How macOS controls CPU P core cluster frequency according to the cluster total active residency, in synthetic in-core tests, compression and when running virtual machines.
M4
A matrix multiplication test appears to be run on the AMX matrix co-processor, and behaves differently from in-core tests. And what Power modes really do.
Power use in two in-core performance tests, by number of threads run, leading to estimates of total energy used by P and E cores running the same code, at high frequencies. How efficient are the CPU cores in the M4?
In-core performance compared across P and E cores in M1, M3 and M4 chips shows substantial performance improvements, particularly in vector and matrix computation.
Less glamorous than the P cores, E cores are used to run background threads. Details of their architecture, how threads are managed on them and their efficiency.
A bug, most probably in the early part of kernel boot in guest macOS, prevents M4 Macs virtualising macOS prior to 13.4.
macOS virtual machines are preferentially run on P cores. Details on their performance, core allocation, frequencies and power use/
Details of their frequency, ISA, power use, and how macOS allocates threads to P cores and relocates them. Supported by data from an M4 Pro.
Set up from unboxing in under 2 hours, its CPU cores perform better than those in the M3, differences that are magnified.
Is an M4 next week a better risk than the promise of a better model next year? Understand how to select the M4 chip suited to your needs, and specify your new Mac.
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