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Apple M3 8 Core
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Apple M3 8 Core — Benchmarks & Specs

Short answer: the Apple M3 8 Core generates 26.4 tokens/sec on llama2:7b (q4_0) under llama.cpp in a single cited run, per Medium / Dzianis Vashchuk; there are too few comparable runs on file for a median.

Bottom line: how fast is the Apple M3 8 Core?

For local LLM inference it generates 26.4 tokens/sec running llama2:7b at q4_0 under llama.cpp, per Medium / Dzianis Vashchuk. In PassMark CPU Mark it scores 19,086 points, per PassMark Software. Across all its cores it scores 10,074–10,454 points in Cinebench R23 multi, across two Notebookcheck results (Notebookcheck result of 2023-11-01, Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 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. SpecPicks aggregates published measurements; it does not report first-party benchmark runs.

The Apple M3 8 Core is a processor from Apple. Data on this page draws on 14 synthetic benchmark results (top 10 shown), 1 community AI inference report, 2 measured game frame-rate results, compiled from Notebookcheck, PassMark Software, Geekbench Browser, Medium / Dzianis Vashchuk, Digital Trends; each table row links to its source. Read this page when shopping the Apple M3 8 Core, 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 M3 8 Core 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
Baldur's Gate 3 1080p Low 40 fps — Not recorded Digital Trends 2024-03-07
Baldur's Gate 3 1080p High FSR Quality 35 fps — Not recorded Notebookcheck 2024-03-08

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 M3 8 Core, 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
llama2:7b q4_0 llama.cpp 26.4 tok/s — Medium / Dzianis Vashchuk 2025-06-11

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 M3 8 Core — 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 19,086 points PassMark Software retrieved 2026-06-03
Geekbench 6 multiApple MacBook Air 13 M3 review 12,034 points Notebookcheck 2024-03-08
Geekbench 6 multi 12,020 points Geekbench Browser retrieved 2026-09-05
Cinebench R23 multi 10,454 points Notebookcheck 2023-11
Cinebench R23 multiApple MacBook Air 13 M3 review 10,074 points Notebookcheck 2024-03-08
PassMark CPU Mark single thread 4,713 points PassMark Software retrieved 2026-06-03
PassMark CPU Mark single thread 4,707 points PassMark Software retrieved 2026-09-05
PassMark CPU Mark single thread 4,706 points PassMark Software retrieved 2026-10-05
Geekbench 6 single 3,157 points Geekbench Browser retrieved 2026-09-05
Geekbench 6 singleApple MacBook Air 13 M3 review 3,026 points Notebookcheck 2024-03-08

Apple M3 8 Core — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Apple M3 8 Core best used for?
Apple M3 8 Core is a processor. Mainstream desktops and gaming builds are the typical workloads.
Where do the Apple M3 8 Core 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 M3 8 Core have, and how does it benchmark?
Core and thread counts for Apple M3 8 Core aren't on file. Synthetic benchmark results (PassMark CPU Mark, Cinebench, Geekbench) are in the Synthetic Benchmarks section.
Where can I buy the Apple M3 8 Core?
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 M3 8 Core's class

This page is the raw performance data. The guides below turn it into a ranked pick for a specific build.

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