Packing a computer

eascarface · 25-July-09, 05:49 AM

I'm going off to college in a couple of weeks (woot) and I'd like to take my desktop with me. Since I'm not shipping anything the only way to take it would be as checked baggage. Any idea on how I should pack the computer? I'm think I pull out everything and wrap it up nice and tight individually and then put it all in one big box with an obscene amount of packing. Just a bit worried that it still won't be enough to get it through 2 flights. :S

Thoughts?

Slaymate · 25-July-09, 09:18 AM

I wouldn't take it all apart. I would remove the heatsink thou. It might be easier to just mail it to yourself, the last PC I mailed off cost about $35.

godling · 25-July-09, 11:19 AM

Seconding Slay's suggestion. The cost of taking the PC with you on the flight is greater, not only in dollars but in concern over handling. Ship it to yourself via UPS for about $35. Also, as suggested, remove the HSF so it doesn't snap off in transit. You might even want to take the HDD separately, so you know you've got your data.

GrandpaNoob72 · 25-July-09, 05:39 PM

+ 1 to Slay and Godling's suggestions...

As far as the internals that you leave in place, I would also consider some of the bubble-wrap variants to try and make sure that nothing gets jostled too badly on the inside of the case. Wrap some towels around the case, then at least 2-3" of clearance all the way around for packing peanuts or whatever...

Good luck!

eascarface · 25-July-09, 06:28 PM

Hmmm. Ok then. I think there is a DHL around here that I can use, hopefully it wont be too expensive. Thanks for the advice guys

Lokie · 27-July-09, 07:12 PM

get insurance just in case....

xgeko2 · 27-July-09, 08:45 PM

I used to ship out dell computers by the hundreds when i worked for a guy doing computer re-cycling bubble wrap works out the best because of cost if you can use it there is a insulating foam you can get that will expand around the computer making a perfect fit its how main manufactuors ship crt's and towers to most retail outlets. To get ahold of that you would probably have to go to some kind of shipping warehouse i know my boss owned a machine to do it and he had 500 gallon drums of the chemicals. but bubble wrap works surprisingly well compared to packing peanuts.

s1ugh34d · 04-August-09, 03:53 PM

Water cooling would be my biggest concern. If i moved I would have to drain four WC loops...ugh the horror.

I would stuff some foam inside if at all possible.

I could just see the airlines wondering what 15 indivdually wrapped electronics in a bag were doing when it gets to security...

The only time I drove my case I stuffed it with foam and made a custom cardvboard box that went inside another. It's hard to ship some of our extreme intricate computers sometimes.

THRiLL KiLL · 04-August-09, 04:42 PM

i worked in a rma department. so far all the suggestions you have gotten have been good.

heatsink equal death if they come loose during shipping.

everything else should be fine.

I would take out the hard drives, and ship them separately or take them with you (as carry on luggage).

also lokie had one of the best ideas, as for shipping. to elaborate on it. take pics of the pc, and the boxed pc before you ship. so if it comes crushed, the before pics will help the claim go much faster.

BeetleMan · 04-August-09, 05:15 PM

Take everything outta the case, pack in carry-on luggage, buy new case at destination.

25-July-09, 05:49 AM		#1 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God	Packing a computer I'm going off to college in a couple of weeks (woot) and I'd like to take my desktop with me. Since I'm not shipping anything the only way to take it would be as checked baggage. Any idea on how I should pack the computer? I'm think I pull out everything and wrap it up nice and tight individually and then put it all in one big box with an obscene amount of packing. Just a bit worried that it still won't be enough to get it through 2 flights. :S Thoughts?

25-July-09, 09:18 AM		#2 (permalink)
Slaymate PCApex Reviewer From Hell	Re: Packing a computer I wouldn't take it all apart. I would remove the heatsink thou. It might be easier to just mail it to yourself, the last PC I mailed off cost about $35.

25-July-09, 11:19 AM		#3 (permalink)
godling Apex Tech Maniac Supreme	Re: Packing a computer Seconding Slay's suggestion. The cost of taking the PC with you on the flight is greater, not only in dollars but in concern over handling. Ship it to yourself via UPS for about $35. Also, as suggested, remove the HSF so it doesn't snap off in transit. You might even want to take the HDD separately, so you know you've got your data.

25-July-09, 05:39 PM		#4 (permalink)
GrandpaNoob72 Eleven-Bravo Sitrep Writer	Re: Packing a computer + 1 to Slay and Godling's suggestions... As far as the internals that you leave in place, I would also consider some of the bubble-wrap variants to try and make sure that nothing gets jostled too badly on the inside of the case. Wrap some towels around the case, then at least 2-3" of clearance all the way around for packing peanuts or whatever... Good luck!

25-July-09, 06:28 PM		#5 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God	Re: Packing a computer Hmmm. Ok then. I think there is a DHL around here that I can use, hopefully it wont be too expensive. Thanks for the advice guys

27-July-09, 07:12 PM		#6 (permalink)
Lokie Custom What?	Re: Packing a computer get insurance just in case....

27-July-09, 08:45 PM		#7 (permalink)
xgeko2 Apex Master Tech	Re: Packing a computer I used to ship out dell computers by the hundreds when i worked for a guy doing computer re-cycling bubble wrap works out the best because of cost if you can use it there is a insulating foam you can get that will expand around the computer making a perfect fit its how main manufactuors ship crt's and towers to most retail outlets. To get ahold of that you would probably have to go to some kind of shipping warehouse i know my boss owned a machine to do it and he had 500 gallon drums of the chemicals. but bubble wrap works surprisingly well compared to packing peanuts.

04-August-09, 03:53 PM		#8 (permalink)
s1ugh34d Apex Tech God	Re: Packing a computer Water cooling would be my biggest concern. If i moved I would have to drain four WC loops...ugh the horror. I would stuff some foam inside if at all possible. I could just see the airlines wondering what 15 indivdually wrapped electronics in a bag were doing when it gets to security... The only time I drove my case I stuffed it with foam and made a custom cardvboard box that went inside another. It's hard to ship some of our extreme intricate computers sometimes.

04-August-09, 04:42 PM		#9 (permalink)
THRiLL KiLL PcApEX's PuNK ROckER	Re: Packing a computer i worked in a rma department. so far all the suggestions you have gotten have been good. heatsink equal death if they come loose during shipping. everything else should be fine. I would take out the hard drives, and ship them separately or take them with you (as carry on luggage). also lokie had one of the best ideas, as for shipping. to elaborate on it. take pics of the pc, and the boxed pc before you ship. so if it comes crushed, the before pics will help the claim go much faster.

04-August-09, 05:15 PM		#10 (permalink)
BeetleMan PCApex Corr-Hoe-spondent	Re: Packing a computer Take everything outta the case, pack in carry-on luggage, buy new case at destination.

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