Question about shipping a computer. Please help!

[motti15]

I am going to be moving overseas and have a mid-tower custom PC I built that I need to ship overseas. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on the best way to ship it? I was thinking of taking out most of the components like the GPU, HD, SSD and put that in my carry on and put the rest of the computer nicely packed with plenty of protection in my luggage. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[alexoiu]

What CPU cooler using?

 

[motti15]

I'm using the Hyper cooler 212 inside. I was thinking of leaving that attached still and just using the foamed to fill the void so it won't bounce around. Would it be best to use anti-static foam inside the computer?

 

[alexoiu]

I would remove the cooler too, then.

 

[motti15]

I see. Would you take the HD, GPU, and cooler with you in your carry on? It just seems easier to put the computer in my luggage as it won't be as expensive as shipping it. Just trying to figure out if it would be safe in a hard-shell luggage.

 

[alexoiu]

Would you take the HD, GPU, and cooler with you in your carry on?

Yes, if enough room. You can use some bubble wrap for pc, monitor, CPU cooler. For GPU and storage drives, antistatic and cardboards would be ok. For installing back the cooler, you'd need isopropyl and thermal paste.

 

[motti15]

I see, thank you for your suggestions! I will look into doing that. I assume that TSA would have no issue with me transporting HDs and GPU in my carry on, haha. I'll get anti-static bags for those pieces too.

 

[alexoiu]

No, you can transport electronic devices. You will have to take them out of the bag at the check-in gate, though.

 

[motti15]

Ohh I misread that. So I can transport the parts of the PC, they just have to check them at the TSA I assume.

 

[alexoiu]

Only those transported in the cabin/hand luggage. It's similar to laptops, mobiles, a.s.o. You have to put them aside the hand luggage at check-in.

 

[USAFRet]

HDD and SSD...thousands of those get shipped all across the world, every day. No need to take it out and baby it.
GPU and CPU cooler...probably take those off and put in your luggage. Not carry on.


But also...how do you think a prebuilt PC gets from the factory in China to a house in Omaha or Utrecht? It comes all assembled.

 

[motti15]

I see what you mean. I just didn't want to ship everything in tact just in case there was an issue and I didn't have my HD any longer. That would suck to lose everything. I just might put mid tower with the motherboard, ram, and some other cables into my checked bag and keep the rest of the stuff with my in my carry on.

 

[USAFRet]

Obviously, you also need a full backup of all your data before this move.
No matter how you transport the drive, BadThings can happen.

In your carryon? Your bag gets dropped.
In your luggage? The ramprat tosses it.
Or, it gets lost completely.

Which is more important...your data, or a cheap physical drive?