Overclocker pushes Apple M4 chip to new heights

LN2 is commonly used for overclocking Intel and AMD CPUs. However, it's not every day we see someone using this same cooling method on an Apple M-series SoC, as Geekerwan did with the M4.

Geekerwan (via Tom's Hardware) benchmarked the M4 in its 3+6 core configuration (3 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores) but has already acquired the 4+6 model for further testing. Geekerwan inserted a Kingpin Cooling T-Rex Rev 4 CPU LN2 pot at the rear of the iPad Pro, most likely where the M4 processor is housed, and filled it with liquid nitrogen to keep the chip cool while running at 4.41 GHz.

Image credit: Geekerwan 

The LN2-cooled M4 iPad Pro scored 4,001 points in Geekbench 6's single-core test, 28% quicker than the M3 Max in the 16-inch MacBook Pro in the same test. In addition, the M4 outperformed the Mac Studio's M2 Ultra by 44%. Even though it lacks active cooling, the M4 iPad Pro receives a perfect grade. Even in its regular condition, the M4's single-core performance is high, surpassing the 3,000 mark. For the final few yards, the liquid nitrogen assisted the M4 in reaching the finish line.

However, the M4's multi-core performance fell short of expectations. It performed 54% slower than the M3 Max and 57% slower than the M2 Ultra. Geekerwan provided many Geekbench 6 entries, with the highest multi-core score of 14,785 points.

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KitGuru says: The lower multi-core score is only expected since the M4 has considerably fewer cores than the M3 Max and M2 Ultra. However, we expect Apple to launch a higher-core count M4 SoC, which should put the M4 chips closer in multi-core performance to the previous generations.

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