The Intel Core i5-12400F is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in eight of the fourteen evaluated categories. Its most significant technical advantage is the L2 cache, which is 275% larger than that of the alternative. While the Intel Core i7-10700K maintains a lead in four specific areas, the superior cache capacity of the newer model provides a substantial architectural edge that defines its overall performance lead in this head-to-head assessment.

Users prioritizing modern architecture and the efficiency of a significantly larger L2 cache should choose the Intel Core i5-12400F. Conversely, the Intel Core i7-10700K remains the appropriate selection for those who specifically require a higher base clock speed, as it offers a 52% advantage in that metric. Your final decision should depend on whether your workload benefits more from the cache-heavy design of the newer processor or the higher base frequency of the older unit.