evaluated specifications. Its most significant advantage over the Intel Core i5-12400 is its L2 cache, which is 167% larger. While the Intel Core i5-12400 maintains a 48% advantage in TDP, the superior cache capacity of the Intel Core i5-14600KF provides a more substantial technical edge across the majority of the measured categories.

Users prioritizing power efficiency should choose the Intel Core i5-12400, as it offers a significantly better TDP. Conversely, those who require the performance benefits associated with a much larger L2 cache should select the Intel Core i5-14600KF. By focusing on these specific advantages, buyers can align their choice with either the lower power requirements of the former or the expanded cache architecture of the latter.