Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz — Benchmarks & Specs
Short answer: the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz generates 18.0 tokens/sec on llama3.1:8b (q4_K_M) under ollama in a single cited run, per ModelPiper; there are too few comparable runs on file for a median.
Bottom line: how fast is the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz?
For local LLM inference it generates 18.0 tokens/sec running llama3.1:8b at q4_K_M under ollama, per ModelPiper. In PassMark CPU Mark it scores 15,653 points, per PassMark Software. Across all its cores it scores 8,667 points in Cinebench R23 multi, per Notebookcheck.
Every figure above is a row in the tables below, and each row links out to the review or public benchmark database the number was taken from. SpecPicks aggregates published measurements; it does not report first-party benchmark runs.
The Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz is a processor from Apple. Data on this page draws on 9 synthetic benchmark results, 3 community AI inference reports, 2 measured game frame-rate results, compiled from Notebookcheck, Geekbench Browser, ModelPiper, PassMark Software, CGDirector, kunalganglani.com LLM Benchmarks, llama.cpp GitHub Discussion, TBreak; each table row links to its source. Read this page when shopping the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz, comparing it against other processors in your build, or sizing it for a specific workload (gaming at 1080p/1440p/4K, synthetic benchmark scores, or local LLM inference).
Gaming Performance (measured FPS)
Average and 1% low frame rates by game, resolution, and quality preset. Bars are scaled against the fastest result on this page.
| Game | Resolution | Settings | Relative | Avg FPS | 1% low | Test GPU | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1080p | Low FSR Quality | 34 fps | — | Not recorded | TBreak 2026-06-17 | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1080p | Low | 23 fps | — | Not recorded | tbreak.com 2025-07-24 |
AI Inference Performance
Tokens per second under each model + quantization. Higher = faster generation. Bars compare runs across the same model.
| Model | Quantization | Relative | Tokens/sec | VRAM used | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| llama:7b | q4_0 llama.cpp | 21.9 tok/s | — | llama.cpp GitHub Discussion 2023-11-21 | |
| llama3.1:8b | q4_K_M ollama | 18.0 tok/s | — | kunalganglani.com LLM Benchmarks 2024-01 | |
| llama3.1:8b | q4_K_M llama.cpp | 18.0 tok/s | — | ModelPiper 2025-01 |
Synthetic Benchmarks
Higher is better. Bars are scaled within each benchmark family (multi-thread, single-thread, etc.) so you can compare like-with-like at a glance.
| Benchmark | Relative | Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PassMark CPU Mark | 15,653 points | PassMark Software retrieved 2026-06-03 | |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 9,668 points | Geekbench Browser retrieved 2026-06-03 | |
| Cinebench R23 multi | 8,667 points | Notebookcheck 2022-07-24 | |
| PassMark CPU Mark single thread | 3,885 points | PassMark Software retrieved 2026-07-03 | |
| Geekbench 6 single | 2,588 points | Geekbench Browser retrieved 2026-06-03 | |
| Cinebench R23 single | 1,701 points | CGDirector 2024-01-09 | |
| Cinebench R23 singleApple MacBook Air M2 Entry review | 1,585 points | Notebookcheck 2022-07-24 | |
| Cinebench 2024 multi | 513 points | Notebookcheck retrieved 2026-07-03 | |
| Cinebench 2024 single | 121 points | Notebookcheck retrieved 2026-07-03 |
Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz best used for?
Where do the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz benchmark numbers come from?
How many cores does the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz have, and how does it benchmark?
Where can I buy the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz?
Buying guides that rank the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz's class
This page is the raw performance data. The guides below turn it into a ranked pick for a specific build.
Editorial guides covering the Apple M2 8 Core 3500 MHz
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