Launched in the early 1990s, the Super Nintendo continues to enchant gamers, with recent findings suggesting that its speed may actually improve with age. Alan Cecil, creator of TABbot, discovered that the console’s APU may enhance its performance over time, evidenced by higher sampling frequencies in tested units. This could provide advantages for speedrunners, although the full impact on gameplay remains uncertain. Further research is necessary to explore these intriguing effects.
The Timeless Appeal of the Super Nintendo
Launched in the early 1990s, the Super Nintendo remains one of the most beloved gaming consoles worldwide. Surprisingly, it still captivates attention today, thanks to a peculiar phenomenon uncovered by 404 Media on March 13. The intriguing discovery comes from Alan Cecil, who shared his findings on Bluesky in late February.
Unraveling the Speed Mystery
Alan Cecil, the mastermind behind TABbot—software designed to complete video games faster than any human—reported an astonishing observation: “Super Nintendo consoles seem to be faster with age.” To validate this claim, he embarked on a mission to gather extensive data. After analyzing over a hundred consoles, the results indicate that the Super Nintendo not only ages gracefully but may actually enhance its speed over time.
The key to this speed increase lies in the APU (Audio Processing Unit) of the Super Nintendo. According to Cecil, “The main CPU clock operates at 21 MHz using quartz crystal, which is standard. However, the APU clock runs at 24.575 MHz using a ceramic resonator, which appears to improve with age and at higher temperatures.” This evolution affects the sampling frequency of the DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Initially designed for a frequency of 32,000 Hz, the Super Nintendo’s APU now averages around 32,182 Hz in tested consoles, surpassing its original specifications.
Experiment participants evaluated their Super Nintendo units under various temperature conditions and examined manufacturing data to assess any influence on APU performance. Although results differed, the consistent trend indicates a higher sampling frequency across the board.
What implications does this discovery hold for the speedrunning community? Theoretically, a faster console translates to quicker gameplay, offering a competitive edge for players seeking to shave off milliseconds and set new records. However, Alan Cecil approaches this with caution, especially concerning ultra-short runs: “We don’t yet know the full impact on longer speedruns, but we do know there’s a change in data transfer speed between the CPU and APU.”
More specifically, the Super Nintendo could potentially load audio-related data more swiftly, which may lessen loading times during level transitions. Nonetheless, it’s uncertain whether this speed increase could save a full second over an entire game for human players, while software might leverage this opportunity more effectively. Continued research is essential, particularly if the Super Nintendo’s speed continues to grow as it ages.