Mailing a Computer

[Nonpossible]

I am planning on shipping my newly built PC from NY to California for a friend who doesn't have the time to build a new one.

I am wondering;

What carrier is best, USPS, UPS or FedEx?
How should I package it? Will it be okay in the Case's original box?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from anyone who already has experience shipping PCs.

 

[why_wolf]

I can't speak for the difference between UPS and FedEx but you should definitely use on of them instead of USPS. If for nothing else the tracking and insurance claim process. USPS tracking sucks and getting an insurance claim completed with them is just infuriating.

I do shipping stuff for work and we only use USPS because it services all of Alaska unlike UPS and FedEx.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I always use the original retail box and packing , ship UPS.

Any large Air Coolers need to be removed , if stock it's fine.

 

[vrumor]

I ship all my custom builds in their original boxes. However, you must reinforce everything on the inside. The GPU cant move in any direction, if it has a heavy CPU cooler that cant move either. I use construction grade insulating styrofoam on the spaces in between the case and the box. If it falls, gets thrown, or otherwise comes to a sudden stop after a decent size fall, everything on the inside is going to get moved around and sometimes to devastating results.

 

[Jake Lloyd]

Once GPUs started having their own cooling, I have always boxed them separately just to be safe. Most people that want a custom PC know enough to slide something into a PCI-e slot and plug in some cables, I've emailed pics of step by step to them for that part.

The real hard part is if you have a massive cooler like a Hyper 212 in there. Like vrumor said, using construction grade Styrofoam to stabilize the cooler is the best way to go if they can't be bothered to install it themselves.

I've never had a issue with fedex or UPS with computers, but have had FedEx boxes show up with other stuff in not the greatest condition at my place.

 

[Nonpossible]

I can't speak for the difference between UPS and FedEx but you should definitely use on of them instead of USPS. If for nothing else the tracking and insurance claim process. USPS tracking sucks and getting an insurance claim completed with them is just infuriating.

I do shipping stuff for work and we only use USPS because it services all of Alaska unlike UPS and FedEx.

Thanks, that's very helpful. It also seems to be the consensus that everyone else on the internet has. Any ideas on how to properly pack it without dis-assembling anything? I am worried that my Cooler Master 212 could put too much stress on the MOBO if the package is mis-handled.

 

[Nonpossible]

I always use the original retail box and packing , ship UPS.

Any large Air Coolers need to be removed , if stock it's fine.

Thanks, that confirms what I thought. I was worried that my Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo would be too heavy.

 

[why_wolf]

I can't speak for the difference between UPS and FedEx but you should definitely use on of them instead of USPS. If for nothing else the tracking and insurance claim process. USPS tracking sucks and getting an insurance claim completed with them is just infuriating.

I do shipping stuff for work and we only use USPS because it services all of Alaska unlike UPS and FedEx.

Thanks, that's very helpful. It also seems to be the consensus that everyone else on the internet has. Any ideas on how to properly pack it without dis-assembling anything? I am worried that my Cooler Master 212 could put too much stress on the MOBO if the package is mis-handled.

Looks like vrumor gave some good advice on how to package it up. Personally the stuff I'm shipping is the heavy stuff that will smash your packages into little pieces (machinery spare parts, so you know lots of metal).