Hexadecimal Time & Retro Formats Converter

Retro and embedded systems timestamp in unusual ways: Hexadecimal time (day split into 0x0000–0xFFFF), GameCube system time (seconds since 2000-01-01), and Lotus 1-2-3 serial dates (days since 1899-12-30, like Excel).

This converter renders your date-time in each retro representation for game preservation, emulator development and vintage data files.

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Enter a date-time above to see the conversion results.

Hexadecimal Time & Retro Formats Converter Quick Reference

FormatPattern / DescriptionExample 1Example 2
Hexadecimal Time0x0000 - 0xFFFF0xF0000x5555
GameCube System TimeCounter from 2000-01-01839946600820540800
Lotus 1-2-3 SerialBug Compatible (1900 Leap)46247.604166666746023.0000000000

* Examples are rendered in UTC for the fixed sample instants above.

When to Use Hexadecimal Time & Retro Formats

Emulator & homebrew development

Generate GameCube/retro timestamps for save files and RTC emulation test vectors.

Vintage spreadsheet import

Decode Lotus 1-2-3 serial dates when reading 90s-era financial spreadsheets.

Creative coding

Use hexadecimal time as a compact, cool-looking clock for art installations and demos.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hexadecimal time?

The day is divided into 0x0000 (midnight) to 0xFFFF units (one unit ≈ 1.318 seconds). Popularized by hex clocks: 0x8000 = noon.

What is GameCube system time?

Seconds since 2000-01-01 00:00:00 stored in the RTC of the GameCube/Wii. The converter produces the integer for memory dumps.

What is a Lotus 1-2-3 serial date?

Days since 1899-12-30 — the same convention Excel later adopted (hence Excel's 1900 leap bug compatibility).

How do I read a hex time?

`0x8000` = noon. Hours = (hex / 0xB60) roughly; minutes = remainder × 60/0x5DC. The converter does the exact math.

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