[time-nuts] x86 CPU Timekeeping and clock generation

[Luiz Paulo Damaceno]

Hi all,

I'm studying computer's timekeeping and i'm on level of remove the base
crystal that feeds the entire PLL logic of the motherboard (24 MHz on
motherboard that i'm using) and compare system's time with an NTP server.

The 24 MHz comes from an synthesizer that is locked to an atomic clock, the
clock of NTP server (also 24 MHz, but an embedded board (Tinkerboard)) also
comes from the same Atomic clock that is feeding other synthesizer for
generates 24 MHz to this board.

The experiment is the following: 1- synchronize the computer's clock to NTP
server then leave it running free (no periodic synchronization), 2 -
acquire time difference between computer and time server. What i'm
observing is that the computer time is drifting over time, but
theoretically it cannot drift because its connected to same clock source
(the atomic clock) of the time server.

My question is: what i'm missing? Someone have some tips to me to research
about timekeeping with base clock? I've already changed the base clock in
some hertz (frequency correction based on the drift) at the synthesizer,
but seems to have no effect, times keep drifting at constant rate, this
means that the "1sec pulse" generated in system to count time is not truly
1 sec pulse, this because the system is in an different frequency of my ntp
server time pulse.

Thank you for your time and happy new year,

Luiz