[SOLVED] Component risks for long term PC storage?

[dirk101]

I have a 6 year old PC that I'm replacing with a modern build. I want to wipe all data from it, give it a final dust clean, and store it in the case's original packaging, to be used as-is at a point in the far future. I'll be storing it indoors in my appartment, in a closet that's around 18-28 Celsius, low to moderate humidity, throughout the year.

Are there any best practices for storing a PC long term? And aside from atmosferic conditions, are there any specific risks that I should be aware of with long term storage? I haven't been able to find any relevant articles or videos on the subject.

For example, how does thermal paste behave when at room temperature for more than a year, and is it better to wipe it off and reapply when needed?

 

[USAFRet]

Cool and dry. That's about all that is needed.

Define "far future". It is already 6 years old (2015).
What might you be using it for at that far off date.

 

[Karadjgne]

Capacitors suffer from degradation, same as a battery left unused for several years will eventually completely become trash. So shelf-life is always an iffy thing, a lot being determined by the amount of damages done prior, the quality of the individual component and circuitry etc. The pc could last 3 months or 10 years, nobody has any difinitive answer.

Long term storage components differ. Like in hdds, grease can dry out, plastics deteriorate, with SSDs there's power loss and corruption possible in as little as 2 weeks, or more than a year, depending on wierd things such as temps of the ssd at the time of storage and shutdown.

So you'll really find no videos on the subject, nobody will be willing to video the clean, Pick it up in 6months-year to see if it still works etc. And even then, the range of possibilities is infinite, does it not only work, does it have the exact same performance, did it suffer any amount of damages that can't be measured (lifespans on motherboard caps or cpus etc).

As USAFret said, cool n dry is about all you can do, and hope for the best, there's far, far too many total factors to give an honest yeay or nay or even a solid best educated/uneducated guess.

 

[dirk101]

Thank you both, it's as much as I expected. I have to say, even though I rarely come through here, the quality of people and knowledge on this forum each time I post should set an internet standard.

Define "far future". It is already 6 years old (2015).
What might you be using it for at that far off date.

2 to 5 years from now. For internet browsing, 1080p video, a SNES emulator at most.

So you'll really find no videos on the subject, nobody will be willing to video the clean, Pick it up in 6months-year to see if it still works etc. And even then, the range of possibilities is infinite, does it not only work, does it have the exact same performance, did it suffer any amount of damages that can't be measured (lifespans on motherboard caps or cpus etc).

Just to clarify, by "video" I meant someone talking theory, such as the fine points you made.

 

[USAFRet]

2 to 5 years from now. For internet browsing, 1080p video, a SNES emulator at most.

A current 6 year old system, fast forward 5 years....
So 11 years old.

But...stash it away, cool and dry.
Either it works or it does not.

I have a couple of laptops from a previous job, from last century. 1998 or so.
Have been sitting on the shelf in the garage for many years.
I expect that if I were to pull them out, they world work.

Performance, however...HAHAHAHA

 

[geofelt]

Your expectations for a functioning pc after 6 years should be high.
If it turns out that the cooler paste no longer works, that is a simple maintenance issue.

You might keep a pack of dessicant nearby to lower air moisture.
Also, store the pc so that most of the fans are horizontal and less likely to warp.

 

[dirk101]

Performance, however...HAHAHAHA

Are you referring to performance with current OS and software? As a parallel to my own plan with my system, I'd imagine that if you used them with Win98, they'd have around the same performance as they did when they were made, and you could even maybe run the first Tomb Raider haha .

You might keep a pack of dessicant nearby to lower air moisture.
Also, store the pc so that most of the fans are horizontal and less likely to warp.

Much appreciated.

 

[USAFRet]

Are you referring to performance with current OS and software? As a parallel to my own plan with my system, I'd imagine that if you used them with Win98, they'd have around the same performance as they did when they were made, and you could even maybe run the first Tomb Raider haha .

No, performance with their existing OS. I believe Win2000.

Couldn't install a current OS even if I wanted to. a 2GB drive does not go far.
We often forget how slow things were.

 

[dorsai]

I would dis-mount the CPU cooler to keep the thermal paste from turning to concrete and store all components in an air tight bin with silica gel descendant if you have it. I have an old slot A Althon cpu and board that have been in storage for 20 years now that I fired up a couple years back and everything was fine. Probably a bit of luck there, but storing things properly goes a long way towards keeping them working.

 

[InvalidError]

The only thing of particular importance besides keeping it in a cool and relatively dry place would be to remove the RTC battery since it may leak and corrode the board after several years.

 

[Paperdoc]

Geofelt said, "You might keep a pack of dessicant nearby to lower air moisture."

This needs a bit more. Any desiccant has a very limited capacity to absorb moisture, and then it becomes useless. There are many with higher capacities, but virtually all like that can become hazardous sloppy messes that are corrosive pastes, so we can forget those. Silica Gel is very safe - stays dry and harmless - and can make the air very dry. BUT it has very small moisture capacity, so it can only be used in a closed chamber - maybe a heavy-weight tightly-sealed plastic bag. That way it can dry the trapped air and not have to deal with more moisture from fresh air. Also, use a lot - those little paper packets about 1½" square are REALLY small and of little real use. For something as big as a computer you;ll need a large bag. Then try to find a big bunch of Silica Gel - a couple of cups at least. It's normally in beads, so you can put some into small jars with perforated lids and place those inside the bag. Hint: Silica Gel can be re-energized and usually should be even though you cannot tell from looking whether it is already saturated. Simply bake it slowly in a modest oven - 225F should be good - for several hours, then cool and install in the bag as quickly as possible. Squish out of the bag as much air as you can to minimize what needs to be dried, then seal securely. (One way to evacuate air from a big bag is to suck it out with a vacuum cleaner, then close the end.)

 

[InvalidError]

Any desiccant has a very limited capacity to absorb moisture, and then it becomes useless.

I wouldn't obsess too much over that. My old computers are on open shelves in a corner of my bedroom and have no sign of rust after 20+ years for the oldest of the bunch. As long as relative humidity is low enough for metal parts to stay dry, it shouldn't be an issue.

My next concern after the battery would be belts in things like optical drives taking permanent bends around their pulley and requiring external help to get moving and HDD bearings getting stuck. On my oldest legacy PC, I had to gently tap the HDD's side with a screwdriver to break the spindle bearing loose after sitting unused for 5+ years.

 

[Karadjgne]

Could use a jar of 'Damp Rid', just place it in the bottom of the pc. Check it after several months. It'll let you know the relative humidity inside the pc and has ample capacity as well as being self contained. It'd probably last several years in an air-conditioned room, open air maybe 2-3 months.

 

[dirk101]

Useful knowledge all around, and more detailed than I could have hoped for. Thank you to everyone who contributed their two cents.