Difference between revisions of "Motherboard Recycling"

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Motherboard Recycling is an Advanced Deconstruction process where we take motherboards from the main recycling operation and turn them into Clean Circuitboards.

Safety

The Safety Introduction from the basic deconstruction page applies here. In particular, wear safety glasses: no heatsinks are permitted in your eye.

What to remove?

Your objective is to remove as much as possible from the motherboard: batteries, processors, memory modules, daughtercards, heatsinks, fans, large transformers, faceplates, and anything else you can get off within a few minutes.

Get to work!

Hardware

Any screws, plastic clips, faceplates or other hardware must be removed from the motherboard.

Plastic hardware: remove it.

Steel faceplate: remove it.

Batteries

Not all batteries look like batteries. Here are a few examples of batteries or devices which contain batteries. Remove anything that looks remotely like one of these.

Button

This is the most common battery you'll find on a motherboard. Wedge a screwdriver in there and pop it out for later sorting.

Typical motherboard battery.

Real Time Clock (RTC)

This one can be hard to spot, and many motherboards don't have one of these. This device, if present, maintains the system time. It has a built in battery, so pry it off and put it with the other batteries for later sorting.

"The NVRAM battery is a little black box that contains the clock circuit and a small lithium battery. The most common manufacturers of that circuit they are Dallas, Houston Tech, Benchmarq, Odin and ST." -http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/81/

RTC. Many are labeled "Dallas."

Here's a clearer picture of an RTC.

Other

There are other batteries you'll encounter too. Here are two examples. First, some older motherboards have Ni-Cd batteries soldered on. Given the age of devices which included these batteries, they've probably leaked some toxic gunk. Wear gloves. And second, many Mac motherboards include a lithium cell in a case that's soldered onto the board.

Ni-Cd mobo battery.

Lithium battery, often found on Mac boards.

Here's a pic of a leaky one.

CPUs and CPU/Heatsink Combos

Pull the processor. This can be tricky, depending on whether you're dealing with a slot-mounted CPU or a socket CPU. Both kinds have a lever or a catch (or two) you have to find and release before they'll come off. Just remember, this is recycling. If you gouge the motherboard, damage a CPU or break a bracket, no one cares. Just don't hurt yourself.

Socket Procs

Socket procs are square and mount flat to the motherboard. They are generally about 1.5" x 1.5". Socket procs (also called ZIFs or Zero Insertion Force CPUs) will have an extruded aluminum heatsink and fan attached to the top of them. Don't be surprised if the heatsink seems humongous compared to the socket proc itself.

When possible, remove the socket proc from the heatsink/fan. If the removal cannot be done easily with a flat screwdriver, set it aside for later processing.
If you can easily remove the fan by prying, do so. If not (e.g. need to unscrew 4 screws), set it aside.

Socket CPU, with heatsink/fan removed. Lift the lever and pull the CPU.

If you see a heatsink this, put it in the copper bin.

Slot Procs

Slot procs are much larger than socket procs (approx 5" x 2") and are mounted vertically on the motherboard. The processor itself generally looks like a small rectangular circuit board. On the motherboard, you'll recognize it as the big vertical thing sticking up almost 3 inches. The processor will be encased in black plastic and have a heatsink/fan attached to it.

Newer Slot Procs - have tabs along the top edge that slide towards the middle of the CPU to release them. Look for an additional plastic bracket holding the heatsink to the motherboard. The bracket will be long and thin. Pry it off, then rock the CPU assembly as you lift it away from the motherboard.

Older Slot Procs - are much simpler. Just pull one of the vertical brackets to the side as you lift the CPU assembly off the board with a side-to-side rocking motion.

All CPU mounting hardware must be removed. Remove the plastic bracket by undoing the brass screws at the 4 corners.

Empty CPU slot

Memory

Most motherboards will arrive at your station without memory modules. If you see any, pull and set aside.

Lots and lots of old RAM.

Cards/Other

You'll see all kinds of stuff, but most motherboards won't have cards or other devices attached by the time they reach you. If you happen accross a weird, unidentifiable hunk of something attached to a motherboard, get it off and ask about it. Then update this page with what you learn.

A doohicky attached to the thingamabob.

Other Heatsinks

It's not just the processor that has a heatsink. Almost every PC motherboard's Northbridge chip has a heatsink glued to it. Pry that sucker off.

Northbridge heatsink.

