Replace battery?

[Craig234]

I'm making a PC with a motherboard over a year old. Is it worth replacing the battery now so it'll last longer if over a year has been used, or did it not wear since it wasn't powered up?

 

[PottedMeat]

a year old? i wouldn't worry about it. if you've got a 2032 in arms reach and it gives you peace of mind - maybe the battery is in a weird difficult to access spot, knock yourself out. i've got a bunch of older computers (4+ years old) and can't remember the last time i had a cmos battery error.

 

[Billb2]

CMOS batteries are good for 10 years, so you got nine left....

 

[Elixer]

CMOS batteries are good for 10 years, so you got nine left....

Well, that depends, I have seen them fail in a year.
It all depends on brand you get, and if it is "fresh", or has been sitting on the shelf/warehouse for years.
Fire up the multimeter, and check the voltage is the only way to tell if it needs replacement.

 

[unseenmorbidity]

I don't think I have ever replaced a CMOS battery.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've replaced batteries, but generally, they last at least five years, unless the mobo shipped with an out-of-date / dodgy battery (more common on ultra-budget mobos, that may source cheaper components like batteries).

Also, they don't draw from the battery, as I understand it, as long as +5Vsb is applied to the board, from the PSU. So as long as your PC is plugged in, it's not draining the CMOS battery.

It's far more likely that you would need to replace a CMOS battery, if the mobo was left un-powered for several years. Even then, it's somewhat rare.