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

Alan Cecil, a security consultant and guardian of the TASBot (our trusty Tool-Assisted Speedrun robot), recently unearthed an intriguing discovery about Super Nintendo consoles: they seem to be ticking a bit quicker with age. According to a report by 404 Media, this classic gaming machine houses a Sony SPC700 APU, an audio-processing whiz that normally hums at a digital signal processing rate of 32,000 Hz. But here’s the kicker — back in 2007, SNES emulator enthusiasts spotted that the APU was actually clipping along at a slightly brisker 32,040 Hz. So, they tweaked the software to match, ensuring that our beloved games didn’t go on the fritz.

The heart of this audio wizardry, the SPC700 coprocessor, dances to the beat of a ceramic resonator clocked at 24,576 Hz. Yet, like any finely-tuned instrument, it’s susceptible to the whims of heat and the environment, making it a bit unpredictable at times.

In February, Cecil took to Bluesky with a request for assistance straight from SNES fans, using the TASBot handle to share his observations. The preliminary data began to roll in, showing a fascinating trend: as these SNES consoles age, their SPC700 chips seem to pick up the pace. One console even reported a top speed of 32,182 Hz. Although this shift is less than a percent change from the original, it could nonetheless play havoc with some game audio and potentially throw a wrench in the works for certain titles.

For most, this uptick in speed likely won’t change how you play your favorite SNES titles, especially if you’re content with the sound off. However, for speedrunners and bot builders, the faster frequency of the SPC700 may fine-tune load times, since during those critical blackout moments between levels, the console is busy prepping next-level data — audio included. Faster data delivery from the APU to the CPU, even by a hair, could mean quicker level transitions.

While this might seem like a boon for everyday gamers, it throws a curveball at speed-running records and bots. Luckily, regular human runners aren’t affected by these changes. Yet Cecil is cautious. “We’re still mapping out the extent of this effect on lengthy speedruns,” he explains, “but we’ve identified that it has some impact on the data handshake between CPU and APU.”

TASBot’s performance could take a hit, given its reliance on pinpoint timing, but Cecil continues collecting more intel to show how these consoles evolve over time. Understanding and adapting to these shifts could not only aid in precise emulation but also help preserve the cherished titles that marked so many of our childhood adventures.