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Apple M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) vs Apple M3 Ultra (80-core GPU) for local LLMs

Across 5 tests measured on both, the two are about even (median ratio 0.97×).

On Llama 2 7B (F16, llama-bench) the Apple M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) generates 42.2 tokens/s and the Apple M3 Ultra (80-core GPU) 39.8 tokens/s (measured).

Same model, same quant, same test

ModelQuant / testM3 Ultra (60-core GPU)
tok/s
M3 Ultra (80-core GPU)
tok/s
FasterSources and run details
Llama 2 7BF16
llama-bench
42.2
Metal
39.8
Metal
M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) +6%llama.cpp #4167 M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) · llama.cpp #4167 M3 Ultra (80-core GPU)
Llama 2 7BQ4_0
llama-bench
88.4
Metal
92.1
Metal
M3 Ultra (80-core GPU) +4%llama.cpp #4167 M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) · llama.cpp #4167 M3 Ultra (80-core GPU)
Llama 2 7BQ8_0
llama-bench
63.5
Metal
63.9
Metal
evenllama.cpp #4167 M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) · llama.cpp #4167 M3 Ultra (80-core GPU)
Llama 3.2 1B InstructQ4_K_M
LocalScore
173
llamafile
178
llamafile
M3 Ultra (80-core GPU) +3%LocalScore M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) · LocalScore M3 Ultra (80-core GPU)
Qwen2.5 14B InstructQ4_K_M
LocalScore
34.4
llamafile
36.3
llamafile
M3 Ultra (80-core GPU) +5%LocalScore M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) · LocalScore M3 Ultra (80-core GPU)

Generation speed in tokens/s, best measured backend for each chip (shown under the number). Backends can differ between the two chips; check them before drawing conclusions. Measured results only, nothing estimated.

Specs

Apple M3 Ultra (60-core GPU)Apple M3 Ultra (80-core GPU)
MemoryUnified memoryUnified memory
Memory bandwidth819 GB/s819 GB/s

All results for the Apple M3 Ultra (60-core GPU) · All results for the Apple M3 Ultra (80-core GPU) · More comparisons