how much gold is in our average motherboard

[Frick]

The videos I saw although couple yrs ago, the guy had boxes of old motherboards & related expansion boards. Just placed them in the container with the chemicals & the rest was a waiting game.

Filthy business that.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Filthy business that.

Not if done properly.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Here's a pretty decent video, at least I think it gives the actual realistic of what the process it.

Look at all the crap and equipment you have to obtain first. Then remember this isn't exactly safe which is clearly pointed out at the start of the video.

It's just too much BS. You can buy crap gold flake online, then post a pic here and say you stripped it for memes. Haha. I'm kidding. But if you have the time... and money to throw at it, I suppose you could bottle up gold flake and ebay it for cash. How much to sell to bring a profit is my issue with it all. Many hours. Is your time worth money? Spend it wiser.

 

[Frick]

Not if done properly.

It can be done safely, but it's always going to be filthy to some degree.

 

[P4-630]

Also depends on the motherboard, a high end more probably...

 

[Veseleil]

It might be more profitable to desolder everything, classify, sort, and put on the ebay. But the time man, some may say it's utterly wasted doing this.

 

[P4-630]

Better get in the catalytic converter recycling business....

 

[damric]

I have meth-heads that live nearby that seemingly go to any extent to extract copper for recycling. I should tell them about the gold and watch what they do for fun.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I don't think there is much gold on motherboards at all. As mentioned above, probably more silver. Processors, however, have some - still not much.

FWIW, a few years ago I decided to clean out my basement storeroom of old electronics. I took everything out to a nearby electronics recycling center and they paid me $80 for the scrap value. If interested, I told this story here: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/anyone-here-a-collector.298288/post-4822977

 

[ShrimpBrime]

I don't think there is much gold on motherboards at all. As mentioned above, probably more silver. Processors, however, have some - still not much.

FWIW, a few years ago I decided to clean out my basement storeroom of old electronics. I took everything out to a nearby electronics recycling center and they paid me $80 for the scrap value. If interested, I told this story here: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/anyone-here-a-collector.298288/post-4822977

I do not have permission to view this page.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I do not have permission to view this page.

Really? I don't know why - I don't have any special permissions or access here. The link does work, I just tried it again. And I tried it with a different browser too. I had to log in to TPU with the second browser to view, but I was able to view it.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Really? I don't know why - I don't have any special permissions or access here. The link does work, I just tried it again. And I tried it with a different browser too. I had to log in to TPU with the second browser to view, but I was able to view it.

Not sure. I'm on my phone (as usual) so perhaps I need a desktop. (Not sure why that would be)

 

[Veseleil]

Because Lounge section of the forum has its own rules:

 

[Bill_Bright]

Because Lounge section of the forum has its own rules:

Ah! Must be at least 3 months explains it. Thanks @Veseleil .

@ShrimpBrime - I'll send you a PM with a copy of that post.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Ah! Must be at least 3 months explains it. Thanks @Veseleil .

@ShrimpBrime - I'll send you a PM with a copy of that post.

Thanks, I'm in for a good read.

Because Lounge section of the forum has its own rules:

View attachment 329278

Redirect Notice

That's supposed to be Wanes world "We're not worthy!" When they meet Alice Cooper. Lol

 

[Bill_Bright]

BTW, if anyone has any old CRT monitors or TVs to recycle, note the recycling center may not take them, or you may have to pay them to take them.

I had 6 old CRT monitors and they wanted me to pay them $10 each to take them. This is because there is one tiny drop of mercury inside the tubes. Mercury is very hazardous to people and wildlife (assuming there's a difference!) so it has specific handling requirements required by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

But worse, because CRTs are vacuum tubes, the tubes must be popped open to remove the mercury. But worse yet, extreme care must be taken to pop open the tube or there is the risk of a very strong "implosion" and a resulting "explosion" hurling shards of very sharp glass across the room! That can ruin someone's day.

So, because of the EPA mercury handling requirements, and the special care (and trained personnel) needed to safely extract it, it costs more to recycle CRTs than their recycling value.

I ended up bringing the monitors back home. I went inside and printed out a "FREE" sign, taped it to a monitor and put it out by the curb. I was lugging the 3rd one out when a guy came by and was loading up the first into his truck! He took the remaining five. I don't know his plans, I didn't ask. I was just glad I was rid of them and can only hope he didn't toss them in a dumpster somewhere.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

BTW, if anyone has any old CRT monitors or TVs to recycle, note the recycling center may not take them, or you may have to pay them to take them.

I had 6 old CRT monitors and they wanted me to pay them $10 each to take them. This is because there is one tiny drop of mercury inside the tubes. Mercury is very hazardous to people and wildlife (assuming there's a difference!) so it has specific handling requirements required by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

But worse, because CRTs are vacuum tubes, the tubes must be popped open to remove the mercury. But worse yet, extreme care must be taken to pop open the tube or there is the risk of a very strong "implosion" and a resulting "explosion" hurling shards of very sharp glass across the room! That can ruin someone's day.

So, because of the EPA mercury handling requirements, and the special care (and trained personnel) needed to safely extract it, it costs more to recycle CRTs than their recycling value.

I ended up bringing the monitors back home. I went inside and printed out a "FREE" sign, taped it to a monitor and put it out by the curb. I was lugging the 3rd one out when a guy came by and was loading up the first into his truck! He took the remaining five. I don't know his plans, I didn't ask. I was just glad I was rid of them and can only hope he didn't toss them in a dumpster somewhere.

BestBuy will take the old CRT and tube TVs for recycle.

 

[R0H1T]

Let me also dissuade from a bunch of other stupid get rich quick schemes.

How about a part/small time pawnshop & full time cable/YT channel

 

[Bill_Bright]

BestBuy will take the old CRT and tube TVs for recycle.

Give them a call first. The one near me used to take my old UPS SLA batteries but last time to lugged a box out there, they turned me away saying they no longer recycle them. If you have a Batteries Plus store near you, they take them. Some car parts stores do too.

And BTW, that same Best Buy is now closed so make sure your local store still even exists before heading out there!

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Give them a call first. The one near me used to take my old UPS SLA batteries but last time to lugged a box out there, they turned me away saying they no longer recycle them. If you have a Batteries Plus store near you, they take them. Some car parts stores do too.

And BTW, that same Best Buy is now closed so make sure your local store still even exists before heading out there!

I haven't taken in a tube TV in probably 10 years, so this is perfect advice.

Should restate... They used to take....

haha, thanks!

 

[lexluthermiester]

It can be done safely, but it's always going to be filthy to some degree.

True. Proper training and handling methods can greatly minimize that.

 

[Ruru]

It gives me chills how much of valuable vintage hardware is destroyed just for scrapping that little amount of gold they have.

Personally I wouldn't even sacrifice my slowest Celeron D for that.

 

[xtreemchaos]

i cannot remember which cpu's they was but in the 80s early 90s they had solid gold pins. that info is about as good as a ice fire guard but i thought id mention it.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

i cannot remember which cpu's they was but in the 80s early 90s they had solid gold pins. that info is about as good as a ice fire guard but i thought id mention it.

 

[xtreemchaos]

older than them mate, i think those are just plated, i think the ones im on about are from amiga's that sorta timeline.