diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 5a9030a..e546987 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -60,39 +60,19 @@
       </div>
     </section>
 
-    <!-- City Placards -->
-    <div class="city-placards">
-      <a href="#pricing" class="city-placard">
-        <img src="images/city-amsterdam.jpg" alt="Amsterdam" loading="lazy" />
-        <span class="city-name">Amsterdam</span>
-        <span class="city-region">Netherlands</span>
-      </a>
-      <a href="#pricing" class="city-placard">
-        <img src="images/city-boston.jpg" alt="Boston" loading="lazy" />
-        <span class="city-name">Boston</span>
-        <span class="city-region">United States</span>
-      </a>
-      <a href="#pricing" class="city-placard">
-        <img src="images/city-london.jpg" alt="London" loading="lazy" />
-        <span class="city-name">London</span>
-        <span class="city-region">United Kingdom</span>
-      </a>
-      <a href="#pricing" class="city-placard">
-        <img src="images/city-mumbai.jpg" alt="Mumbai" loading="lazy" />
-        <span class="city-name">Mumbai</span>
-        <span class="city-region">India</span>
-      </a>
-      <a href="#pricing" class="city-placard">
-        <img src="images/city-saopaulo.jpg" alt="São Paulo" loading="lazy" />
-        <span class="city-name">S&atilde;o Paulo</span>
-        <span class="city-region">Brazil</span>
-      </a>
-      <a href="#pricing" class="city-placard">
-        <img src="images/city-sydney.jpg" alt="Sydney" loading="lazy" />
-        <span class="city-name">Sydney</span>
-        <span class="city-region">Australia</span>
-      </a>
-    </div>
+    <!-- Server Status Banner -->
+    <section class="server-banner" id="serverBanner">
+      <div class="container">
+        <div class="server-banner-header">
+          <span class="server-banner-kicker">Global Server Network</span>
+          <span class="server-banner-status" id="bannerStatus">
+            <span class="status-dot"></span> Testing all locations...
+          </span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="server-grid" id="serverGrid"></div>
+        <div class="server-optimal" id="serverOptimal"></div>
+      </div>
+    </section>
 
     <!-- Trust Bar -->
     <section class="trust-bar">
diff --git a/script.js b/script.js
index 5f2e48c..d395d2f 100644
--- a/script.js
+++ b/script.js
@@ -428,6 +428,130 @@ var si = 0,
                 renderBlog();
             }
 
+            /* ---- Server Ping Banner ---- */
+            (function() {
+              var SERVERS = [
+                { host: 'meppel.odoo4projects.com', city: 'Amsterdam', region: 'Netherlands' },
+                { host: 'boston.odoo4projects.com', city: 'Boston', region: 'United States' },
+                { host: 'manchester.odoo4projects.com', city: 'Manchester', region: 'United Kingdom' },
+                { host: 'mumbai.odoo4projects.com', city: 'Mumbai', region: 'India' },
+                { host: 'saopaulo.odoo4projects.com', city: 'S\u00e3o Paulo', region: 'Brazil' },
+                { host: 'sydney.odoo4projects.com', city: 'Sydney', region: 'Australia' }
+              ];
+
+              var grid = document.getElementById('serverGrid');
+              var bannerStatus = document.getElementById('bannerStatus');
+              var optimalEl = document.getElementById('serverOptimal');
+              var cards = [];
+              var results = [];
+              var pending = SERVERS.length;
+
+              SERVERS.forEach(function(s, idx) {
+                var card = document.createElement('div');
+                card.className = 'server-card';
+                card.innerHTML =
+                  '<div class="best-badge">Best</div>' +
+                  '<div class="server-city">' + s.city + '</div>' +
+                  '<div class="server-region">' + s.region + '</div>' +
+                  '<div class="server-ping-wrap">' +
+                    '<div class="ping-spinner"></div>' +
+                    '<span class="server-ping-label">connecting</span>' +
+                  '</div>';
+                grid.appendChild(card);
+                cards.push({ el: card, server: s, idx: idx });
+              });
+
+              /* Stagger the card entrance animation */
+              cards.forEach(function(c, i) {
+                setTimeout(function() {
+                  c.el.classList.add('visible');
+                }, 80 + i * 70);
+              });
+
+              function pingServer(host) {
+                return new Promise(function(resolve) {
+                  var start = performance.now();
+                  var img = new Image();
+                  var timedOut = false;
+                  var timer = setTimeout(function() {
+                    timedOut = true;
+                    img.src = '';
+                    resolve({ time: -1, error: 'timeout' });
+                  }, 8000);
+                  img.onload = function() {
+                    if (!timedOut) {
+                      clearTimeout(timer);
+                      resolve({ time: performance.now() - start });
+                    }
+                  };
+                  img.onerror = function() {
+                    if (!timedOut) {
+                      clearTimeout(timer);
+                      /* Even 404 measures round-trip time */
+                      resolve({ time: performance.now() - start });
