Board B Grade (medium value board) buying scrap price

Introduction, Construction, Components, and Recycling Value

This grade-based approach is important in professional circuit-board recycling. A recycler does not determine value only by reading a model number or identifying the original retail price of the equipment. Instead, the board is inspected according to its physical construction, CPU socket design, integrated-circuit density, connector type, recoverable metal content, completeness, cleanliness, and overall processing characteristics.

Typical Ohata B Grade products include:

• Low-grade telecommunications boards

• Metal multi-socket server motherboards

• Plastic multi-socket server motherboards

• Higher-grade peripheral and interface boards

• Desktop motherboards using selected non-metal plastic CPU sockets

• Non-Apple laptop motherboards with one qualifying gold-tab BGA area

• Expansion cards without a qualifying gold-tab BGA and without an iron bracket

• Xbox and Sega Saturn family game-machine boards

• Boards with qualifying plastic connector ends

These products contain recoverable materials and useful electronic components, but their overall precious-metal concentration is normally lower than that of A Grade, A+ Grade, S Grade, or SS Grade circuit boards. They may have fewer high-value BGA packages, less extensive gold plating, smaller gold-contact areas, lower semiconductor coverage, or simpler multilayer construction.

Nevertheless, B Grade boards remain commercially important. Large quantities can provide meaningful recovery of copper, gold, silver, palladium, nickel, tin, and other industrial materials. Their value is created not by one visible component but by the combined recoverable content of the entire board.

General Construction

Most B Grade circuit boards are built on rigid multilayer FR-4 material. FR-4 is a glass-fibre-reinforced epoxy laminate commonly used in computer, server, telecommunications, peripheral, and consumer-electronics applications. Conductive copper traces and power planes are embedded between the laminate layers, while electronic components are mounted on one or both external surfaces.

Depending on the application, a B Grade board may include:

• Plastic or metal CPU sockets

• Soldered BGA processors or controller chips

• Memory sockets

• Chipset packages

• Voltage-regulation circuits

• Power connectors

• Peripheral expansion slots

• Network and communication controllers

• Audio and video processors

• Plastic edge connectors

• Gold-plated contact points

• Capacitors, resistors, inductors, and transformers

• Input/output ports

• Soldered shielding and small metal structures

The component layout may be less dense than that of premium telecommunications or industrial-control boards. Large areas of exposed PCB may be visible between components. Gold fingers may be absent, shortened, lightly plated, or limited to selected connectors. Some boards may rely more heavily on plastic connectors and standard commercial components than on high-value ceramic processors or densely populated semiconductor packages.

CPU Socket Characteristics

The CPU socket is an important identification feature, but it must be considered together with the entire board.

Selected legacy desktop motherboards using non-metal plastic Socket 1, Socket 3, Socket 5, or Socket 8 designs may qualify as B Grade under the Ohata system. These sockets are generally associated with older computer platforms and are visually different from modern metal-covered LGA sockets.

B Grade may also include qualifying multi-socket server motherboards. Some use plastic processor sockets, while others use metal retention structures. However, the presence of two sockets alone does not automatically establish the grade. Socket size, processor package type, board density, application, connector quality, and recoverable component coverage must also be inspected.

Large multi-socket PGA server boards with premium construction may qualify for A+ Grade instead. Large single-socket server boards may fall under A Grade. Modern low-density consumer motherboards with metal CPU sockets may be assigned to D Grade. Therefore, socket count must never be used as the only grading rule.

Recycling Value

The recycling value of B Grade material comes primarily from its copper-bearing PCB structure and its distributed precious-metal content.

Copper is generally the largest recoverable metal by weight. It is found in internal circuit layers, power planes, grounding layers, traces, inductors, transformers, connector structures, and voltage-regulation sections.

Gold may be present in CPU socket contacts, memory-slot contacts, edge connectors, communication ports, plated pins, contact pads, and microscopic bonding wires inside certain integrated circuits. However, B Grade boards usually contain less gold-bearing surface area than higher grades.

Silver may be found in solder alloys, contacts, switches, and selected component materials. Palladium may be present in some multilayer ceramic capacitors and other specialised components. Nickel is commonly used as an underlying plating or barrier layer beneath gold and other finishes. Tin is found extensively in solder and terminal coatings.

No single B Grade board should be valued only by the appearance of one gold-coloured connector. Professional grading considers the board as a complete recycling unit.

Ohata B Grade Classification and Identification Guide

The Ohata classification process focuses on material characteristics rather than exact model identity. A board does not need to match a specific reference photograph perfectly. It must instead display the construction, component density, socket design, product application, and recoverable-material profile expected of B Grade material.

