Leaving pc off for months

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

I am saving up for a gpu for my new pc and since I can't use it until I get a gpu for it, would anything happen to my new pc if it is left off for months? 6-8 months, because I am currently using my old pc and I cannot use my new pc since it does not have a gpu inside it. Would there be any damage done if it is left off for 6-8 months.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[Fasauceome]

All of the components used to build your PC sat in a warehouse in their own boxes for months or even years before the PC was built, it can definitely survive off for a long time 

[Jillorval]

I would say it depends where you store it... in a normal environment, with a cover to protect it from dust... what could happen?

[SpookyCitrus]

There shouldn't be a problem with just storing it, I personally would make sure it's in like the box the case came in and sealed so it doesn't get dusty or bumped around and such but either way it should be fine.

[samcool55]

7 minutes ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

I am saving up for a gpu for my new pc and since I can't use it until I get a gpu for it, would anything happen to my new pc if it is left off for months? 6-8 months, because I am currently using my old pc and I cannot use my new pc since it does not have a gpu inside it. Would there be any damage done if it is left off for 6-8 months.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Nope, everything will be fine. Only thing that might happen is that the CMOS battery goes flat but that's not a big deal and a flat battery doesn't cause any damage. Only thing you need is a new battery which you can get basically anywhere and you are good to go. You need it to keep the clock going if you disconnect it and usually it also stores overclocks and boot order.

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

Thanks I was hoping it would be ok, It is gonna be left in my room, plus no one even touches the pc anyway and dust cannot get in. Would I need to replace the thermal paste on the cpu maybe? since it was left off for months? 

1 minute ago, samcool55 said:

Nope, everything will be fine. Only thing that might happen is that the CMOS battery goes flat but that's not a big deal and a flat battery doesn't cause any damage. Only thing you need is a new battery which you can get basically anywhere and you are good to go. You need it to keep the clock going if you disconnect it and usually it also stores overclocks and boot order.

 

1 minute ago, SpookyCitrus said:

There shouldn't be a problem with just storing it, I personally would make sure it's in like the box the case came in and sealed so it doesn't get dusty or bumped around and such but either way it should be fine.

 

2 minutes ago, Jillorval said:

I would say it depends where you store it... in a normal environment, with a cover to protect it from dust... what could happen?

 

2 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

All of the components used to build your PC sat in a warehouse in their own boxes for months or even years before the PC was built, it can definitely survive off for a long time 

 

[Kilrah]

1 minute ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Would I need to replace the thermal paste on the cpu maybe? since it was left off for months? 

No.

It'll dry even less than if it were on. 

 

Everything is stressed more when on than off. 

[samcool55]

7 minutes ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Thanks I was hoping it would be ok, It is gonna be left in my room, plus no one even touches the pc anyway and dust cannot get in. Would I need to replace the thermal paste on the cpu maybe? since it was left off for months?

While it doesn't hurt to replace it, you should be fine.

What usually causes thermal paste to try out is the heat. But because you won't use the pc and the cpu won't get hot, it won't really dry out.

 

You can always do a few stress tests after using it again and check if temps are fine. If they are, you are good to go!

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

Thanks, I read on some other thread that the psu might get "broken" somehow by not being plugged in for so long, is that true?, or is that just pure bs?

1 minute ago, samcool55 said:

While it doesn't hurt to replace it, you should be fine.

What usually causes thermal paste to try out is the heat. But because you won't use the pc and the cpu won't get hot, it won't really dry out.

 

You can always do a few stress tests after using t again and check if temps are fine. If they are, you are good to go!

 

[seon123]

Why would you buy a new PC without a GPU...? I hope you aren't one of those that buys the PC in parts over time, instead of saving up.

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

Just now, seon123 said:

Why would you buy a new PC without a GPU...? I hope you aren't one of those that buys the PC in parts over time, instead of saving up.

My gpu that i bought with the pc was broken, couldn't return because the warranty was out.

[seon123]

Just now, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

My gpu that i bought with the pc was broken, couldn't return because the warranty was out.

Warranties for GPUs typically last for 3 years. Did you buy a >3 year old GPU...?

