In chip recycling, everyone chases GPUs, FPGAs and mobile SoCs while overlooking network switch chips and Ethernet PHYs — a hidden high-end category with high unit value, concentrated sources and stable buyers. Broadcom (BCM5680/BCM5690 Tomahawk/Trident series), Marvell (Prestera 98DX switch chips, Alaska 88E1111/88E1512/88E1548 PHYs), Realtek (RTL8367 switch, RTL8211 PHY), Intel Fulcrum FM series and Chinese Centec all sit across data center core/aggregation/access switches, routers, OLTs, NICs and smart NICs. In 2026, as data centers upgrade toward 400G/800G, white-box switching spreads, and carrier network gear is retired and replaced at scale, wave after wave of switch chips and PHYs flow into the recycling market along with whole units. Network chips are mostly large BGA/FCBGA packages with standard pins and manageable testing barriers, and networking, security and white-box switch vendors readily buy teardown parts for volume balancing and cost-down — making this a high-volume, stable-buyer premium category in recycling.
The residual value of a network switch chip or PHY comes from three layers:
High unit value + concentrated supply + stable buyers together support the network chip recycling price. But pin integrity, testability and platform binding decide which tier it sells at.
Current reference prices for mainstream network switch chips and Ethernet PHYs (Reference Price (CNY) per die, Q3 2026):
| Category | Representative part / vendor | Recycling price |
|---|---|---|
| Ethernet PHY | Realtek RTL8211 | 2-6 |
| Ethernet PHY | Marvell 88E1111 / 88E1512 | 5-15 |
| Switch chip | Realtek RTL8367 | 8-20 |
| Switch chip | Marvell Prestera 98DX3255 | 30-80 |
| High-end switch chip | Broadcom BCM5680 / BCM5690 | 100-400 |
| High-end switch chip | Broadcom BCM56990 Tomahawk | 500-1,500 |
Note: These are Q3 2026 reference ranges. The higher the port rate (100G/400G/800G), the larger the package, the more complete the pins, and the better the testability, the higher the recycling price; chips with dropped solder balls or untestable parts are downgraded as teardown parts. Broadcom / Marvell / Realtek mainstream brands have the best liquidity, and Chinese Centec models also have stable channels.
Network chips split into several classes by function and rate, with different sources:
Network chip supply comes mainly from whole-unit teardown, networking-vendor dead stock and dead boards; identifying the package (BGA/FCBGA), confirming the model and port rate is the first step in sorting.
The most critical pricing step for network chips is pin-integrity and testability grading:
Done right, pin-integrity and testability grading can lift a batch of network chips by 30-50%; selling broken-pin or untestable stock as testable is how recyclers get burned with returns. This is why ChipReclaim invests in dedicated test boards and reballing capability.
ChipReclaim has built professional network switch chip and Ethernet PHY capability in identification, pin-integrity and testability verification, reballing and graded shipping, covering Broadcom BCM5680/BCM5690, Marvell Prestera 98DX, Marvell Alaska PHYs, Realtek RTL8367/RTL8211, Intel Fulcrum and Centec across all models. For networking vendors, data centers, carriers, network repair shops and high-volume sellers, we offer free assessment, testability verification and top-market buyback — unlocking the highest price for your network chips.