A load board is a gigantic PCB that attaches to a tester that changes the pin-out and strapping of the tester to the pin-out of the CPU that you want to test. So it's a gigantic interface card with a spot for the CPU in the center.
That's an Vanguard IMS ATE tester load board for P54CS (120-200MHz Pentium, the original Pentium). I used one of those exact same load boards myself back in 1995/1996 ish. There's one funny thing about them - the CPU's are really, really hard to get into them. This is before ZIF sockets (zero insertion force) sockets and these used to be "a really really lot of force" insertion sockets. So to put the CPU in I 99% of the time would put the CPU in the socket, push hard with the palm of my hand to seat it firmly, and then flip the board over onto a table (so the CPU is down, load board on top) and then put all of my weight on the top and push down as hard as I could. It wasn't unknown to flip the board over, put it on the ground, and then step on the backside of it and give a little hop to get the CPU all the way in. This was frowned upon by the lab managers.
To get the CPU back out we had a fancy screwdriver with a wedge int he middle and we pried out all 4 corners.
I spent a while Googling and I couldn't find much about IMS's to link to. I couldn't even find a good picture. This is one from the company that makes (made?) it which is Credence - the load board docks to the top of the smaller blue box on the left (the big tall one is the power supply).
http://www.cmc.ca/en/WhatWeOffer/Te.../ADSL/Equipment_Photos/Automatic/Credence.jpg
The blue box rotates and then you stick the load board on top. Here's another lousy photo - this one in black and white that makes it look like it's from the 50's... But you can see the ring that the load board docks to:
http://2.imimg.com/data2/SF/JV/IMFCP-1033232/ims_logo4-250x250.gif
If you want to know more, google "Credence IMS Vanguard" or "Credence IMS Vanguard ATE tester" or some combination of those terms.
As far as Athlon paperweights, can't help you.
I have a bunch of paperweights like that from Intel. You usually get one when you finish working on a design - although Intel has transitioned to big wooden plaques that you can hang on the wall (which I like better) instead of paperweights... who uses paper nowadays anyway.
I'll have to register for CPU-World. I have a couple of winners to post to that thread.
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