Gold Bottom CPU Mixed – Ceramic Processors with Gold Pins & Bottom Contacts for Precious Metal Recovery
Buy mixed gold bottom CPU scrap – ceramic processors featuring gold-plated pins and bottom-side gold contacts. Excellent for gold recovery, pin stripping, and precious metal refining. Contact us for bulk orders. Delivery by air, land & sea worldwide. Standard & express shipment available.
Our Gold Bottom CPU Mixed lot consists of assorted vintage ceramic processors where the primary gold content is located on the bottom side — typically dense arrays of gold-plated pins (PGA), gold-plated pads, or gold contact points. Unlike “gold top” CPUs where the lid is the main visual feature, gold bottom CPUs derive their precious metal value from the pins, substrate traces, and underside metallization.
These CPUs are highly valued by precious metal recyclers who specialize in pin stripping, chemical depopulation, or whole-chip refining. The gold bottom category includes many ceramic CPUs that may have nickel, tin, or bare copper lids but retain significant gold on the bottom pins and ceramic substrate.
What Does “Gold Bottom CPU Mixed” Include?
| CPU Type | Gold Bottom Feature | Gold Pins | Typical Gold Value | Lid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel 486 Ceramic (some models) | Gold PGA pins + bottom traces | Yes (168-238 pins) | High | Often nickel/tin |
| Intel Pentium (gold lid removed) | Remaining gold pins + ceramic traces | Yes (273-387 pins) | Moderate-High | Lid absent or damaged |
| AMD Ceramic (K5/K6/486) | Gold pins + gold bottom pads | Yes (296-387 pins) | High | Gold or nickel lid possible |
| Cyrix Ceramic (486/6×86) | Gold pins + substrate gold | Yes (168-296 pins) | Moderate-High | Varies |
| Motorola/Freescale Ceramic (68000 series) | Gold pins + bottom gold traces | Yes (various) | Moderate | Often none (bare ceramic top) |
| IBM Ceramic CPUs | Gold pins + gold pads | Yes | Moderate | Varies |
| IDT WinChip Ceramic | Gold pins (rare) | Yes (rare) | Moderate | Usually bare ceramic |
| NEC/V20/V30 Ceramic | Gold pins (some models) | Yes | Low-Moderate | Ceramic top |
| Gold-plated pin array (harvested) | Just pins (removed from CPU) | Yes (100% pins) | Very High per kg | N/A |
Gold-Bearing Components in Gold Bottom CPUs:
| Component | Gold Content | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold-plated pins (main value) | High (6-12% of pin weight is gold plating) | Dense pin arrays – excellent for pin stripping |
| Gold thick-film traces on ceramic (bottom side) | Moderate | Visible gold lines on underside |
| Gold-plated test points / fiducials | Low | Small gold squares or dots |
| Gold bonding wires (internal – requires full refining) | Very High | Only recovered if whole chip processed |
| Solder balls/traces (some older CPUs) | Low to Moderate | Tin-lead-gold alloys |
*Typical gold yield for mixed gold bottom CPUs: 0.5 – 1.5 grams per kilogram (depending on pin density and whether lids are already removed). Pin-only lots can yield 15-25 grams of gold per kilogram of pins.*
Key Applications:
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Pin stripping (chemical or electrolytic) – highest ROI for many recyclers
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CPU decapping and whole-chip aqua regia refining
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E-waste bulk processing (crushing/milling + chemical leach)
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Gold scrap investment (pins and contacts)
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Precious metal assaying and recovery research
Available Quantities:
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Sample lots: 500g – 2 kg (for testing yields)
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Wholesale cartons: 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg boxes
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Bulk pallets: 200 – 500 kg
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Container loads: Full 20 ft / 40 ft containers
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Pin-only lots (pins mechanically or chemically removed) – available on request
Typical Composition of a Mixed Gold Bottom Lot (Example):
| Category | Approx. % | Pin Density (pins per kg) | Gold Yield Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel 486 ceramic | 30-40% | ~500-800 pins/kg | Moderate-High |
| Intel Pentium ceramic (no gold lid) | 20-30% | ~600-900 pins/kg | High |
| AMD ceramic (K5/K6/486) | 15-25% | ~600-850 pins/kg | High |
| Cyrix / IBM / other | 10-15% | ~400-700 pins/kg | Moderate |
| Motorola / other vintage | 5-10% | Varies | Moderate |
Quality & Condition:
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CPUs may have missing, bent, or tarnished pins – still valuable
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Lids may be nickel/tin or already removed (if removed, focus is bottom gold)
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Ceramic bodies may be chipped or cracked – does not affect pin gold
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No plastic CPUs, no fiber CPUs, no epoxy packages
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Gold pin quality – we grade from “bright gold” to “tarnished but recoverable”
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Lot may include CPUs with heat sinks, but they are removable
Gold Pin Stripping – Quick Reference for Refiners:
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Chemical stripping: Nitric acid, cyanide-based, or iodine/iodide solutions (professional use only)
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Electrolytic stripping: Uses electric current to dissolve gold into solution
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Mechanical removal: Crushing/screening (low gold recovery, not recommended)
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Typical pin gold thickness: 10-30 micro-inches (0.25-0.76 microns) – enough to plate 6-12% of pin weight as gold
Comparison – Gold Bottom vs Gold Top vs Pin-Only Scrap:
| Scrap Type | Gold per kg (Typical) | Processing Effort | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Bottom CPU Mixed | 0.5-1.5 g | Moderate (pin removal) | Pin strippers, bulk refiners |
| Gold Top CPU Mixed | 0.8-2.0 g | Moderate (lid + pins) | Whole-chip processors |
| Pin-Only (harvested) | 15-25 g (per kg pins) | Low (strip only) | Specialized pin refiners |
| Ceramic CPU (full, gold lid) | 1.0-2.5 g | High (full refining) | Integrated refiners |
Processing Tips for Refiners:
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Inspect for lids – CPUs with gold lids also have gold bottom; you may remove lids for separate processing.
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Pin removal options:
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Heat method (hot plate at 250°C – pins fall off with gentle tapping)
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Decapsulation tool (mechanical pin puller)
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Chemical stripping (submerge whole CPU in stripping solution)
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Pin-only processing – Stripping solutions work faster without ceramic bodies present.
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Crushing method – Ball mill the entire CPU, then gravity separate + cyanide leach (industrial scale).
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Always use proper safety equipment – Acids, cyanide, and heavy metals require fume hoods, PPE, and licensed disposal.
Why Choose Our Gold Bottom Mixed Lots?
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Pre-sorted to maximize gold pin density (no low-pin-count CPUs)
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Lids may be pre-removed for some lots (reduces weight and increases gold concentration)
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Available with assay certificates for large orders
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Consistent supply from systematic decommissioning
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We can custom-sort by pin density or manufacturer
Ideal For:
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Medium to large-scale e-waste recyclers
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Precious metal pin stripping specialists
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Gold scrap brokers and aggregators
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Refineries seeking high-yield CPU scrap streams
For more inquiries or to place an order (sample, bulk, or pin-only lots), please contact us. We deliver by air, land, and sea — internationally. Standard and express shipment options available.




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