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

Just now, seon123 said:

Warranties for GPUs typically last for 3 years. Did you buy a >3 year old GPU...?

Yeah I must of, because I got it from ebay.

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

They said that the warranty on it was out too, tried different people and they said that the warranty was out too

Just now, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Yeah I must of, because I got it from ebay.

 

[Stormseeker9]

4 minutes ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

My gpu that i bought with the pc was broken, couldn't return because the warranty was out.

So you bought it used.. Hope you used PayPal or something for buyer protection. 

 

Just claim back to seller that it is broke. 

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

1 minute ago, Stormseeker9 said:

So you bought it used.. Hope you used PayPal or something for buyer protection. 

 

Just claim back to seller that it is broke. 

Okay thanks, I got the gpu about a month ago so I'll tell the seller that it is broken.

[Stormseeker9]

1 minute ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Okay thanks, I got the gpu about a month ago so I'll tell the seller that it is broken.

So wait, you buy something used, it arrives but is broken.. I would straight away get back to the seller demanding my money back as the product I bought doesn’t work. 

 

Did you use paypal? 180 day protection on purchases 

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

Just now, Stormseeker9 said:

So wait, you buy something used, it arrives but is broken.. I would straight away get back to the seller demanding my money back as the product I bought doesn’t work. 

 

Did you use paypal? 180 day protection on purchases 

Yes, I used Paypal and the reason I didn't tell the seller that it was broken was because it worked for a bit and then it broke, I did not do anything wrong to it, was using it normally and it was displaying some artifacts when I booted the pc up after about 3 weeks. I thought it was something I did but I didn't do anything to it. I managed to get drivers for the gpu before it broke, but I used ddu to uninstall them with my gpu from my old pc. 

[samcool55]

27 minutes ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Thanks, I read on some other thread that the psu might get "broken" somehow by not being plugged in for so long, is that true?, or is that just pure bs?

 

Umm, never heard that one before.

There is no reason why a PSU would suddenly die after not using it for a long time.

[Stormseeker9]

6 minutes ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Yes, I used Paypal and the reason I didn't tell the seller that it was broken was because it worked for a bit and then it broke, I did not do anything wrong to it, was using it normally and it was displaying some artifacts when I booted the pc up after about 3 weeks. I thought it was something I did but I didn't do anything to it. I managed to get drivers for the gpu before it broke, but I used ddu to uninstall them with my gpu from my old pc. 

Yeah you can still claim under PayPal to be fair. Just tel ‘m within 3 weeks it suddenly didn’t work anymore and it was displaying artifacts too. Or something along these lines 

[FALC0N]

I have had systems that went 20 years between powerups. 

[Kilrah]

26 minutes ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Thanks, I read on some other thread that the psu might get "broken" somehow by not being plugged in for so long, is that true?, or is that just pure bs?

 

Total BS. Some components can age and go bad with time whether used or not, but they'll always go bad quicker when used.

[STARTERPCBUIDLER]

5 minutes ago, samcool55 said:

Umm, never heard that one before.

There is no reason why a PSU would suddenly die after not using it for a long time.

 

2 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

Total BS. Some components can age and go bad with time whether used or not, but they'll always go bad quicker when used.

 

3 minutes ago, FALC0N said:

I have had systems that went 20 years between powerups. 

 

5 minutes ago, Stormseeker9 said:

Yeah you can still claim under PayPal to be fair. Just tel ‘m within 3 weeks it suddenly didn’t work anymore and it was displaying artifacts too. Or something along these lines 

Thanks, I will take all of you guys's advice thanks alot.

[Kilrah]

This guy was off for 18 years and 3 months until I got it  CMOS battery was dead, but fired right up once that was replaced. Only other issue was rotten belt in the floppy drive that needed replacing.

 

[Dedayog]

51 minutes ago, STARTERPCBUIDLER said:

Thanks, I read on some other thread that the psu might get "broken" somehow by not being plugged in for so long, is that true?, or is that just pure bs?

 

Where did you read that?  Please for the love of all that is holy... link where you read that.

 

Stop overthinking.  You probably have items in your house that have been off and unplugged for years and work fine if you plug them in.