PC Clock Runs Fast

Foxbat

Foxbat

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I have an old Win XP machine not connected to the internet (still my favourite version of Windows) with a weird little problem. The clock runs fast. If I set it to the correct time, after a couple of months, it’s running about five minutes fast. It’s not a big problem but it’s aroused my curiosity.

I’ve done some googling and there are some possible explanations. One is that it seems to be related to an overclocked processor (my PC is, indeed, overclocked). Another is that it is related to the ‘timer interrupt’. This apparently operates about 20 times per second and is used to regulate the clock time in windows. The problem is that most folk reporting clock problems appear to be worse than mine. One user reported his PC gaining around ten minutes in an hour. Mine is nowhere near as bad as that and it causes me no real problems but it’s bugging me.

I’ve only noticed this quirk in the last couple of years and the only recent changes to the computer have been replacement power supply and graphics card (I was aware of the problem before these were changed so have ruled them out). There have been no changes to the BIOS (that I am aware of). I’m also tempted to discount the overclocked processor because that has been like that since it was first built (2006 if I recall correctly).

Any ideas on this conundrum greatly appreciated.
 
Open your windows time/date function and you'll note that you have an option as to what/where to sync the time with over the internet. Hardware variables (I'm suspecting) makes it impossible to have 'a' generic program to keep time (of which I've heard it is critical to its operation...why I don't know). So, without the PC hooked up to the net, your overclocking, hardware variables, software degradation and so on lags or accelerates time by microseconds which all add up--over time *snort*--until it's time to reset the time.

Time for me to shut up... 'bout time ;)

K2
 
So it seems maybe all I can do is reset manually.....
I hate mysteries with no sense of achievement :confused:
 
Sounds related to that little battery that sits on your motherboard to me. Then again that's just one of a few possibilities but I've heard of near dead CMOS battery causing a time drift.
 
I should probably have been clearer - you should try replacing the battery if the computer is as old as I'm assuming. Not sure what type it'll be but it will be an easy swap job, and it can't hurt :)
 
.matthew. said:
I should probably have been clearer - you should try replacing the battery if the computer is as old as I'm assuming. Not sure what type it'll be but it will be an easy swap job, and it can't hurt :)
Click to expand...
It might be worth a try. I‘m surprised it’s lasted as long as it has:)
 
I was also going to say to change the battery. They are cheap batteries and they do last a long time (the coin shaped batteries that you also get in wrist watches) but eventually they give up. Opening the computer, finding it, getting it out and replacing everything back the same way might be the hard part. There are several different types but Pound shops will sell an assortment for.... a £1.

If you've never had the PC open before, vacuum out all the dust and clean the fan at the same time. It stops the PC overheating and you may see a vastly improved performance.

If it isn't the battery then it is probably time to buy a new computer, but what @-K2- said should work to keep it corrected it while you have a live internet connection. If the computer time doesn't match the real time then you start to get all kinds of additional problems with programs and calendars not working.
 
Apart from the clock problem, the PC in question is probably my most reliable (I have 2 PCs, 2 laptops and an iPad). That’s what makes this such a mystery. It rarely if ever crashes (and if it does, it’s normally because I’ve done something stupid). I’ve seen absolutely no sign of growing instability. I built this machine myself and about the only original part left now is the motherboard so I suppose if there is an emerging fault, that is likely where it lies. The quest continues:)
 
If you built it yourself then sorry, I'm probably teaching your granny to suck eggs. The only problem I see with it being caused by the battery is that when I had a battery problem it never ran fast, but just kept resetting to 01/01/2000.
 
Followed the suggestion here to reset the clock in the BIOS rather than via Windows. I’ll know in a couple of months if it has worked:)
troubleshooter.xyz

8 Ways To Fix System Clock Runs Fast Issue

8 Ways To Fix System Clock Runs Fast Issue: If you are facing this issue where System Clock always run faster than the usual time then chances are you must have overclocked your PC or this could be simple CMOS settings. This could also happen when Windows Time service is corrupt which is pretty...
troubleshooter.xyz troubleshooter.xyz
 
Clock seems okay so far but starting to see the odd unusual crash...unusual in the sense that it’s not just a crash to desktop but something that requires me to reboot. These are quite rare but it’s got me wondering so I’ve decided that it’s time for a new machine. With prices the way they are, it’s just not worth the hassle of buying the parts and building yourself so I’m going to outsource the build.

