Xbox Series X System Clock Time Drift Causes Games to Run 5% Slower

TimeDrift · Mar 19, 2022

I have two XSX and one of them runs consistently slower by 5% in a game because the system clock timing is off. I don’t know if the cause is the crystal oscillator or CMOS battery. I searched for hours and did not find anyone with this problem. Is this a widespread XSX issue no one noticed?

There is an easy way to test if your Xbox is affected. Please, share your results by going to TestUFO.com using the Edge browser and let us know what your FPS and Hz are.

My normal XSX shows 60 FPS and 60Hz. My slower XSX shows 63 FPS and 63Hz. This is consistent with a slow clock. The function to calculate FPS will count more frames if time runs slower.

My system clock time will drift by 2 minutes in 40 minutes. I restarted both and the system clock synchronized over the internet to 10:00 AM. Twenty minutes later one was 10:20 and the slower 10:19. Twenty three minutes later one was 10:43 and the slower 10:40.

King of Fighters XV, a new fighting game, has a training mode that shows how many frames you hold a direction or button. The game counts fewer frames on the slow XSX if I hold and release a button down at the same time on both XSX. For example, the normal XSX shows I held a button down for 100 frames and the slow XSX shows 94 frames.

Character idle animation and menu transitions run noticeably slower. If I reset a character on both XSX, the idle animation on the slow XSX will drift behind the normal XSX.

The normal XSX has a serial number lower than the slow XSX. Do newer XSX have this issue?

:)

SwordofWhedon

Is the allegedly faster Xbox connected to a computer monitor?

Are both Xbox is connected to the Internet?

Big Boy JOKA

Exact same issue, two Xbox Series X units. One with time drift issues of 2 min over 6 hours but this will cause apps to be unable to launch until a system reboot. That being said if you are in a long play session the app you are currently in will still work without issue.

Xbox should be aware of the time drift issue.

Big Boy JOKA

My current work around to the issue is to set the Xbox with time drift to the "Energy saver" sleep mode to power down the unit fully.

It's not great but this takes less time than having to reboot my system every time I turn on my TV.

TimeDrift

Could this be caused by overheating?

CosmicCraze

If your Xbox Series X is running hot and causing slower connection speeds only when gaming, there are a few things you can do to improve the situation:

1. Make sure your Xbox Series X is properly ventilated: Ensure that there is proper airflow around the console and that it is not placed in an enclosed space. If necessary, move it to a cooler area of the room.

2. Clean your Xbox Series X: Over time, dust and debris can accumulate inside the console, blocking the vents and causing it to overheat. Use compressed air or a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust or debris from the vents.

3. Check your internet connection: Slow connection speeds could also be caused by issues with your internet connection. Try connecting your Xbox Series X directly to your router using an ethernet cable to see if this improves your connection speed.

4. Limit background apps and downloads: Running too many apps or downloading large files while gaming can put additional strain on your Xbox Series X, causing it to run hotter and potentially slowing down your connection speeds. Close any unnecessary apps and avoid downloading large files while gaming.

5. Consider adding additional cooling: If your Xbox Series X is still running hot despite these steps, you may want to consider adding additional cooling, such as a cooling pad or fan. This can help to keep the console running at a cooler temperature and improve your connection speeds while gaming.

Xbox Series X System Clock Time Drift Causes Games to Run 5% Slower