How do I make the most? Will leaving the cpu on increase the value or will it stay in the same category if removed. I only have one like this.

The gold capped ic I have a couple of these and again not sure if I should remove them or not. I won't have anywhere close to a pound nor do I want to down grade the boards in any way.

That first board the ICs look like they have gold pins. Making them 8086 chips. Definitely remove them.
The board is then high telco

The second board, unless it’s one of the very rare ones with a HIF socket on the bottom, the chip is soldered. Removed the chip is only a sun chip.
Leave it alone for gold cap chip board.


As for old boards with socketed chips that are high telco class… experience and experimenting to discover which is worth more: if chips loose and a midgrade board, or a high telco board chips in.

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The big chip has a socket would that change anything?

If the flex is in a socket yes.
With gold pins it would by a Cyrix class gold cap.

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