The speedrunning community is buzzing about a curious phenomenon: the SNES seems to be running games faster as it ages.
The mystery began in early February when Bluesky user Alan Cecil (@tas.bot) reported that older SNES consoles appeared to be running games slightly faster than their counterparts fresh off the production line in the 1990s. This intriguing theory suggests that the nearly 50 million SNES units sold might actually be experiencing performance improvements over time in games like Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and Star Fox, defying the typical expectation of technological degradation with age.
The notion of a video game console—or any technology—becoming more efficient simply due to the passage of time seems counterintuitive. However, Cecil's research points to a single component as the potential culprit.
The Fastest Thing Alive?
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 console enthusiasts have long noted discrepancies, with recordings showing varying DSP rates influenced by environmental factors like temperature. This means the console's audio processing and CPU communication rates often deviate from Nintendo's stated specifications, subtly affecting game speed.
While average DSP readings for the SNES's SPC700 were around 32,040Hz in 2007, Cecil's findings show an increased average of 32,076Hz. Although temperature affects the rate, the variation isn't sufficient to explain the observed increase. In essence, the SNES seems to be processing audio faster over time.
“Based on 143 responses, the SNES DSP rate averages 32,076Hz, rising 8Hz from cold to warm,” Cecil explained in a subsequent Bluesky post, including a detailed data visualization. “Warm DSP rates range 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.”
Any% Implications
Cecil acknowledges the need for further research to determine the precise extent of the speed increase and its underlying cause. Data on early console performance is limited. However, Nintendo's second major home console appears to be defying expectations as it approaches its 35th anniversary.
The possibility of a popular gaming console gradually increasing game speed has significant implications for the speedrunning community. A faster SPC700 could theoretically reduce load times in certain game sections. A faster 2025 run compared to a 1990 run could potentially call decades of leaderboard rankings into question. However, the effect isn't straightforward; the impact on speedruns is likely to be minimal.
### Nintendo ConsolesNintendo Consoles
The relationship between APU speed and visual game speed isn't linear. Even under extreme conditions, the speed increase is likely to be less than a second in most speedruns. The impact on individual games is also uncertain. While further investigation is needed, the current consensus is that speedrunners have little to worry about.
As Cecil continues his research, the SNES continues to surprise, performing better than ever in its thirties. For more information on the SNES, you can check its ranking on the list of best-selling consoles of all time.
