Many are 3V
CrazyB
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If you have to reset your clock (in bios or windows). as well as you bios settings, then I would agree with everyone. It should be the battery. It doesn't matter if the power is completely cut off or not. If the battery is good you should be able to unplug the PSU power cord and not loose bios or clock setting.
But if it's left plugged in with a bad battery, it will usually hold the time and settings, if you need it to.
True, if it is loosing settings while still plugged into a live power outlet, there could actually be several thing wrong. Your PSU could be going out. PSU's still supply power to the mobo even if the computer is shut off. This is for the porpose of retaining bios settings. You can get a PUS tested for about $10 and check it out. Also check you mobo's website and see if there is bios update available.
i would go for CMOS battery, take it to a watch shop, they should have one, there normally button batterys and voltage can vary, some are 1.4 and some 3v
Bad batteries can cause a lot of problems even if you have your computer plugged in all the time.