You may find other heatsinks that look like they have fingers. These heatsinks are made of sheet aluminum. Remove them as well.

What do I do with all this stuff?

After a few hours, you'll have a pile of clean(er) motherboards in the gaylord in front of you, and a bunch of stuff. Here's what to do with all the stuff.

A few hours' worth of stripped motherboards.

Stuff.

(This section is incomplete)

CPU's - Must not have anything attached. No plastic, heatsink, etc.
- Slot CPUs go in a specific bucket.
- Socket CPUs go in a specific bucket. Extract from plastic housing when necessary

Memory - in a separate bucket.

Heatsink/Fan/CPU Combos
- Squarish ones from ZIF Processors (smaller square CPUs) have their own container.
- Slot Processors (larger rectangular CPUs) have their own container.

See also [Heatsink/Fan/CPU Combo Recycling - to be written]

(more to be added later)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Motherboard Recycling''' is an [[Advanced Deconstruction]] process where we take motherboards from the main recycling operation and turn them into [[Clean Circuitboards]].
+{{Migrated}}
+[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XPPicZjfo3BwoMFQkapRFc_B4oQoaf_9qEG9ktYj_sE/edit?usp=sharing Link]
+'''Motherboard Recycling''' is an Advanced Deconstruction process where we take motherboards from the main [[recycling]] operation and turn them into [[Clean Circuitboards]].
 ==Safety==
@@ Line 6: / Line 9: @@
 ==What to remove?==
-Your objective is to remove as much as possible from the motherboard: batteries, processors, memory modules, daughtercards, heatsinks, fans, large transformers, faceplates, and any other large bits that aren't made with a substantial amount of gold.
+Your objective is to remove as much as possible from the motherboard: batteries, processors, memory modules, daughtercards, heatsinks, fans, large transformers, faceplates, and anything else you can get off within a few minutes.
 {|
 |[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 15.jpg|thumb|Get to work!]]
@@ Line 26: / Line 29: @@
 ====Real Time Clock (RTC)====
 This one can be hard to spot, and many motherboards don't have one of these. This device, if present, maintains the system time. It has a built in battery, so pry it off and put it with the other batteries for later sorting.
+* "The NVRAM battery is a little black box that contains the clock circuit and a small lithium battery. The most common manufacturers of that circuit they are Dallas, Houston Tech, Benchmarq, Odin and ST." -http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/81/
 {|
+|[[Image:Recycling-real_time_clock1.jpg]]
+|[[Image:Recycling-real_time_clock2.jpg]]
 |[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 04.jpg|thumb|RTC. Many are labeled "Dallas."]]
 |}
 [http://media.maxim-ic.com/images/appnotes/503/timekeeping.jpg Here's a clearer picture of an RTC.]
 ====Other====
-Some older motherboards have Ni-Cd batteries soldered on. Given the age of devices which included these batteries, they've probably leaked some toxic gunk. Wear gloves.
+There are other batteries you'll encounter too. Here are two examples. First, some older motherboards have Ni-Cd batteries soldered on. Given the age of devices which included these batteries, they've probably leaked some toxic gunk. Wear gloves. And second, many Mac motherboards include a lithium cell in a case that's soldered onto the board.
 {|
 |[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 08.jpg|thumb|Ni-Cd mobo battery.]]
+|[[Image:Power_mac_battery.jpg|thumb|120px|Lithium battery, often found on Mac boards.]]
 |}
 [http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/imageview.php?image=191 Here's a pic of a leaky one.]
-===Processor===
+===CPUs and CPU/Heatsink Combos===
-Pull the processor. This can be tricky, depending on whether you're dealing with a slot-mounted CPU or a socket cpu. Both kinds have a lever or a catch (or two) you have to find and release before they'll come off. Just remember, this is recycling. If you gouge the motherboard, damage a CPU or break a bracket, no one cares. Just don't hurt yourself. All mounting CPU hardware must be removed.
+Pull the processor. This can be tricky, depending on whether you're dealing with a slot-mounted CPU or a socket CPU. Both kinds have a lever or a catch (or two) you have to find and release before they'll come off. Just remember, this is recycling. If you gouge the motherboard, damage a CPU or break a bracket, no one cares. Just don't hurt yourself.
+====Socket Procs====
