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Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz
Apple · CPU

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.

Measured gaming frame rates for the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz by game, resolution, and quality preset. “1% low” is the frame-time floor that determines perceived smoothness. A CPU’s frame rate depends on the graphics card it was tested with, named in the Test GPU column when the source records it. Each row links to its original review or benchmark database.
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.

Local LLM inference throughput on the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz, in generated tokens per second for a single request (one user's generation speed). Higher is better; each row links to the community report or benchmark database it came from.
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.

Synthetic benchmark scores for the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz — higher is better. Each row links to the public database the number was taken from. A benchmark listed more than once is separate published results, shown as published rather than averaged.
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?
Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz is a processor. Mainstream desktops and gaming builds are the typical workloads.
Where do the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz benchmark numbers come from?
Each benchmark row on this page names its source (public benchmark databases such as TechPowerUp, PassMark, Geekbench and Cinebench, and community reports such as r/LocalLLaMA threads) and links to it, so every number can be checked against the original.
How many cores does the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz have, and how does it benchmark?
Core and thread counts for Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz aren't on file. Synthetic benchmark results (PassMark CPU Mark, Cinebench, Geekbench) are in the Synthetic Benchmarks section.
Where can I buy the Apple M2 Pro 12 Core 3480 MHz?
No verified listing for this exact part is on file yet. The Compare tool and the /benchmarks index cover adjacent parts that are in stock.

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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