Buying used PC hardware can be a good way to save money, particularly when upgrading an older system. However, one Ryzen 7 5800X3D buyer has highlighted an unusual risk that most people probably wouldn’t think about when shopping for second-hand components: the hardware itself may have previously been banned by an anti-cheat system.

A German Reddit user claims they purchased a used AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D through the eBay-like platform Kleinanzeigen on September 21. There was nothing physically wrong with the processor, and the PC reportedly worked as expected after the upgrade. The problem only became evident when the buyer tried to launch Valorant with their new CPU installed.

Banned from Valorant with a used Ryzen X3D processor

According to the user, Valorant immediately kicked them out, despite working normally with their previous processor. After contacting Riot Games support, they were reportedly told that the CPU had been blacklisted by the company’s Vanguard anti-cheat system on August 12 because its previous owner had apparently cheated. That leaves the new owner dealing with the consequences of something that allegedly happened before they even purchased the processor.

The story gained attention online, eventually prompting a response from Riot’s head of anti-cheat, Phillip Koskinas. He clarified some important details about how Riot handles hardware bans, including the fact that they aren’t permanent.

According to Koskinas, Riot’s hardware bans last for a maximum of four months and only apply to the game where the cheating was detected. He also disputed the idea that Vanguard automatically blacklists every other component in a PC simply because one banned component is detected.

Based on the dates provided by the Ryzen 7 5800X3D buyer, the restriction should therefore expire around the middle of December. Riot support can also reportedly tell affected players how much time remains on a hardware ban.

Still, the incident highlights an unusual problem with buying used gaming hardware. While buyers can check a processor for physical damage, monitor its temperatures, and run benchmarks to make sure it performs correctly, there doesn’t appear to be a simple way to check whether that component is currently associated with a hardware ban before handing over the money.

It’s also unclear exactly how Vanguard identifies one Ryzen 7 5800X3D from another. Vanguard requires technologies including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, but Riot hasn’t publicly confirmed the exact method it uses to identify individual components for hardware restrictions.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.