+                    }
+                  };
+                  img.src = 'https://' + host + '/favicon.ico?_=' + Date.now() + '_' + Math.random().toString(36).slice(2,6);
+                });
+              }
+
+              function updateCardPing(card, time) {
+                var wrap = card.el.querySelector('.server-ping-wrap');
+                if (time < 0) {
+                  wrap.innerHTML = '<span class="server-ping-ms" style="color:rgba(255,255,255,0.25);font-size:0.78rem">unreachable</span>';
+                } else {
+                  var ms = time.toFixed(0);
+                  var cls = 'done';
+                  if (time < 100) cls += ' fast';
+                  wrap.innerHTML =
+                    '<span class="server-ping-ms ' + cls + '">' + ms + '</span>' +
+                    '<span class="server-ping-unit">ms</span>';
+                }
+              }
+
+              function markBest() {
+                var valid = results.filter(function(r) { return r.time >= 0; });
+                if (valid.length === 0) return;
+                valid.sort(function(a, b) { return a.time - b.time; });
+                var best = valid[0];
+                cards.forEach(function(c) {
+                  if (c.server.host === best.host) {
+                    c.el.classList.add('server-best');
+                  }
+                });
+                /* Update banner status */
+                bannerStatus.innerHTML =
+                  '<span class="status-dot" style="animation:none;background:#4ade80;opacity:1;transform:scale(1)"></span> All locations tested';
+                /* Show optimal server */
+                var bestCard = cards.filter(function(c) { return c.server.host === best.host; })[0];
+                if (bestCard) {
+                  setTimeout(function() {
+                    optimalEl.innerHTML =
+                      '<div class="server-optimal-inner">' +
+                        '<span class="optimal-arrow">&#8593;</span> ' +
+                        'Your optimal server location: <strong>' + bestCard.server.city + '</strong> (' + best.time.toFixed(0) + ' ms)' +
+                      '</div>';
+                    optimalEl.classList.add('visible');
+                  }, 600);
+                }
+              }
+
+              /* Ping all servers in parallel */
+              cards.forEach(function(c) {
+                var idx = c.idx;
+                pingServer(c.server.host).then(function(result) {
+                  result.host = c.server.host;
+                  result.idx = idx;
+                  results.push(result);
+                  updateCardPing(c, result.time);
+                  pending--;
+                  if (pending === 0) {
+                    markBest();
+                  }
+                });
+              });
+            })();
+
             fetch("blog/index.json?_=" + Date.now())
                 .then(function (r) {
                     return r.json();
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index e318c88..c194704 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -156,64 +156,228 @@ img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; }
 .hero-stat i { color: var(--brass); font-size: 0.75rem; }
 .hero-actions { display: flex; gap: 1rem; flex-wrap: wrap; margin-bottom: 2rem; }
 
-/* ---- City Placards ---- */
-.city-placards {
-  display: flex;
-  gap: 0.75rem;
-  padding: 0 1.25rem;
-  margin: 0 auto;
-  max-width: 1200px;
-  width: 86%;
-  overflow-x: auto;
-  padding-bottom: 0.5rem;
-  position: relative;
-  z-index: 1;
-}
-.city-placard {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 0.3rem;
-  text-decoration: none;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-  width: 8rem;
-  padding: 0.75rem 0.5rem 0.5rem;
+/* ---- Server Status Banner ---- */
+.server-banner {
+  background: var(--midnight);
+  padding: 2rem 0 1.5rem;
   border-top: 1px solid var(--line-brass);
-  transition: all 0.25s;
-  border-radius: 0 0 var(--radius) var(--radius);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line-brass);
+  position: relative;
+  overflow: hidden;
 }
-.city-placard:hover {
-  background: rgba(201,162,39,0.08);
-  border-top-color: var(--brass);
+.server-banner::before {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  background: radial-gradient(ellipse 60% 80% at 50% 100%, rgba(201,162,39,0.06) 0%, transparent 70%);
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
-.city-placard img {
-  width: 3.5rem;
-  height: 3.5rem;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  object-fit: cover;
-  border: 2px solid var(--line-brass);
-  transition: border-color 0.25s;
+.server-banner-header {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
 }
-.city-placard:hover img { border-color: var(--brass); }
-.city-placard .city-name {
+.server-banner-kicker {
   font-family: Marcellus, Georgia, serif;
-  font-size: 0.85rem;
-  color: #fff;
-  line-height: 1.2;
-}
-.city-placard .city-region {
-  font-family: Inter, sans-serif;
-  font-size: 0.62rem;
-  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
   text-transform: uppercase;
-  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
+  color: var(--brass);
+}
+.server-banner-status {
+  font-family: Inter, sans-serif;
+  font-size: 0.78rem;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.55);
