Apple’s M4 chip, the latest in its Silicon series, has garnered attention for its impressive performance and energy efficiency. However, when it comes to cryptocurrency mining—a process that demands substantial computational power—the M4’s capabilities present a mixed picture.
Performance Metrics
The M4 chip features a 10-core CPU, comprising 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, along with a 10-core GPU. This configuration delivers significant improvements over its predecessors, with single-core performance gains of approximately 25% and multi-core enhancements around 30%.
In practical mining scenarios, users have reported varying hash rates. For instance, an M4 Mac mini achieved a hash rate of approximately 4 kilohashes per second (KH/s) when mining Monero using XMRig. In contrast, a 16-inch MacBook Pro equipped ip, featuring a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, reached hash rates up to 8.4 KH/s under similar conditions.
Energy Efficiency
One of the standout chip is its energy efficiency. Testing on the M4 Mac mini revealed a performance of 6.74 gigaflops per watt (Gflops/W) on the High-Performance Linpack (HPL) benchmark, with the system consuming approximately 42 watts to deliver 283 Gflops. This efficiency is notable, especially when mining rigs that often consume significantly more power.
Comparative Analysis
While the M4’s performance and efficiency are commendable for general computing tasks, they fall short in the context of cryptocurrency mining. Dedicated mining hardware, such as ASICs and high-end GPUs, offer hash rates orders of magnitude higher than those achievable with the M4 chip. For example, high-performance GPUs can achieve hash rates in the megahash per second (MH/s) range, far surpassing the kilohash per second rates observed with the M4.
Economic Considerations
The profitability of mining with the M4 chip is limited. Given the modest hash rates and the current difficulty levels of most cryptocurrencies, the potential earnings are minimal. Additionally, the energy costs, although lower due to the M4’s efficiency, still contribute to operating expenses that can outweigh the limited mining revenue.
Conclusion
The Apple M4 chip excels in delivering high performance and energy efficiency for everyday computing tasks. However, its capabilities in cryptocurrency mining are constrained by relatively low hash rates and limited profitability. For individuals interested in mining as a casual or educational endeavor, the M4 provides an accessible platform. Yet, for those seeking substantial mining returns, dedicated hardware remains the more viable option.