Server motherboard teardown

Multi-socket · 330 × 244 mm · 1.5–3 kg

Era read: Thick multilayer laminate, dense small ICs, metal sockets. Count laminate lines at a cut edge — more layers means more grade.

Where the value sits

CPU socket 1

High-pin-count LGA — 1366, 2011, 3647 run to 4,000+ gold contacts.

CPU socket 2

Second socket. Server LGAs are the richest sockets in the trade.

DIMM bank A

Often 8–12 slots. ECC RDIMM is worth $12–45 a stick tested.

DIMM bank B

Same again. Test before scrapping.

PCIe risers

Gold card-edge sockets, often several.

BMC & NICs

Management controller and onboard network — dense gold-corner BGAs.

Backplane connectors

High-density gold press-fit or mezzanine connectors. Cut these off — top-paying fraction.

Strip order

Value first, hazards first, heat last.

1. Pull both CPUs Socket lever

   Server Xeons run $10–150 tested. Never scrap one that identifies. Modern lidded CPU (LGA775+, Core i, Ryzen) →

2. Pull all RAM Slot clips

   ECC/RDIMM sticks are the single best resale on this board. Gold-fingered RAM →

3. Pull risers, NICs and HBAs Screwdriver

   Working X520/X710, HBAs and RAID cards are $20–80 each. Peripheral & network cards →

4. Cut the backplane connectors Heat gun / shear400–500 °C

   Quote on the trimmed connector fraction, never the panel weight. Gold-plated connectors →

5. Pull both sockets Hot air350–400 °C

   High-pin-count server LGAs carry the most contact area of any socket. CPU socket (ZIF PGA / LGA) →

6. Harvest gold BGAs and ceramics Hot air + preheat380–420 °C

   Server boards are the most likely consumer-reachable source of ceramic packages. BGA with gold tab / gold-corner BGA →

7. Sell the bare board —

   Still high grade after harvesting, but sellers quote the pre-harvest grade — be honest about what you pulled. Server motherboards →

Other board types →