The speedrunning community is buzzing about a peculiar phenomenon: the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) seems to be running games faster as it ages.
The story began in early February when Bluesky user Alan Cecil (@tas.bot) reported that SNES consoles, released in the 1990s, appear to be running games slightly faster now than when they were new. This intriguing theory suggests that the nearly 50 million SNES units sold might actually be experiencing improved performance over time with games like Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and Star Fox. The idea of a console becoming more efficient with age is counterintuitive, but Cecil's research points to a specific component as the potential culprit.
The Accelerating SNES
According to an interview Cecil gave to 404 Media, official Nintendo specifications state the SNES's audio processing unit (APU), the SPC700, has a digital signal processing (DSP) rate of 32,000Hz, determined by a 24.576MHz ceramic resonator. However, retro gaming enthusiasts have long observed discrepancies, with recordings showing varying DSP rates influenced by environmental factors like temperature. This means the console's audio processing and data transmission to the CPU often deviate from Nintendo's stated specifications, subtly affecting game speed.
While earlier recordings showed average DSP rates around 32,040Hz (circa 2007), Cecil's findings raise the average to 32,076Hz. While temperature affects the rate, the observed increase is too significant to be solely attributed to temperature fluctuations. In essence, the SNES appears to be processing audio faster over time.
In a subsequent Bluesky post, Cecil detailed the data: “Based on 143 responses, the SNES DSP rate averages 32,076Hz, rising 8Hz from cold to warm,” he explained. “Warm DSP rates go from 31,965 to 32,182Hz, a 217Hz range. Therefore, temperature is less significant. Why? How does it affect games? We do not know. Yet.”
Implications for Speedrunning
Cecil acknowledges the need for further research to determine the precise cause and the extent of the speed increase. Data on early console performance is limited, hindering a comprehensive analysis. However, the possibility of a popular console gradually increasing game speed has understandably generated excitement (and some concern) within the speedrunning community.
A faster SPC700 could theoretically impact game performance, potentially shortening load times in certain sections. This raises questions about the validity of decades of speedrun records. However, the impact is likely to be minimal. APU speed doesn't directly translate to visual game speed. Even under the most extreme scenarios, the potential time savings would likely be less than a second in most speedruns. The effect on individual games is also uncertain. Currently, the consensus among speedrunners is that the impact is negligible.
While the mystery behind the accelerating SNES continues to unfold, one thing is clear: this aging console is proving to be surprisingly resilient and perhaps even a bit faster than it used to be. For more on the SNES, you can check out its ranking on the list of best-selling consoles of all time.
