Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz — Benchmarks & Specs
Short answer: the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz generates a median 27.0 tokens/sec on 7-9B dense models at 4-bit (Q4) under llama.cpp, across 3 cited runs from llama.cpp GitHub, Ominous Industries and ModelPiper.
Bottom line: how fast is the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz?
SpecPicks median: 27.0 tokens/sec across 3 cited single-user runs of 7-9B dense models at 4-bit (Q4) under llama.cpp (range 22.0–37.9 tok/s), from llama.cpp GitHub, Ominous Industries, ModelPiper. For local LLM inference it generates 14.0 tokens/sec running qwen2.5:14b at q4_K_M under ollama, per kunalganglani.com LLM Benchmarks. In PassMark CPU Mark it scores 26,689 points, per PassMark Software. Across all its cores it scores 14,792–14,795 points in Cinebench R23 multi, across two published results (Notebookcheck CPU benchmark listing, m2 pro mac mini review).
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; the SpecPicks median is computed here from the runs it names, each a row in the AI table. SpecPicks aggregates published measurements; it does not report first-party benchmark runs.
The Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz is a processor from Apple. Data on this page draws on 14 synthetic benchmark results (top 10 shown), 8 community AI inference reports, 1 measured game frame-rate result, compiled from AppleInsider, kunalganglani.com LLM Benchmarks, ModelPiper, Notebookcheck, PassMark Software, llama.cpp GitHub, Ominous Industries, Geekbench Browser, MacGamingDB; each table row links to its source. Read this page when shopping the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 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 | 1440p | High | 60 fps | — | Not recorded | MacGamingDB 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 | 37.9 tok/s | — | llama.cpp GitHub Discussion #4167 2023-11 | |
| llama3:8b | q4_K_M llama.cpp | 27.0 tok/s | — | Ominous Industries 2024-06-02 | |
| llama3.1:8b | q4_K_M ollama | 24.0 tok/s | — | kunalganglani.com LLM Benchmarks 2024-11 | |
| llama2:7b | q8_0 llama.cpp | 22.7 tok/s | — | llama.cpp GitHub 2023-11-21 | |
| llama3.1:8b | q4_K_M llama.cpp | 22.0 tok/s | — | ModelPiper 2025-01 | |
| qwen2.5:14b | q4_K_M ollama | 14.0 tok/s | — | kunalganglani.com LLM Benchmarks 2024-11 | |
| llama2:7b | FP16 llama.cpp | 12.5 tok/s | — | llama.cpp GitHub 2023-11-21 | |
| qwen2.5:14b | q4_K_M llama.cpp | 12.0 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 | 26,689 points | PassMark Software retrieved 2026-06-02 | |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 16,466 points | Geekbench Browser retrieved 2026-09-05 | |
| Geekbench 5 multi | 15,172 points | AppleInsider 2023-02-13 | |
| Cinebench R23 multi | 14,795 points | Notebookcheck retrieved 2026-06-02 | |
| Cinebench R23 multim2 pro mac mini review | 14,792 points | AppleInsider 2023-02-13 | |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 14,568 points | Notebookcheck retrieved 2026-06-02 | |
| Geekbench 6 multim2 pro mac mini review | 14,317 points | AppleInsider 2023-02-13 | |
| PassMark CPU Mark single thread | 4,090 points | PassMark Software retrieved 2026-10-05 | |
| PassMark CPU Mark single thread | 4,088 points | PassMark Software retrieved 2026-06-02 | |
| Geekbench 6 single | 2,663 points | Notebookcheck retrieved 2026-06-02 |
Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz best used for?
Where do the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz benchmark numbers come from?
How many cores does the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz have, and how does it benchmark?
Where can I buy the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz?
Buying guides that rank the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 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 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz
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