Where to Get Fried Motherboards in ARC Raiders (Utility Station Level 3)
Fried Motherboards are a high-value crafting component in ARC Raiders, required to upgrade the Utility Workstation to level 3. While they can appear in any Technological Loot Zone, the fastest and most reliable way to farm them is by looting breachable containers in the Assembly Workshops area on the Stella Montis map.
This is the same area used to farm Damaged Heat Sinks, making it the most efficient location to prepare for multiple Utility Station upgrades at the same time.
Why You Need Fried Motherboards
To upgrade the Utility Workstation to level 3, you’ll need the following materials:
Fried Motherboards are the hardest part of this upgrade, as they only spawn from higher-tier Technological loot pools, which is why targeted farming is essential.
Best Location: Assembly Workshops (Stella Montis)
Fried Motherboards spawn in Technological Zones, but the most consistent location by far is the Assembly Workshops on the north side of Stella Montis.
Using the Stella Montis interactive map makes it easy to plan a direct route straight to the Workshops and avoid unnecessary detours.
This area contains a dense concentration of breachable tech containers, all sharing the same loot pool that includes Fried Motherboards.
Step 1: Load In With an Empty Loadout
For the safest and most efficient runs, load in with a completely empty loadout. This ensures you have access to your Safe Pocket, allowing you to secure Fried Motherboards immediately after finding them.
If possible, play on NA servers and avoid engaging other Raiders. ARC Raiders’ reputation-based matchmaking often places non-aggressive players into noticeably friendlier lobbies, which is ideal for workshop farming.
Step 2: Reach the Assembly Workshops
Once inside Stella Montis, head directly toward the Assembly Workshops at the top of the map. This area consistently has the highest number of tech containers per run.
Ignore low-value loot and focus entirely on lockers, crates, and breachable storage units tied to the Technological loot pool.
Step 3: Breach All Tech Containers
Breach every container inside the Assembly Workshops. Fried Motherboards commonly appear here alongside other valuable tech items, including:
- Damaged Heat Sinks
- Cooling Fans
- Electrical Components
Because all of these items share the same loot pool, this location remains useful even after completing earlier Utility Workstation upgrades.
Across multiple runs, it’s common to find one Fried Motherboard per raid, and occasionally more if you’re lucky.
Step 4: Secure and Extract
As soon as you find a Fried Motherboard, place it in your Safe Pocket.
If you entered with an empty loadout and only need the motherboard, you can press Escape and choose Surrender to instantly end the run while keeping the item safe. This saves time and avoids a long extraction route.
If you find additional materials you need, extract normally to keep everything.
Most players will complete the level 3 Utility Workstation requirement in one to two short runs, even when playing solo.
More ARC Raiders Resources
If you’re still missing materials or want to speed things up:
- Trade excess items or buy missing components using the Metaforge Marketplace
- Track all workstation upgrade requirements using the Needed Items tool
- Plan efficient farming routes with Metaforge’s interactive maps and tools
