Updating timers of central processing units (CPUs) in a multiprocessor apparatus involves the repeated performance of update operations by a device that is coupled to the CPUs via a memory interface. The operations include selecting one of the plurality of CPUs and determining an offset value that estimates a delay time to process a timer update at the selected CPU. A corrected timer value of the selected CPU is determined based on the offset value and a reference time. The corrected timer value is written to a cache line of the selected CPU to cause the selected CPU to update the timer of the selected CPU.