Clock Skew on PCs: Investigating Today's Accuracy

[alxm]

Anyone know what a typical clock skew would be on your average PC these days?

Updating my clock with NTP it appears my laptop (when running 24h and not in idle mode) drifts about 2 seconds a day. I get the impression that's a lot. (John Harrison was building better mechanical clocks 250 years ago!)

 

[mgb_phys]

1-2 second a day is about normal.
That's about 10ppm for the clock crystal working over a wide range of temperatures, how much extra would you pay for a PC with a better regulated HW clock when you can sync to 20-30ms for free on the net/

 

[quicknote]

I can provide some insight into the concept of clock skew on PCs and how it relates to the accuracy of timekeeping. Clock skew refers to the difference in time between the system clock and the actual time. This can be caused by various factors such as hardware limitations, software errors, and network delays.

In terms of your question about the typical clock skew on an average PC, it is difficult to provide a specific number as it can vary depending on the individual system and its components. However, a skew of 2 seconds per day does seem to be on the higher side and could potentially impact the accuracy of timekeeping. It is important to regularly update the system clock using NTP (Network Time Protocol) to minimize any discrepancies.

It is worth noting that the accuracy of timekeeping has significantly improved since John Harrison's time, thanks to advancements in technology. Modern PCs use highly accurate quartz crystal oscillators to keep track of time, which are much more precise than mechanical clocks. However, as with any technology, there can still be some margin of error.

In conclusion, while a clock skew of 2 seconds per day may seem like a lot, it is still within an acceptable range for most everyday use. However, for applications that require highly precise timekeeping, it may be necessary to use specialized hardware or software to reduce the skew even further.