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I bought an Intel CPU, but it seems it will take some time for the other components to arrive. My question is, if the CPU just stays in the box and is left unpowered, will it become unusable?

The CPU contains information such as instructions and microcode. Will the CPU's digital information become corrupted, rendering the CPU useless, if the CPU isn't powered for a long time?

In SSDs and HDDs, information becomes corrupted if the storage devices are left without power for an extended period of time. Are CPUs also like this?

onaquest64
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6 Answers6

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No, a CPU should be fine for many years if kept in appropriate conditions like the original packaging. Most of a CPU used an extremely advanced process analogous to printing - and which are then totally encased in a hard protective shell.

There may be some non volatile memory on the CPU - but this is pretty robust.

Journeyman Geek
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davidgo
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The only "volatile" information in an unpowered modern CPU is any MicroCode software that is loaded in the CPU as an update to the hardcoded instruction-set of the CPU.

(This MicroCode usually contains security fixes and error-corrections for problems that were discovered after the hardcoded instruction-set was finalized. Changing the hardcoded instruction-set requires a very costly re-design of the CPU, which usually isn't done.)

This MicroCode is preloaded in the factory or, when the CPU is actually in use, can also be loaded/updated by the BIOS/UEFI of the motherboard or the operating system.

Regardless of how the MicroCode (if any) was put in the CPU, it is stored in a special on-chip memory that will hold its content, without power, for at least several years, possibly a decade or more.

If this stored MicroCode would somehow get corrupted the CPU will detect this on startup (as part of its boot-time internal diagnostics) and will simply not use it, falling back purely on the hardcoded instructions set. And then the BIOS/UEFI or OS can re-install that MicroCode after the PC is booted up.

So, if effect, your concern, while valid, doesn't really cause any problem in practice.

Amazon Dies In Darkness
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Tonny
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The question doesn't mention the Intel CPU type, but the Intel datasheet should provide some guidance.

Taking the example of an Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2620 v3, the Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-1600, E5-2600, and E5-4600 v3 Product Families, Volume 1 of 2, Electrical Datasheet contains the following about Storage Condition Ratings: enter image description here

Where the Timesustained storage parameter has a maximum of 30 months with the CPU in an unopened bag.

Chester Gillon
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I had a Pentium 3 CPU disconnected and in a closet between 2006-2020, and it still booted fine :) that's 14 years disconnected.

hanshenrik
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Will the CPU become unusable if left without power for an extended period of time?

No. I have kept Integrated Circuits and at least one CPU with dense Anti Static foam on the Pins and left them for a very long time with no damage.

I think it is important to have the Anti Static material on the pins to prevent any inadvertent static electricity damage.

You can keep them like this with no power for very long periods ( at least 3 or 4 years).

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Answer Possibly yes, but you'd have to expose it to dangerous conditions.

  1. Be outside the atmosphere, where the silicon is exposed to solar radiation and radiation from the Van Allen belts
  2. Be near a nuclear explosion, releasing radiation directly or an Electromagnetic Pulse

The likelyhood of these situations is low, so not worth worrying about. You're more likely to suffer a flood or fire or theft.

Criggie
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