Age-related deterioration of unused components

[Ambular]

Hi all, I'm curious about the shelf life of new-in-the-box computer gear.

I know that used components can eventually fail due to blown capacitors and such, and I assume that even brand-new components that are stowed away for long enough would develop problems at some point. But daily wear and tear aside, I'm curious whether there are parts of unused gear that age at the same rate as used gear of the same vintage, and also as to whether an older unused item could be expected to fail faster than a recently-manufactured item of the same type if they were both put into service at the same time.

(For the record, I ask because I favor a couple of older keyboard and mouse models that are now long out of production, and keep a few stashed away so when the current specimens fail, I won't have to hunt for suitable replacements. Haven't noticed any problems so far...)

Thanks in advance for any insight!

(ETA: Apologies if this should have been put in the peripherals section, but it would be useful to know the same thing about internal components, too.)

 

[lodders]

2 comments..
Heat and voltage kill electronic components, so they should last ages on the shelf .
However, I think you worry unnecessarily.. my son is gaming right now on an 8 year old PC which has been running a fairly big overclock since the year 2011. The keyboard is from the computer he had before that!

 

[greens]

Rubber and plastic for sure have a lifespan.
They become discolored, crack, etc, but you knew that.

The silicon chips are in a solid state and sealed. There is no oxidization or corrosion to occur.
PCB is basically glass with copper inlay, again sealed and solid.
Tin solder i think is the most vulnerable to age, but even that doesn't really corrode or oxidize.

I think we are talking about insane amounts of time for these things to break down.

 

[greens]

2 comments..
Heat and voltage kill electronic components, so they should last ages on the shelf .
However, I think you worry unnecessarily.. my son is gaming right now on an 8 year old PC which has been running a fairly big overclock since the year 2011. The keyboard is from the computer he had before that!

In general, use does not kill electronic components. Think of a wire in use, the copper "loses" an electron, but it also gains one in the very instant. The end result? The copper has undergone no change.

Heat for sure, and even the electromagnetism caused by current, but the current itself? - Harmless on a molecular level.

 

[lodders]

2 comments..
Heat and voltage kill electronic components, so they should last ages on the shelf .
However, I think you worry unnecessarily.. my son is gaming right now on an 8 year old PC which has been running a fairly big overclock since the year 2011. The keyboard is from the computer he had before that!

In general, use does not kill electronic components. Think of a wire in use, the copper "loses" an electron, but it also gains one in the very instant. The end result? The copper has undergone no change.

Heat for sure, and even the electromagnetism caused by current, but the current itself? - Harmless on a molecular level.

Voltage doesn't do any damage to wires, but it does cause problems, especially to switches and capacitors, even at low temperature.