How To Determine Dates Of Motherboards

Dunemaul reminded me of a question. I know buyers are starting to separate pricing for older motherboards. For example, one of the buyers will purchase rainbow MB at a higher price if they are pre 1999. Anyone know of a quick, semi accurate way of telling the approx year of a motherboard. Some are easy, for example if it has a slot processor, 286, 386 etc. What's your method?

So far, any non green motherboards from early that I find are yellow and they have a large socket. They should be good.

there should a flatback ic chip with the date on it.

best one to look on is under the northbridge heat sink.

Yeah, that's whar I was thinking of just didn't know what to call it.