April 2026 Market Summary
Circuit board prices are holding steady to slightly up this month, with gold-bearing materials showing resilience as global refinery demand remains strong. CPU pricing has stabilized following March volatility, while RAM continues to reflect the ongoing shift from older DDR3/DDR4 to DDR5 technology. Hard drive circuit boards are experiencing seasonal strength as data center upgrades accelerate, and precious metal markets are providing consistent support across all categories. This is a favorable month to move inventory if you've been accumulating mid-grade and high-grade materials.
Current E-Scrap Pricing — April 2026
The following table reflects current market prices across all major e-scrap categories. Prices are per pound and represent current buy rates for professionally sorted, uncontaminated materials. Your exact price may vary based on quantity, purity, and grading.
| Category | Grade | Price/lb |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Boards | High-Grade | $3.50–4.50 |
| Mid-Grade | $1.25–2.00 | |
| Low-Grade | $0.40–0.80 | |
| CPUs | Ceramic Gold | $12.00–18.00 |
| Ceramic No Gold | $4.50–6.00 | |
| Fiber | $1.50–3.00 | |
| RAM | Gold Finger | $6.00–7.50 |
| Tin Finger | $0.50–1.00 | |
| Hard Drives | With Board | $0.30–0.40 |
| Without Board | $0.08–0.12 | |
| Power Supplies | Standard | $0.15–0.25 |
| Copper Wire | Stripped | $2.00–3.50 |
| Heatsinks | Aluminum | $0.50–0.80 |
Market Analysis: What's Driving April Prices?
Gold Price Stability Supporting Board Values
Spot gold prices have remained relatively stable throughout March and into early April 2026, trading in the $2,100–2,150 per troy ounce range. This stability is critical for the e-scrap market because precious metals content (particularly gold in circuit boards, CPUs, and RAM connectors) drives the floor price for all materials. When gold fluctuates sharply, it creates pricing uncertainty and typically depresses scrap values as buyers hedge. The current price environment suggests steady refinery activity, which means consistent offtake demand. We expect this to continue supporting high-grade board prices through mid-April.
Refinery Demand Uptick: Spring Data Center Refresh Cycle
Q2 historically sees strong e-scrap demand from major refineries and recyclers, driven by spring-time data center hardware refresh cycles. Companies are clearing older DDR3 and DDR4 memory systems to make room for newer DDR5 infrastructure. This seasonal demand is already visible in slightly elevated RAM pricing this month, particularly for gold-finger DDR3 sticks (legacy enterprise standard). CPU prices have stabilized because the supply of ceramic gold processors from this refresh cycle is meeting strong refinery demand. Hard drive circuit boards are experiencing a noticeable uptick in value. Data center drives with intact boards are commanding prices at the higher end of the range because refiners prioritize the PCB materials over bare platters. Expect this trend to continue through May.
Seasonal Patterns: What Happened Last April?
Comparing month-over-month to April 2025: circuit board prices are up approximately 3–5% across all grades, CPU prices are stable (no significant change), and RAM continues a downward trend relative to last year (gold-finger RAM was $7.50–8.50/lb in April 2025, now $6.00–7.50/lb). The RAM decline reflects the massive shift away from legacy DDR3/DDR4 systems. As supplies increase and refinery focus shifts to higher-generation materials, older RAM becomes less premium. Hard drives have strengthened slightly due to the data center refresh cycle. Overall, April 2026 presents a favorable selling environment for those holding inventory.
What to Sell Now vs. What to Hold
SELL NOW:
- Hard drive circuit boards: Data center upgrade season is driving premium prices. If you're sitting on a stack of HDD PCBs, now is the time to move them before supply increases further.
- Gold-finger RAM (especially DDR3): These are at a reasonable price point with active refinery demand. Legacy DDR3 supplies will only increase as companies transition to newer tech.
- High-grade circuit boards: Server and workstation boards are commanding strong prices. Spring refresh cycles mean consistent buyer interest.
- Copper wire: At $2.00–3.50/lb, stripped copper is in healthy demand. If you've been accumulating cables, this is a good selling window.
HOLD (or be selective):
- Low-grade boards: Prices are stable, but not moving sharply upward. No urgency to sell. Accumulate until you have a 20–50 lb batch for better shipping economics.
- DDR5 RAM: This segment is still establishing market value. Prices may decline further as DDR5 systems age and supply increases. Hold if possible until Q3/Q4 when market dynamics stabilize.
- Fiber CPUs: At $1.50–3.00/lb, the spread is wide and prices are soft. Bundle with other materials or wait for higher gold prices to increase viability.
- Steel cases and brackets: Lowest-value materials at $0.05–0.12/lb. These are bulk items; accumulate until you can fill a full pallet before shipping.
May 2026 Outlook
We expect April's pricing to carry into early May, with one caveat: gold market volatility. The Federal Reserve is expected to make interest rate announcements in mid-May, which historically triggers gold price swings. If gold dips below $2,050/oz, expect a 5–10% adjustment downward across all board categories. If gold holds or rises above $2,150/oz, expect 2–3% gains. The data center refresh cycle should continue supporting hard drive and RAM prices. Monitor spot gold prices closely as a leading indicator for your selling decisions.
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Explore Related Resources
Want to dive deeper into specific material categories or tools? Check out our detailed pricing guides and calculators:
- Circuit Board Pricing Guide. Detailed grading breakdown and historical pricing trends
- CPU & Processor Prices. Current rates for ceramic, fiber, and specialty processors
- RAM Memory Pricing. Gold-finger, tin-finger, and DDR5 current market rates
- Free AI Board Grader. Snap a photo of your circuit boards to get an instant grade and estimated value
- Shipping Cost Estimator. Calculate the cost of shipping your scrap before you commit to a sale
Ready to Sell Your E-Scrap?
April pricing is favorable across high-value materials. If you're holding inventory, now is a good time to get a quote and move your materials. Our team uses current market data like this to ensure you get fair, competitive pricing.
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