A German Valorant player says a used AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D was followed by an HWID restriction that blocked access to the game. The account, reported by Cybernews, raises a real question for second-hand PC buyers—but it does not prove that used processors generally carry bans, or that Riot independently confirmed the details of this individual case.
What happened in the reported case?
Cybernews reported on October 2, 2026, that a player in Germany encountered a hardware ID (HWID) restriction after buying a used Ryzen 7 5800X3D. In a post translated by Cybernews, the buyer wrote, “I recently bought a used Ryzen 7 5800X3D on classifieds,” and said Valorant kicked them out after they had previously played successfully with a different CPU. Cybernews’s report attributes to the buyer the claim that Riot support said the processor was on Vanguard’s block list because its previous owner had cheated. The buyer also reportedly said a motherboard and hard drive were flagged.
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Those details are the buyer’s account as relayed by the publication, not a published confirmation from Riot about this particular computer or its components. Cybernews said it had asked Riot for comment and would add a response; the report does not establish an independent Riot confirmation of the case. It also does not show that used CPUs commonly cause restrictions or how often buyers encounter an inherited ban.
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The reported incident suggests a used component may be implicated in a particular HWID restriction, but it is not enough to conclude that a used CPU by itself carries a Valorant ban. Riot’s guidance describes an HWID ban as a restriction associated with physical computer components, rather than an ordinary account-only ban. The report does not independently establish which component or components triggered this player’s restriction.
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Riot describes an HWID ban as “a drastic step” against players who consistently fail to follow its Community Pact or terms of service. Its support article says the restriction means Riot does not want that person creating, accessing, or using an account on a Riot platform or game for the ban’s duration. The official explanation concerns Riot’s enforcement action; it does not verify the reported buyer’s account of how a second-hand PC component became associated with a restriction. Riot Games Support: Understanding Hardware ID (HWID) Bans (published May 31, 2026).
What does Riot say an HWID ban does?
Riot says VAN 152 is the error shown when an HWID ban restricts game access. The restriction applies to the physical computer, and Riot warns that using another account on a suspected banned machine may lead to restrictions on that account too. Reinstalling Valorant or deleting the account associated with the ban does not remove the HWID restriction, according to Riot’s guidance.
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How do I appeal a Riot HWID ban?
Riot’s published route is to submit a support request for re-evaluation when the ban is associated with negative in-game behavior or suspected cheating. Riot says it investigates and decides whether to lift or extend the ban; a lift is possible, but not guaranteed. Its article says it generally will not consider lifting an HWID ban for a verifiable threat of harm, except in unique circumstances at its discretion.
- Open Riot Games Support’s Understanding Hardware ID (HWID) Bans page and follow its support-request route.
- Explain that you are seeking re-evaluation, describe the restriction and when it appeared, and provide the information requested by Riot. If the restriction followed a second-hand hardware purchase, state that as context without presenting the reported case as proof of what happened to your own PC.
- Wait for Riot’s investigation and decision. The published guidance does not guarantee that an appeal will succeed.
Should you replace the CPU, motherboard, or drive?
The reported buyer said a motherboard and hard drive were flagged, but neither Cybernews’s account nor Riot’s cited guidance establishes that replacing any component restores access. A replacement part should not be treated as a proven fix, and it could add cost without resolving the restriction. Riot’s documented option is support re-evaluation.
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Do not try another account on the suspected banned machine: Riot warns that account access on such a device can lead to restrictions on that account. Cybernews also described bypass devices as a suggestion from Reddit users, not as a safe or Riot-endorsed remedy. The cited sources do not establish that such devices work or that they preserve a player’s ability to appeal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What buyers of used PC parts should take from the report
This is a caution about one reported case, not evidence that second-hand processors routinely bring bans with them. The available sources provide no verified rate for inherited HWID restrictions, no verified appeal-success figure, and no confirmed duration for the restriction in this case. For someone who encounters an HWID error after installing used hardware, Riot support—not assumptions based on this single report—is the source for the individual decision and documented re-evaluation process.
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