SNES Consoles Show Increased Speed Over Time: APU Frequency Rises by Up to 182 Hz After 35 Years

Alan Cecil, known for his work as a security consultant and the brain behind the TASBot (a Tool-Assisted Speedrun robot), has come across an intriguing development regarding Super Nintendo systems. It turns out these classic consoles are picking up a bit of speed as they age, all thanks to one chip at their core. A report from 404 Media delves into how the Super Nintendo’s Sony SPC700, an audio processing unit, normally operates at a digital signal processing rate of 32,000 Hz. However, back in 2007, emulator developers noticed these chips running slightly quicker at a frequency of 32,040 Hz, prompting them to adjust accordingly to keep games running smoothly.

The SPC700 chip depends on a ceramic resonator set at 24,576 Hz for its frequency regulation. But this delicate component is not immune to environmental factors, like temperature changes, which can influence its performance.

Earlier this year, Cecil turned to social media, specifically Bluesky, reaching out through the TASBot account to gather insights from SNES enthusiasts. His call for data has revealed a fascinating pattern: as these consoles age, the frequency at which the SPC700 chip operates seems to inch upward. The current records show a peak at 32,182 Hz—a seemingly tiny increase from the original 32,000 Hz, yet enough to potentially disrupt the sound in certain games.

### Potential Impact on Speedrunning

Though the SPC700 is dedicated solely to handling the SNES’s audio, theoretically leaving gameplay untouched if you’re playing with the sound off, the implications are different for speedrunners and precision-built bots. The quicker frequency could shave off crucial fractions of a second during level transitions, as the system processes audio data a tad faster, thus speeding up load times.

For everyday gamers, this might come off as a subtle improvement. Yet, for those chasing speedrun records or using speedrunning bots, this incremental boost could spell trouble. Regular human players participating in speedruns remain unaffected by this minor uptick in performance.

“We’re uncertain about the full spectrum of its impact on extended speedruns,” Cecil mentions. “What is clear, though, is that it affects the data transfer speed between the CPU and APU to some extent.”

TASBot’s own performances could feel the effects too, as its meticulous actions demand precision down to the millisecond. Amid these revelations, Cecil is keen on collecting more information on how aging hardware continues to alter its behavior. Understanding these shifts will be instrumental in accurately emulating and preserving the iconic games that shaped our gaming beginnings.