SNES Consoles Seem to Speed Up Over Time: APU Frequency Boosts by 182 Hz After 35 Years

Alan Cecil, a security expert and the brain behind TASBot (the Tool-Assisted Speedrun robot), recently uncovered an intriguing development concerning the aging Super Nintendo consoles. It turns out, due to some chip quirks, these beloved machines are running a tad faster than they were initially designed to. According to information from 404 Media, the heart of the matter lies within the Super Nintendo’s Sony SPC700 audio processing unit (APU). Originally set to operate at a digital signal processing (DSP) rate of 32,000 Hz, emulator developers noticed back in 2007 that these chips actually ran at a slightly brisker pace of 32,040 Hz. To ensure game stability, adjustments had to be made accordingly.

The SPC700 relies on a specific ceramic resonator to lock in its frequency at 24,576 Hz. However, this component is pretty sensitive to environmental factors, like heat, which can tweak its behavior a bit.

It was in late February when Cecil took to Bluesky with the TASBot account, pitching his theory and requesting data from the SNES community. Early results reflected a fascinating pattern: as these consoles age, their SPC700 chips seem to accelerate. Presently, the highest frequency recorded hit 32,182 Hz. Although this bump is less than 1% from the original 32,000 Hz, it’s significant enough to potentially disrupt in-game audio and mess with the functionality of certain titles.

### Increased Frequency on the SPC700: A Dilemma for Speedrunners

Now, while the SPC700’s rise in frequency primarily impacts audio processing, it doesn’t change gameplay mechanics, unless, of course, you’re a speedrunner or developing a speedrun bot that hinges on precision. The kicker is, upon finishing a level, the console momentarily goes dark to preload essential data for the subsequent stage, audio included. If the APU can expedite this data transfer, it effectively trims down loading times.

For everyday players, this might sound like a win. However, for the speed-running community, it poses a potential headache. Thankfully, the slight boost from the SPC700 won’t trip up human speedrunners.

“We’re still assessing the full extent of this impact on lengthy speedruns,” Cecil mentioned. “What’s clear is that it does alter data transfer speeds between the CPU and the APU at least a little.”

For TASBot’s ultra-precise playthroughs, which demand split-second accuracy, this uptick is crucial. Cecil continues to collect more information to understand how time influences these consoles. As these electronics age, grasping their evolution stands to assist in emulating them faithfully and preserving those iconic games from our youth.