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

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

At 1080p (Low), the Apple M3 8 Core averages 40 fps in Baldur's Gate 3, per Digital Trends. 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.

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 10 synthetic benchmark results, 1 community AI inference report, 2 measured game frame-rate results, aggregated from public benchmark databases (TechPowerUp, PassMark, Geekbench, Cinebench) and the LocalLLaMA community. 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, productivity benchmarks, 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. Each row links to its original review or benchmark database.
Game Resolution Settings Relative Avg FPS 1% low Source
Baldur's Gate 3 1080p Low 40 fps — Digital Trends 2024-03-07
Baldur's Gate 3 1080p High FSR Quality 35 fps — 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. 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.
Benchmark Relative Score Source
PassMark CPU Mark 19,086 points PassMark Software 2026-06-03
Geekbench 6 multi 12,034 points NotebookCheck 2024-03-08
Geekbench 6 multi 12,034 points Notebookcheck 2024-03-07
Geekbench 6 multi 12,020 points Geekbench Browser 2024-03-01
Cinebench R23 multi 10,454 points Notebookcheck 2023-11-01
Cinebench R23 multi 10,074 points NotebookCheck 2024-03-08
PassMark Single-Thread Rating 4,713 points PassMark Software 2026-06-03
PassMark CPU Mark Single-Thread 4,707 points PassMark Software 2026-09-04
Geekbench 6 single 3,157 points Geekbench Browser 2024-03-01
Geekbench 6 single 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. Use it for mainstream desktops and gaming-focused builds. Check the synthetic benchmark scores below for at-a-glance comparison.
When was the Apple M3 8 Core released, and what was its launch MSRP?
Release year and launch MSRP aren't on file for Apple M3 8 Core. Current pricing is visible on the linked Amazon product cards below.
Where do the benchmark numbers on this page come from?
Synthetic benchmarks are scraped from public databases (TechPowerUp, PassMark, Geekbench Browser, Cinebench leaderboards). AI inference numbers come from the LocalLLaMA community (Reddit threads, llama.cpp / Ollama discussion logs, and Phoronix when available). Every benchmark row carries an inline source citation — click through to verify the original number.
How does the Apple M3 8 Core compare to its predecessor?
Compare Apple M3 8 Core side-by-side against other processors on the Compare tool below. Synthetic benchmark scores let you place this SKU within its generation; the spec table shows the architectural and process-node differences from one generation to the next.
Where can I buy the Apple M3 8 Core?
Active Amazon listings aren't on file for this exact SKU yet. See the linked benchmark sources and the Compare tool for adjacent parts that may be in stock — and check the /benchmarks index for the latest curated picks in this category.

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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