Jeff GeerlingNov 12, 2024

M4 efficiency is stunning. First machine I've tested getting over 5 Gflops/W with HPL, and in fact it goes beyond 6 Gflops/W... with fan only spinning up to a quiet 2500 rpm.

Maybe this is why Qualcomm abandoned their marquee Dev Kit—it is thoroughly trounced by M4.

Show threadPaul Haddad Nov 12, 2024
@geerlingguy did you check idle power without ethernet connected, I found it to make a big difference.
Show threadTimo HetzelNov 12, 2024
@paul @geerlingguy did you test the 1G or 10G? Probably base model?
Show threadPaul Haddad Nov 12, 2024
@timo @geerlingguy I did 10G on base model, 1G on Pro. Both were down at < 1.5W idle without ethernet/HDMI/Thunderbolt.
Show threadJeff Geerling

@paul @timo Insane.

Like... other companies should try to even come close. The thing is, Apple started with mobile-optimized architecture, and applied all those learnings to macOS as well.

Other OSes and chips just assume you have wall power. What's 3W here, 8W there...

Nov 13, 2024 at 4:49amWeb
Show threadJeff GeerlingNov 20, 2024

@paul @timo Re-ran the benchmarks, and yes, it gets even better :O

https://github.com/geerlingguy/top500-benchmark/issues/47#issuecomment-2487377964

Benchmark M4 Mac mini · Issue #47 · geerlingguy/top500-benchmark

I have an M4 Mac mini with 10 CPU cores and 32 GB of RAM. Would be nice to see the results and efficiency.

GitHub
Show threadashpoleNov 20, 2024
@geerlingguy @paul @timo A headless Mac mini needs just two cables to work. Who is going to drill a hole in the side of their fridge? You’ll hardly notice it next to the Bud.
Show threadAslak RaanesNov 20, 2024

@ashpole @geerlingguy @paul @timo It could probably run fine on one cable if the mini supported PoE.

(It can run on one cable when using WiFi, but that would be problematic in the fridge?)

Show threadPaul Haddad Nov 20, 2024
@geerlingguy you got 4.xW with nothing connected but power? I got it down to low 1.x, wonder why the difference.
Show threadDustin RueNov 20, 2024
@paul @geerlingguy can depend on apps running and running in the background. Like Chrome won't allow the CPU to sleep as well as Safari can.
Show threadJeff GeerlingNov 20, 2024
@paul What power monitoring setup do you have? I tested on a Kill-A-Watt and a ThirdReality Zigbee Smart Outlet. And I did have HDMI plugged in, and my Thunderbolt dock (for keyboard and mouse), so it's enumerating other devices on the TB bus. Could use more power doing that.
Show threadPaul Haddad Nov 20, 2024
@geerlingguy oh yeah both HDMI and Thunderbolt will cause it to use more power. I tested it with literally nothing but power plugged in, I think with just 10GbE plugged in it was using about 3W.