The Intel Core i7-12700K is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in eight of the fourteen evaluated specifications. Its most significant technical advantage is the L2 cache, which is 380% better than that of the Intel Core i9-10900K. While the latter component maintains a lead in boost clock speed by 6%, the superior cache capacity of the former provides a substantial architectural edge that defines its overall performance profile in this head-to-head assessment.

Users prioritizing modern architectural efficiency and the substantial L2 cache advantage should choose the Intel Core i7-12700K for their build. Conversely, the Intel Core i9-10900K remains a viable option for those who specifically require the 6% boost clock advantage provided by its design. Selecting between these two processors depends on whether your specific computing needs are better served by the significantly larger cache capacity or the slight increase in maximum clock frequency.