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Apple M3 Max 16 Core
Apple · CPU

Apple M3 Max 16 Core — Benchmarks & Specs

Short answer: the Apple M3 Max 16 Core generates 9.0 tokens/sec on llama3.1:70b (q4_K_M) under ollama in a single cited run, per Kunal Ganglani LLM Benchmarks; there are too few comparable runs on file for a median.

Bottom line: how fast is the Apple M3 Max 16 Core?

For local LLM inference it generates 9.0 tokens/sec running llama3.1:70b at q4_K_M under ollama, per Kunal Ganglani LLM Benchmarks. In PassMark CPU Mark it scores 41,257 points, per PassMark Software. Across all its cores it scores 24,022–24,024 points in Cinebench R23 multi, across two Notebookcheck results (Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max review, Notebookcheck result of 2023-12-14).

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 Max 16 Core is a processor from Apple. Data on this page draws on 15 synthetic benchmark results (top 10 shown), 8 community AI inference reports, 5 measured game frame-rate results, compiled from Notebookcheck, Kunal Ganglani LLM Benchmarks, PassMark Software, GitHub: XiongjieDai/GPU-Benchmarks-on-LLM-Inference, llama.cpp GitHub, Technetbooks, Tom's Guide, Alexander Hiesch, GameGPU, MacRumors Forums, TechSpot, Tom's Hardware; each table row links to its source. Read this page when shopping the Apple M3 Max 16 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 Max 16 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
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High MetalFX Quality 105 fps — Not recorded GameGPU 2025-07-20
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High MetalFX Quality 105 fps — Not recorded Technetbooks 2025-07-20
Baldur's Gate 3 1080p High 96 fps — Not recorded MacRumors Forums 2023-11-15
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High 78 fps — Not recorded Technetbooks 2025-07-20
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High 78 fps — Not recorded TechSpot 2025-07-21

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 Max 16 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
llama-2:7b q4_0 llama.cpp 66.3 tok/s — llama.cpp GitHub Discussion 2023-11
llama3:8b q4_K_M llama.cpp 49.0 tok/s — GitHub: XiongjieDai/GPU-Benchmarks-on-LLM-Inference 2024-07
llama3.1:8b q4_K_M ollama 46.0 tok/s — Kunal Ganglani LLM Benchmarks 2024-06
llama2:7b q8_0 llama.cpp 42.8 tok/s — llama.cpp GitHub 2024-01
llama2:7b FP16 llama.cpp 25.1 tok/s — llama.cpp GitHub 2024-01
qwen3:32b q4_K_M llama.cpp 17.4 tok/s — Alexander Hiesch 2026-05
llama3.1:70b q4_K_M ollama 9.0 tok/s — Kunal Ganglani LLM Benchmarks 2024-06
llama3.1:70b q4_K_M llama.cpp 7.7 tok/s — GitHub: XiongjieDai/GPU-Benchmarks-on-LLM-Inference 2024-07

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 Max 16 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 41,257 points PassMark Software retrieved 2026-06-02
Cinebench R23 multiApple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max review 24,024 points Notebookcheck 2023-11-08
Cinebench R23 multi 24,022 points Notebookcheck 2023-12-14
Geekbench 5 multi 23,163 points Tom's Hardware 2023-11-06
Geekbench 6 multi 21,711 points Tom's Guide 2023-11-06
Geekbench 6 multi 21,264 points Notebookcheck 2023-12-14
PassMark CPU Mark single thread 4,784 points PassMark Software retrieved 2026-06-02
PassMark CPU Mark single thread 4,780 points PassMark Software retrieved 2026-09-04
Geekbench 6 single 3,200 points Tom's Guide 2023-11-06
Geekbench 6 single 3,157 points Notebookcheck 2023-12-14

Apple M3 Max 16 Core — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Apple M3 Max 16 Core best used for?
Apple M3 Max 16 Core is a processor. Mainstream desktops and gaming builds are the typical workloads.
Where do the Apple M3 Max 16 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 Max 16 Core have, and how does it benchmark?
Core and thread counts for Apple M3 Max 16 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 Max 16 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 Max 16 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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