The second-hand market is usually the ideal option when trying to find cheaper hardware. However, buying used components can also bring unpleasant surprises. Just ask one user who was left unable to play any Riot Games title after buying a Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
The case came to light on Reddit, where a user shared his experience after buying a second-hand Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Although the processor worked perfectly in terms of performance and temperatures, the real problem appeared when he tried to launch Valorant. Without really knowing why, the game immediately kicked him out as soon as he started a match.
Used Ryzen 7 5800X3D Gets New Owner Banned From Riot Games
Confused by the situation, since the game had worked without any problems with his previous CPU, he decided to contact Riot Games support. The company’s response was surprising, to say the least. The serial number and identifier of that CPU were included on the blacklist of the Vanguard anti-cheat system. The processor had received a hardware ban (HWID ban) in mid-August, weeks before this user bought it, because the original owner had used cheats in the game.
But the problem did not end there. Far from being an isolated ban, Riot’s security system works by linking the components connected to the offending device. After installing the banned processor in his PC and trying to play, Vanguard ended up adding the rest of his PC components to its blacklist, including the motherboard and storage drives. After he continued contacting technical support, the company confirmed that it would not remove the ban under any circumstances.
This case serves as a warning for those who buy second-hand parts intended for competitive games with kernel-level protection systems such as Vanguard. If the seller was punished for cheating, the hardware inherits that punishment, turning what seemed like a bargain into a real headache that can leave you unable to play your favorite games for life.
