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

Security expert and TASBot mastermind, Alan Cecil, recently stumbled upon an intriguing phenomenon: Super Nintendo consoles seem to be picking up speed, thanks to one of their integral chips. As detailed in a 404 Media report, these iconic gaming systems house a Sony SPC700 APU (audio processing unit) that originally operated at 32,000 Hz. However, emulator developers back in 2007 noticed these chips were actually running at a slightly higher speed of 32,040 Hz, necessitating adjustments in emulations to keep game functions intact.

The SPC700 coprocessor relies on a ceramic resonator set at 24,576 Hz to manage its frequency. Yet, being a delicate piece of technology, it’s susceptible to shifts due to environmental factors like heat.

Earlier this year, in February, Cecil shared his hypothesis on Bluesky using the TASBot account, reaching out to SNES community members for their observations. The preliminary findings suggest a fascinating trend: as SNES consoles age, their SPC700 chips are gradually increasing in speed. The highest recorded frequency so far is 32,182 Hz—an increase of less than 1% from the original 32,000 Hz—but notable enough to impact in-game auditory experiences and potentially disrupt a few games.

Speedrunners, take note: the uptick in the SPC700’s frequency might pose challenges. Though primarily handling audio data, the chip’s performance can inadvertently influence gameplay, particularly during stage transitions where time is precious. Audio data must be swiftly delivered to the CPU as the screen fades to black and prepares the next level. An APU working faster than expected could shave seconds off loading times—seconds that matter in the high-stakes world of speed-running.

While casual gamers might welcome shorter wait times, this unexpected enhancement could spell chaos for those pursuing speed-running records and building precision-dependent speed-running bots. Fortunately, human speed runners remain largely unaffected by this marginal speed boost.

“We’re still trying to grasp the full extent of this frequency change,” Cecil remarks. “The main concern is the potential impact on data transfer rates between the CPU and the APU during longer runs.”

Meanwhile, TASBot’s precise millisecond actions might face disruptions, underscoring the importance of ongoing data collection. By learning how these aging components behave, we can refine our emulations and preserve the beloved games that shaped our early gaming experiences.