If I completely shut down a computer and not use it for months, how can it still tell the time accurately? (given that it isn’t immediately connected to the internet)

Question

If I completely shut down a computer and not use it for months, how can it still tell the time accurately? (given that it isn’t immediately connected to the internet)

In: Technology

Answer 1

CMOS battery on the motherboard that keeps the data on your BIOS chipset from losing power and resetting to factory defaults. Also there is a time keeping circuit that has a crystal inside it that is designed to oscillate at a specific frequency when specific voltage is applied to it. That is also how the CPU keep its timing as well. Without that crystal oscillator your whole system would be out of whack and nothing would work properly.