The Intel Core i5-14500 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in eleven out of fourteen evaluated specifications. Its most significant advantage over the Intel Core i7-8700K is its L2 cache, which is 1333% larger. While the older processor maintains a lead in base clock speed, the substantial cache capacity of the newer model provides a clear technical superiority across the majority of the measured categories.

Users prioritizing modern architecture and the massive L2 cache advantage should choose the Intel Core i5-14500 for their next build. Conversely, the Intel Core i7-8700K remains a viable option for specific use cases that rely heavily on a 42% higher base clock speed. Selecting between these two components depends on whether your workload benefits more from the expanded cache capacity of the newer processor or the higher base frequency offered by the older model.