1. Low-Grade Telecommunications Boards

Lower-grade telecommunications boards may contain network processors, communication controllers, transformers, relays, ports, and multiple plastic connectors. They are less densely populated than premium switching, optical-transmission, cellular-base-station, or enterprise-network boards.

A telecommunications board should not automatically be classified as B Grade merely because it came from telecom equipment. High-density switching boards may qualify for SS or A+ Grade, while simple power, fan, or connector boards may fall below B Grade.

2. Metal Multi-Socket Server Motherboards

Some multi-processor server motherboards with metal socket assemblies are accepted as B Grade. These boards may include multiple memory banks, server-control chips, expansion slots, power-management circuits, and enterprise connectors.

The board must still be assessed for overall density and socket type. A premium, large-format multi-PGA server board with strong semiconductor coverage may qualify for A+ Grade. A lower-density board using metal retention sockets and more ordinary commercial construction may remain B Grade.

3. Plastic Multi-Socket Server Motherboards

Legacy server and workstation boards with two or more plastic CPU sockets are representative B Grade materials when their overall design matches the medium-value profile. These boards may contain multiple memory sockets, chipset packages, voltage-regulation modules, and long peripheral slots.

Plastic socket construction alone does not guarantee B Grade. The sockets must be part of a genuine populated motherboard, and the board must retain its original major components.

4. Selected Plastic-Socket Desktop Motherboards

Legacy desktop motherboards with qualifying non-metal plastic Socket 1, 3, 5, or 8 designs may be classified as B Grade. These boards often include ISA, PCI, VLB, or other older expansion systems, along with removable processors, memory sockets, chipset packages, and numerous through-hole components.

Different legacy socket numbers may be assigned to different grades under the Ohata system. Therefore, graders must identify the actual socket design rather than treating every white or beige plastic socket as equivalent.

5. Non-Apple Laptop Motherboards with One Gold-Tab BGA

A qualifying non-Apple laptop motherboard with one recognised gold-tab BGA area may fall within B Grade. These boards commonly contain soldered processors, chipsets, graphics controllers, memory interfaces, storage connectors, and dense low-profile components.

The motherboard must not be confused with an Apple logic board, which may fall into A+ Grade. A non-Apple laptop board with two qualifying gold-tab BGA areas may qualify for A Grade, while one without the required gold-tab feature may be classified as D Grade.

6. Peripheral and Expansion Boards

Certain higher-grade peripheral boards may qualify for B Grade when they contain useful controller ICs, copper-rich construction, quality connectors, and meaningful component coverage.

PC expansion cards without a qualifying gold-tab BGA may also be accepted as B Grade when the iron mounting bracket has been removed. Cards with premium gold-tab BGA packages may qualify for A Grade, while low-density cards, heavily stripped cards, or cards carrying oversized cooling assemblies may receive a lower classification.

7. Xbox and Sega Saturn Boards

Xbox and Sega Saturn family game-machine motherboards are specifically recognised B Grade examples. These boards typically use soldered processors, graphics chips, memory devices, power-management components, controller interfaces, and plastic connectors rather than large removable CPU sockets.

Other game-console boards should not automatically receive the same grade. Their construction varies significantly by generation. Some may have lower semiconductor coverage, fewer recoverable contacts, or extensive cooling hardware and may therefore receive another classification.

8. Plastic Connector-End Boards

Boards with qualifying plastic connector ends may be accepted as B Grade when the remaining circuit-board section contains sufficient electronic components and recoverable material. A small connector strip with minimal circuitry should not automatically be treated as B Grade.

Grade-Based Pricing Principle

All qualifying boards are paid according to the B Grade category, not according to brand reputation or original retail value. An IBM server board, an older desktop motherboard, a telecommunications interface board, and an Xbox motherboard may look completely different, but they may receive the same B Grade rate when they satisfy the same recovery standard.

Conversely, two boards carrying the same brand or product family may receive different grades when their sockets, IC coverage, completeness, contamination, or attached materials differ.

The previously supplied market-trend reference of USD 4.90 per pound should be treated as an indicative category reference rather than a permanent guaranteed price. Actual purchasing rates may change with commodity markets, downstream refining costs, shipment condition, quantity, location, and inspection results.

Recoverable Materials, Buying Standards, and Handling

Recoverable Materials

B Grade circuit boards may contain:

Copper: Internal PCB layers, traces, coils, inductors, transformers, grounding planes, power circuits, and connector bodies.

Gold: CPU contacts, memory contacts, edge contacts, selected connector pins, plated pads, and microscopic IC bonding wires.

Silver: Solder, switches, contacts, relays, and selected component structures.