Just had a telephone call to say the pc is now in the process of being built and I should take delivery within six to ten days.
Decent specs for me. I’m not a huge gamer but when I do play, I prefer older, less processor intensive games like turn-based strategy or isometric RPGs. This should meet my needs.

  • System: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Processor (4 Cores, 8 Threads, 3.7GHz Base, 4.2GHz Turbo, 4MB Cache) | AMD A320 Chipset Motherboard | 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM | 240GB SATA-III SSD | 1TB 7200RPM SATA-III HDD
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB Graphics Card | HDMI v2.0 | 400W 80+ Certified Gaming Power Supply
  • Connectivity: 6x USB 3.1 | 2x USB 2.0 | 1x PS/2 KB or Mouse Port | 1x RJ45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | 300Mbps 802.11n Wifi | 5.1-Channel High Definition Audio
  • Case & Cooling: Ttake Versa J24 Mid Tower Case | AMD Standard Cooler | 4x RGB LED Fans, RFID Remote
  • Warranty & Software: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
 
Foxbat said:
Clock seems okay so far but starting to see the odd unusual crash...unusual in the sense that it’s not just a crash to desktop but something that requires me to reboot. These are quite rare but it’s got me wondering so I’ve decided that it’s time for a new machine. With prices the way they are, it’s just not worth the hassle of buying the parts and building yourself so I’m going to outsource the build.

Just had a telephone call to say the pc is now in the process of being built and I should take delivery within six to ten days.
Decent specs for me. I’m not a huge gamer but when I do play, I prefer older, less processor intensive games like turn-based strategy or isometric RPGs. This should meet my needs.

  • System: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Processor (4 Cores, 8 Threads, 3.7GHz Base, 4.2GHz Turbo, 4MB Cache) | AMD A320 Chipset Motherboard | 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM | 240GB SATA-III SSD | 1TB 7200RPM SATA-III HDD
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB Graphics Card | HDMI v2.0 | 400W 80+ Certified Gaming Power Supply
  • Connectivity: 6x USB 3.1 | 2x USB 2.0 | 1x PS/2 KB or Mouse Port | 1x RJ45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | 300Mbps 802.11n Wifi | 5.1-Channel High Definition Audio
  • Case & Cooling: Ttake Versa J24 Mid Tower Case | AMD Standard Cooler | 4x RGB LED Fans, RFID Remote
  • Warranty & Software: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Click to expand...
Once the new one is running and you can safely play around with the old one -
Remove and re install the memory, there may be a contact issue.
Also how many years are on the hard drive? I have found that with it on 16 hours a day they start to glitch at about four years old.
Worth checking for any bulging capacitor ends too, your board should be new enough to escape that but a few old stock may have slipped back into the supply stream.
 
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I put it together in 2006 and it’s the original hard drive, so that makes it almost 14 years old. It’s probably only averaging about two hours per day running time but that’s still a lot. I will try your memory suggestion and a few other things and see what happens.

I can’t complain and I‘ve definitely had my money’s worth from this one but time catches up with us all, I suppose...
 
Foxbat said:
I put it together in 2006 and it’s the original hard drive, so that makes it almost 14 years old. It’s probably only averaging about two hours per day running time but that’s still a lot. I will try your memory suggestion and a few other things and see what happens.

I can’t complain and I‘ve definitely had my money’s worth from this one but time catches up with us all, I suppose...
Click to expand...
2006 definitely check the capacitors. Mine is the same age and on its second motherboard due to caps (and its 4th hard drive.) But like you, I love XP enough to persevere :) Plus the drivers for my ancient synth cards and music gear with Cubase SX are all XP.
 
Looking like decent enough specs for what you want. I take it you're moving up to Windows 10 now?
 
Foxbat said:
Yeah. I think it’s probably time to come out of the stone age:)
Click to expand...
Ha, nothing wrong with banging two rocks together if it still gets a fire going :)

But yea, I don't think the hardware would support xp anymore anyway, I know when I built my last one I tried to throw Windows 7 on there and it threw an error attack over it.
 
I would be surprise if your time didn't drift.
That seems to be one of the main reasons that the os has a means of syncing your clock to an 'atomic' clock somewhere.
At work we have to have the computer clocks as closely synced as possible, which means any computer not networked has to be checked and adjusted manually several times in a day.
 
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