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 i7-7700K maintains a notable lead in base clock speed, which is 110% higher than its counterpart, the Intel Core i9-14900 provides a significantly more robust architecture. Its most impactful advantage is the L2 cache, which is 3100% larger than the cache found on the Intel Core i7-7700K, offering a massive leap in memory capacity.

Users prioritizing high base clock speeds for specific legacy applications should select the Intel Core i7-7700K. Conversely, the Intel Core i9-14900 is the superior choice for users who require the substantial L2 cache advantage and the broader range of technical improvements found across the majority of the measured specifications. This modern processor is better suited for tasks that benefit from the expanded cache and the overall technical superiority demonstrated in the spec-based comparison.