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.4rem;
+}
+.status-dot {
+  width: 7px;
+  height: 7px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--brass);
+  display: inline-block;
+  animation: statusPulse 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+@keyframes statusPulse {
+  0%, 100% { opacity: 0.3; transform: scale(0.8); }
+  50% { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1.2); }
+}
+.server-grid {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr);
+  gap: 0.75rem;
+}
+.server-card {
+  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.035);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(201,162,39,0.12);
+  border-radius: var(--radius);
+  padding: 1rem 0.75rem;
+  text-align: center;
+  transition: all 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
+  position: relative;
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: translateY(12px);
+}
+.server-card.visible {
+  opacity: 1;
+  transform: translateY(0);
+}
+.server-card:hover {
+  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
+  border-color: rgba(201,162,39,0.25);
+}
+.server-card .server-city {
+  font-family: Marcellus, Georgia, serif;
+  font-size: 1.05rem;
+  color: #fff;
+  margin-bottom: 0.15rem;
+}
+.server-card .server-region {
+  font-family: Inter, sans-serif;
+  font-size: 0.68rem;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.45);
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  margin-bottom: 0.6rem;
+}
+.server-card .server-ping-wrap {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 0.35rem;
+  min-height: 1.6rem;
+}
+.server-card .server-ping-icon {
+  font-size: 0.65rem;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.2);
+}
+.server-card .server-ping-ms {
+  font-family: Inter, sans-serif;
+  font-size: 1.15rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);
+  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
+  transition: color 0.5s ease;
+}
+.server-card .server-ping-ms.done {
+  color: #fff;
+}
+.server-card .server-ping-ms.fast {
+  color: #4ade80;
+}
+.server-card .server-ping-unit {
+  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);
+  font-weight: 400;
+}
+.server-card .ping-spinner {
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  border: 2px solid rgba(201,162,39,0.15);
+  border-top-color: var(--brass);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  animation: pingSpin 0.7s linear infinite;
+}
+@keyframes pingSpin {
+  to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
+}
+.server-card .server-ping-label {
+  font-size: 0.62rem;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.25);
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+}
+.server-card.server-best {
+  background: rgba(201,162,39,0.1);
+  border-color: var(--brass);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 25px rgba(201,162,39,0.15), inset 0 0 25px rgba(201,162,39,0.04);
+  transform: translateY(-3px);
+}
+.server-card.server-best .server-city {
+  color: var(--brass-bright);
+}
+.server-card.server-best .server-ping-ms.fast {
+  color: var(--brass-bright);
+}
+.server-card .best-badge {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: -0.5rem;
+  right: -0.5rem;
+  background: var(--brass);
+  color: var(--midnight);
+  font-size: 0.55rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  font-family: Inter, sans-serif;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  padding: 0.2rem 0.5rem;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: scale(0.5);
+  transition: all 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+.server-card.server-best .best-badge {
+  opacity: 1;
+  transform: scale(1);
+}
+.server-optimal {
+  text-align: center;
+  margin-top: 1rem;
+  min-height: 2rem;
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: translateY(10px);
+  transition: all 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
+}
+.server-optimal.visible {
+  opacity: 1;
+  transform: translateY(0);
+}
+.server-optimal-inner {
+  display: inline-block;
+  font-family: Marcellus, Georgia, serif;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6);
+  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+  border-top: 1px solid rgba(201,162,39,0.2);
+  padding-top: 0.75rem;
+}
+.server-optimal-inner strong {
+  color: var(--brass-bright);
+  font-weight: 400;
+}
+.server-optimal-inner .optimal-arrow {
+  display: inline-block;
+  margin: 0 0.3rem;
+  animation: optimalArrowBounce 1.6s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+@keyframes optimalArrowBounce {
+  0%, 100% { transform: translateY(0); }
+  50% { transform: translateY(-3px); }
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 992px) {
+  .server-grid {
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
+  }
+}
+@media (max-width: 576px) {
+  .server-grid {
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
+  }
+  .server-banner-header {
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: flex-start;
+  }
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 768px) {
   .hero { min-height: auto; padding: 3rem 0 0; }
-  .city-placards { width: 100%; padding: 0 1rem 0.5rem; gap: 0.5rem; }
-  .city-placard { width: 6rem; padding: 0.5rem 0.25rem; }
-  .city-placard img { width: 2.8rem; height: 2.8rem; }
   .hero-actions { flex-direction: column; }
   .hero-actions .btn { width: 100%; text-align: center; }
   .hero-stats { gap: 0.75rem; }