Palladium: Certain multilayer ceramic capacitors and specialised electronic components.

Nickel: Connector plating, component leads, socket structures, and the barrier layer beneath gold finishes.

Tin: Solder joints, terminal coatings, and plated component leads.

Aluminium and steel: Heatsinks, shielding, brackets, socket retainers, and mechanical structures. These materials are recyclable but may reduce the net circuit-board value when excessive attachments remain.

Buying Standards

Boards should be delivered complete, reasonably clean, and recognisable. Major chipset ICs, soldered processors, BGA packages, memory interfaces, connectors, and valuable contact sections should remain attached.

The following conditions may cause rejection or downgrading:

• Empty or heavily stripped PCB boards

• Removed chipset ICs

• Removed soldered CPU or GPU packages

• Missing high-value connector sections

• Broken, crushed, or fragmented boards

• Severe fire damage or extensive carbonisation

• Heavy mud, oil, dirt, or mixed debris

• Hazardous chemical or biological contamination

• Excessive batteries, steel covers, fans, or heavy heatsinks

• Mixed lower-grade appliance boards

• Unsorted loads containing several different grades

• Moisture or packaging that artificially increases weight

A board does not need to function electrically. Non-working boards may still be accepted because the purchase value is based primarily on recoverable material rather than operational performance. However, physical completeness remains important.

Sorting and Handling

B Grade boards should be separated from A Grade, A+ Grade, C Grade, D Grade, and appliance-grade boards before delivery. Mixed material requires additional inspection and sorting time and may be downgraded or purchased according to the lowest significant grade present.

Remove loose steel brackets, oversized cooling assemblies, batteries, cables, plastic housings, and unrelated electronic waste when required. Do not damage the PCB or remove valuable soldered components during preparation.

Boards should be stored in a dry area and packed in strong boxes, bins, or pallet containers. Heavy server motherboards should be laid flat to reduce cracking. Laptop and expansion boards should be protected from bending. Different grades should be labelled clearly.

Comparison and Official Ohata Classification

B Grade occupies the middle section of the Ohata classification system.

Compared with A+ Grade, B Grade usually has lower IC density, fewer premium connectors, less extensive semiconductor coverage, and lower precious-metal concentration. A+ Grade commonly includes industrial-control boards, PLC CPU boards, CNC controllers, Apple logic boards, medical-control boards, high-density telecom boards, and premium large multi-socket PGA server boards.

Compared with A Grade, B Grade generally has fewer qualifying gold-bearing BGA packages, less valuable gold-finger coverage, smaller or less valuable processor arrangements, and lower overall component density. A Grade may include clean gold-finger cards, non-Apple laptop boards with two gold-tab BGA areas, large single-socket server motherboards, and higher-value backplane or optical-drive boards.

Compared with C Grade, B Grade generally provides stronger component coverage, more valuable socket or connector construction, and a better recoverable-material profile. C Grade may include trimmed gold-finger cards, cards with fans or heatsinks attached, and desktop motherboards using socket categories assigned below the qualifying B Grade socket group.

Compared with D Grade, B Grade normally has more favourable legacy construction, stronger connector value, better component coverage, or a recognised product application such as qualifying server, telecom, laptop, peripheral, or game-console equipment. D Grade commonly includes modern low-density consumer motherboards, metal-socket desktop boards, lower-grade peripherals, and non-Apple laptop boards without qualifying gold-tab BGA features.

Official Classification Statement

Under the Ohata Board Scrap Classification System, a circuit board may be officially assigned to:

Ohata B Grade Board Scrap

when its product application, CPU socket construction, component density, connector design, semiconductor coverage, recoverable-metal profile, completeness, and physical condition collectively satisfy the B Grade standard.

This classification applies to all qualifying boards regardless of their specific manufacturer or model. The purpose of the grade is to establish a consistent recycling category based on expected recoverable value and processing requirements.

A product name alone does not guarantee classification. Final grading must be completed through physical inspection. Missing components, contamination, fire damage, attached non-board materials, mixed-grade loading, or incorrect preparation may change the final purchase category.

When boards are complete, clean, correctly sorted, and consistent with the recognised B Grade examples, they are purchased at the applicable Ohata B Grade price. This ensures that different electronic products with comparable recovery characteristics are evaluated fairly under one transparent and repeatable standard.

View more Ohata's circuit board recycling classifications

Board SS Grade (high-end computer Board)

Board S Grade (high-end computer Board)

Board A+ Grade (high-end computer Board)

Board A Grade (high-end computer Board)

Board B Grade (high-end computer Board)

Board C Grade (high-end computer Board)

Board D Grade (high-end computer Board)