+Socket procs are square and mount flat to the motherboard.  They are generally about 1.5" x 1.5".  Socket procs (also called ZIFs or Zero Insertion Force CPUs) will have an extruded aluminum heatsink and fan attached to the top of them.  Don't be surprised if the heatsink seems humongous compared to the socket proc itself.
+*When possible, remove the socket proc from the heatsink/fan.  If the removal cannot be done easily with a flat screwdriver, set it aside for later processing.
+*If you can easily remove the fan by prying, do so.  If not (e.g. need to unscrew 4 screws), set it aside.
 {|
-|[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 03.jpg|thumb|Socket CPU, after fan/heatsink removal. Lift the lever and pull the CPU.]]
+|[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 03.jpg|thumb|Socket CPU, with heatsink/fan removed. Lift the lever and pull the CPU.]]
-|[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 05.jpg|thumb|CPU slot after CPU and fan removed. Remove the plastic brackets too.]]
+|[[Image:cpu_heatsink_wacky.jpg|thumb|If you see a heatsink this, put it in the copper bin.]]
 |}
+====Slot Procs====
+Slot procs are much larger than socket procs (approx 5" x 2") and are mounted vertically on the motherboard.  The processor itself generally looks like a small rectangular circuit board.  On the motherboard, you'll recognize it as the big vertical thing sticking up almost 3 inches.  The processor will be encased in black plastic and have a heatsink/fan attached to it.
+*Newer Slot Procs - have tabs along the top edge that slide towards the middle of the CPU to release them.  Look for an additional plastic bracket holding the heatsink to the motherboard.  The bracket will be long and thin.  Pry it off, then rock the CPU assembly as you lift it away from the motherboard.
+*Older Slot Procs - are much simpler.  Just pull one of the vertical brackets to the side as you lift the CPU assembly off the board with a side-to-side rocking motion.
+All CPU mounting hardware must be removed.  Remove the plastic bracket by undoing the brass screws at the 4 corners.
+{|
+|[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 05.jpg|thumb|Empty CPU slot]]
+|}
 ===Memory===
 Most motherboards will arrive at your station without memory modules. If you see any, pull and set aside.
+{|
+|[[Image:Adv-mobo-recyc - 14.jpg|thumb|Lots and lots of old RAM.]]
+|}
 ===Cards/Other===
-You'll see all kinds of stuff, but most motherboards won't have cards or other devices attached by the time they reach you. If you happen accross a weird, unidentifiable hunk of something attached to a motherboard, pull it off and ask about it. Then update this page with what you learn.
+You'll see all kinds of stuff, but most motherboards won't have cards or other devices attached by the time they reach you. If you happen accross a weird, unidentifiable hunk of something attached to a motherboard, get it off and ask about it. Then update this page with what you learn.
-===Heatsinks/Fans===
+{|
-It's not just the processor that has a heatsink. Almost every PC motherboard's [[w:Northbridge (computing)|Northbridge]] chip has a heatsink glued to it. Pry that sucker off.
+|[[Image:Daughtercard.jpg|thumb|A doohicky attached to the thingamabob.]]
+|}
+===Other Heatsinks===
+It's not just the processor that has a heatsink. Almost every PC motherboard's [[Wikipedia:Northbridge_(computing)|Northbridge]] chip has a heatsink glued to it. Pry that sucker off.
 {|
 |[[Image:adv-mobo-recyc - 01.jpg|thumb|Northbridge heatsink.]]
 |}
+You may find other heatsinks that look like they have fingers.  These heatsinks are made of sheet aluminum.  Remove them as well.
 ==What do I do with all this stuff?==
@@ Line 64: / Line 106: @@
 (This section is incomplete)
-*CPU's: in buckets. slot CPUs and socket CPUs must be sorted separately, and slot CPUs must be extracted from their plastic housings.
+*CPU's - Must not have anything attached. No plastic, heatsink, etc.
-*Memory: in a separate bucket.
+**Slot CPUs go in a specific bucket.
-*Heatsink/fan assemblies: to [[PSE]] for further disassembly.
+**Socket CPUs go in a specific bucket.  Extract from plastic housing when necessary
-*Metal, including passive heatsinks: (more on this later)
+*Memory - in a separate bucket.
+*Heatsink/Fan/CPU Combos
+**Squarish ones from ZIF Processors (smaller square CPUs) have their own container.
+**Slot Processors (larger rectangular CPUs) have their own container.
+See also [Heatsink/Fan/CPU Combo Recycling - to be written]
+*
 *(more to be added later)
 [[Category:Recycling]]
+[[Category:Howto]]