The Intel Core i5-12400 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in eight out of fourteen evaluated categories. Its most significant technical advantage is the L2 cache, which is 275% larger than that of the alternative. This substantial improvement in cache capacity positions the Intel Core i5-12400 as the superior choice for modern computing tasks that rely on efficient data handling and improved architectural throughput compared to the older hardware.

Users prioritizing modern architecture and the benefits of a significantly larger L2 cache should select the Intel Core i5-12400. Conversely, the Intel Core i7-10700K remains a viable option for those who specifically require a higher base clock speed, as it maintains a 52% advantage in that metric. Choosing between these two components depends on whether your workload benefits more from the increased cache efficiency of the newer model or the higher base frequency offered by the latter.