SNES consoles appear to get faster as they age, according to new data

New research has been conducted about the SNES, indicating that Nintendo’s classic console is actually getting faster as it ages.

Over on Bluesky, TASbot asked system owners to help with the data gathering process. Eligible users ran the smpspeed ROM test from lidnariq through flash carts. 143 users participated, and based on the results, SNES consoles are running faster in 2025 compared to the system’s original specifications. We’re able to see that the Audio Processing Unit (APU) runs faster than it did previously. This has the possibility of notes having the capability to be played at a higher pitch. 

The same poll also points to the SNES running faster as it warms up. According to TASbot, “DSP rate averages 32,076 Hz, rising 8 Hz from cold to warm. Warm DSP rates go from 31,965 to 32,182 Hz, a 217 Hz range.” While that’s interesting, it’s unclear how this impacts games currently.

On the topic of the SNES, it was recently announced that Nintendo Switch Online will be removing its first game from that platform. Later this month, Super Soccer will be pulled. Super Soccer originally launched on the Super Famicom at the end of 1991 in Japan and the following year in the west. We have all of the details about the situation here.

Thanks to Game Rant for today’s news.