Apple M4 8 Core — Benchmarks & Specs
Bottom line: how fast is the Apple M4 8 Core?
For local LLM inference it generates 21.2 tokens/sec running llama3.1:8b at q4_K_M under ollama, per Macyou. In PassMark CPU Mark it scores 20,818 points, per PassMark. Across all its cores it scores 13,845 points in Cinebench R23 multi, per Notebookcheck.
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 M4 8 Core is a processor from Apple. Data on this page draws on 18 synthetic benchmark results (top 10 shown), 4 community AI inference reports, 4 measured game frame-rate results, compiled from Macyou, Notebookcheck, Beebom, PassMark, AppleInsider, CpuTronic, EveryMac, NanoReview; each table row links to its source. Read this page when shopping the Apple M4 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.
| Game | Resolution | Settings | Relative | Avg FPS | 1% low | Test GPU | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1080p | High | 52 fps | — | Not recorded | Notebookcheck 2025-07-19 | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1080p | For This Mac | 32 fps | — | Not recorded | Beebom 2025-08-07 | |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 1080p | Ultra | 30 fps | — | Not recorded | Notebookcheck 2024-11-15 | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1080p | Ultra | 20 fps | — | Not recorded | Notebookcheck 2024-11-15 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| llama3.2:3b | — LM Studio | 48.0 tok/s | — | Beebom 2024-11-20 | |
| qwen2.5:7b | q4_K_M ollama | 22.3 tok/s | — | Macyou 2026-07-13 | |
| llama3.1:8b | q4_K_M ollama | 21.2 tok/s | — | Macyou 2026-07-13 | |
| deepseek-r1:8b | q4_K_M ollama | 20.0 tok/s | — | Macyou 2026-07-13 |
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 | 20,818 points | PassMark Software 2026-06-03 | |
| PassMark CPU Mark | 20,811 points | PassMark 2026-08-04 | |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 15,072 points | Notebookcheck (M4 10-core Mac mini 2024) 2024-11-15 | |
| Cinebench R23 multi | 13,845 points | Notebookcheck (M4 10-core Mac mini 2024) 2024-11-15 | |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 13,835 points | Notebookcheck 2026-03-04 | |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 13,638 points | EveryMac 2024-11-08 | |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 12,296 points | AppleInsider (Geekbench Browser result, M4 iPad Air 8-core CPU) 2026-03-03 | |
| Cinebench R23 multi | 11,228 points | NanoReview 2026-04-01 | |
| Cinebench R23 multi | 9,980 points | CpuTronic 2024-11-08 | |
| PassMark Single Thread | 4,484 points | PassMark Software 2026-09-04 |
Apple M4 8 Core — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Apple M4 8 Core best used for?
Where do the Apple M4 8 Core benchmark numbers come from?
How many cores does the Apple M4 8 Core have, and how does it benchmark?
Where can I buy the Apple M4 8 Core?
Buying guides that rank the Apple M4 8 Core'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 M4 8 Core
In-depth SpecPicks reviews, build guides, and head-to-heads referencing this processor.
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on Apple M4
- 1440p Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS
- High-Refresh 1440p Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS
- 1080p Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS
- 4K Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS
- Prebuilt Gaming PCs 2026: RTX 5060 vs 5060 Ti vs 5070
- Ryzen CPU Deals 2026: 5600X, 5800X3D and 9800X3D Price Lines
- Arc B580 12GB vs RTX 3060 12GB: Which 12GB Card for 1440p in 2026?
- Browse all SpecPicks reviews →
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Best Webcam for Streaming Under $200 (2026)
- 3dfx Voodoo3 3000 PCI vs Voodoo5 5500 AGP: Win98 Performance Synthesis (2026)
- Ryzen 7 5800X vs Ryzen 5 5600G for Gaming and Streaming
- Steam Deck Gyro Aiming for FPS Games: A Setup Guide
- Best GPU for Running Llama 70B Locally in 2026
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on Apple M4 Pro
- Gemma 4 and Larger Qwen 3.6: What Hardware You'll Actually Need
- Sound BlasterX G6 on a Windows 98/XP Retro Gaming PC: What It Actually Does
- Microsoft Now Recommends 32GB RAM for Gaming in 2026
- Best GPU Upgrade From a GTX 1050 Ti for Local LLMs in 2026
- Ryzen 5 5600G vs RTX 3060 12GB for Entry Local LLM Inference (2026)
- Asus ProArt PA27USD OLED Lands — and What 4K Gamers Can Buy for Less
- ProgramBench: Can LLMs Rebuild Programs From Scratch?
- CompactFlash Boot Drive for Windows 98: Transcend CF133 Setup and Benchmarks
- Best AMD GPU for 4K Gaming in 2026
- Best Sim Racing Wheel for Forza on Xbox + PC 2026
- Is an RTX 3060 Enough for 4K Gaming? Pairing It With a Budget 4K Monitor
- Build a Jellyfin Home Media Server on a Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB) in 2026
- Best Webcam for Streaming and Remote Work (2026)
- AI-Driven Driver Install for Win98: Vision-LLM + 3060 12GB Build (2026)
- Ring Light vs LED Strips: What Actually Fixes a Grainy Webcam
- Ryzen 5 5600G APU for Local LLM Inference in 2026: What You Can Actually Run
- Claude Opus 4.8 Ships, Tops GPT-5.5 on Intelligence Index
- Best PC Couch-Gaming Setup in 2026: Controllers, Display, and Audio
More buying guides from SpecPicks
Browse all buying guides →- Best NVMe External Enclosures for 2026
- Best NVMe SSDs for Gaming in 2026
- Best DDR5 RAM for Gaming PCs in 2026
- Best CPUs for Content Creators in 2026
- Best Gaming Monitors for 2026
- Best Retro Gaming Consoles & Handhelds for 2026
- Best GPU for Running 27B-32B Local LLMs in 2026
- Best GPUs for 4K Gaming in 2026
- Best Tools for Building and Repairing Retro PCs in 2026
- Best 1440p 240Hz Gaming Monitors in 2026
- Best GPUs for Running Local LLMs in 2026
- Best Gaming Mice for 2026
- Best CPU Coolers for 2026
- Best AM5 Motherboards for 2026
- Best CPUs for Gaming in 2026
- Best PC Cases for Building in 2026
- Best 4K Monitors for Content Creators in 2026
- Best Graphics Cards for Gaming in 2026
- Best Mechanical Keyboards for Gaming in 2026
- Best Controllers for PC Gaming in 2026
- Best External SSDs for Content Creators in 2026
Hardware benchmark data on SpecPicks
All benchmarks →- Intel Arc B370 GPU — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Instinct MI355X 288GB — benchmarks & specs
- Ryzen 9 3900X — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840H — benchmarks & specs
- Ryzen 5 5600GT — benchmarks & specs
- Ryzen 7 1700 — benchmarks & specs
- NVIDIA L40 48GB — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 5 7640U — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE — benchmarks & specs
- Radeon RX 6950 XT — benchmarks & specs
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265K — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 5 7535H — benchmarks & specs
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS — benchmarks & specs
- Radeon RX 6850M — benchmarks & specs
- GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB — benchmarks & specs
- Ryzen 7 7735HS — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735U — benchmarks & specs
- AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5450U — benchmarks & specs
- Ryzen 5 7500F — benchmarks & specs
- Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF — benchmarks & specs
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 — benchmarks & specs
- Radeon RX 6600 — benchmarks & specs