The Intel Core i9-14900 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victory in ten out of fourteen measured specifications. While the Intel Core i7-8700K maintains a notable lead in base clock speed, which is 85% higher than its counterpart, the newer model dominates in memory architecture. The most significant technical advantage held by the Intel Core i9-14900 is its L2 cache, which is 2033% larger than that found in the Intel Core i7-8700K.

Users prioritizing high base clock speeds for specific legacy workloads should select the Intel Core i7-8700K. Conversely, the Intel Core i9-14900 is the superior choice for those who require the massive L2 cache capacity and the broader range of technical improvements provided by its ten winning specifications. Choosing between these two processors depends entirely on whether your primary requirement is the higher base clock frequency or the substantial cache advantage offered by the newer hardware.