Cpu clock looses couple of minutes each day?

The last week or two my cpu clock loses a minute or two each day even tho I have it sync'ed to either time.windows.com or time.nist.gov (which apparently updates weekly).

When I do an Update Now the time adjusts properly.

My pc supplier says since I don't ever turn my 1 yr old cpu off, the battery shouldn't be the culprit. I'll probably replace the battery anyhow but is there anything else I can check?

thanks

 

If it's not the battery then the board's crystal may be bad.

Motherboard loses time?

 

The OS checks the CMOS clock once, when you start the computer. So the battery is not the issue. If the clock loses time while Windows is running, it has nothing to do with the CMOS battery. The battery's responsibility is for keeping time while the PC is off. It does keep time while it's running too, but Windows doesn't check it. It only checks at bootup or when you manually adjust the clock.

Bad Caps is a huuuuuge stretch.

What you are seeing is normal behavior:

Under normal use XP can be expected to lose between 10-12 seconds per day. You can increase the frequency at which XP checks with an Internet Time Provider: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_inet_time.htm

If the PC is on a Domain, check the clock of the DC or whatever is used as the authoratative time server. You could find it several minutes off.

Things that are known to cause time issues:

. High CPU utilization. Legitimate programs may cause this, for example Distributed Computing Projects such as SETI or Folding.
. Screen Savers: Many with special effects create such resource loads that the clock is not checked as frequently as it should be. Active Desktop based screensavers are famous for this. Others -- I have yet to see an aquarium screen saver not effect the clock.
. Malware - possible if you experience high CPU utilization for long periods without there being a known cause.

You should never use a PC as a timekeeper in any legal context.

 

FWIW, as a workaround, synch automatically to the World Timeserver at your convenience.
Johanna

 

Thank you all. I'm going to try synching more often.