Weird Request: How to pack my desktop for a flight?

[de.das.dude]

I have shifted cities and i really miss my desktop. I would prefer to sell and buy it a new but like a true nerd i just dont have the heart to sell it. Plus its not economically viable.
i have decided to take everything except the case.

I want to carry the mobo with the CPU seated in it. RAMs will be put somewhere safe like the back pack along with my lappy(probably will tape them to it)

Maybe seat the GPU flat down on the PCIE slots with bubble wrap and tighten it all down.

This will go into a small luggage carry which i will carry -on board. things will be protected by clothes and stuff. not sure if i can fit the mobo box in the trolley though.

I wish to carry the monitor in its packaging as carry on as well.

Where should i put the PSU? should i just get a new one in my current city? it weighs a ton so ill have to pay a lot for it as well.

 

[qubit]

Why don't you want to take the case?

 

[Sasqui]

Sounds like you got it covered. Bubble wrap and something stiff outside of that to protect from flying luggage. Taking the memory out is a good idea.

Why don't you want to take the case?

Just a guess here - space.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I would keep the RAM mounted on the motherboard so the exposed contacts are not exposed to ESD or physical damage. The heavy heatsink fan assembly could be a problem if the motherboard is mishandled unless the motherboard is always laying flat.

Getting through security may raise some eyebrows. I would keep all of it together if possible. As for the PSU, for me, it would depend on the quality of the PSU and how much it would cost to ship vs buying new.

 

[de.das.dude]

security not an issue since its domestic. and just a 2hour flight. The crew assured me they mark fragile things separately as long as i mention it during check-in. But i am wondering if anyone has had any experience regarding this.

will be travelling on an Airbus A320, dont expect turbulent air much.

 

[ThE_MaD_ShOt]

Can you just ship the whole thing through a shipping company?

 

[de.das.dude]

Can you just ship the whole thing through a shipping company?

shipping is horrible here. so horrible that online retailers use their own services.

 

[ThE_MaD_ShOt]

shipping is horrible here. so horrible that online retailers use their own services.

Ah okay

 

[Easy Rhino]

How do you pronounce 'Pune?'

 

[FordGT90Concept]

What I'd do is put the computer in original box the case in shipped in and call it good. That's no different than how Dell/HP would ship a completed computer anyway. Only thing I'd be concerned about is if you have a huge HSF or graphics card in there that would create excessive force on the motherboard.

I know cases are big but they exist to protect the components inside. It was meant to be.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

What I'd do is put the computer in original box the case in shipped in and call it good. That's no different than how Dell/HP would ship a completed computer anyway. Only thing I'd be concerned about is if you have a huge HSF or graphics card in there that would create excessive force on the motherboard.

I know cases are big but they exist to protect the components inside. It was meant to be.

I dont know you know, ive seen some horrific luggage handling vids, I would get esd protection bags and wrap each peice fairly tight in that, then bubble wrap loose, then cardboard layer, each piece.

dell and Hp build stuff so it can be just shipped hence no decent HSF or weighty GPU , movement in transit can be bad ,shit my gpu dislodges for jokes what with its pciex slot seeing more action then a hooker,, or me for that matter tut.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The case is meant to provide an ESD shield. When you go to plug it in, the first thing that connects is the ground to drain all the static energy off it before applying main power.

 

[Ahhzz]

whew... I'm still seeing security take a second glance at your bags, considering a young man got in serious trouble after building a home-made clock as a project recently.....

 

[FordGT90Concept]

That was in USA...at a K-12 school. USA has gotten very paranoid of anything looking like anything at schools because of all the school shootings.

 

[cdawall]

For shipping I boxed mine up in the original box, tossed some foam around the heatsink (coolermaster v10) and it flew from South Dakota to Qatar in my bag. That's with a mid tower case and dual video cards.

whew... I'm still seeing security take a second glance at your bags, considering a young man got in serious trouble after building a home-made clock as a project recently.....

"home made clock" my ass he disassembled a count down card put it in a suitcase and his racebaiting father sent him to school.

 

[natr0n]

How do you pronounce 'Pune?'

poon ?

 

[droopyRO]

Use this https://p2.liveauctioneers.com/171/68265/35076279_1_l.jpg
On a more serious note, i remember reading about electronics above 5000 meters and radiation, but iirc it was about using them at those altitudes.
Altitude Operating:
5,000 m (16,400 ft) max
Altitude Non-operating:
12,192 m (40,000 ft) max
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=210-ADJE
It might be safe for electronics up to that altitude if it is safe for a monitor.

PS: i got bad grades in physics in high school

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Computer hardware often flies. Most commercial aircraft fly below 40,000 ft.

 

[cdawall]

The exterior of the aircraft will prevent the majority of the radiation issues. To further show this ipads fly on airforce planes well above 40k feet, running just fine.

 

[fullinfusion]

For shipping I boxed mine up in the original box, tossed some foam around the heatsink (coolermaster v10) and it flew from South Dakota to Qatar in my bag. That's with a mid tower case and dual video cards.



"home made clock" my ass he disassembled a count down card put it in a suitcase and his racebaiting father sent him to school.

Yeah but you flew with the AF right, and Im sure they handle baggage alot better then the domestic airlines do.

My wife is just getting back from Australia tonight and she flew Virgin Australia from LA.. Well as expected one piece got lost and when she got her missing piece of luggage it was all taped up and crap like that.

It was a $1200 set of quality luggage and that bag had the framing all twisted and bent.. she was not a happy camper I tell ya.

Carry on what you can but remember the airlines now lowered the max size and weight for carry on.. Best of luck getting getting you and your hardware there safely friend

 

[cdawall]

Commercial on the first one and "air force" the second. The second time luggage is handled by low ranking Airmen so no I guarantee that civilian is friendlier to bags.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Remove GPU + Aftermarket heatsink( if large) + Ram
Esd bags and box it.

In case Pc gets bumped or dropped all that hanging weight can cause damage , depends on the Pc setup tho

 

[de.das.dude]

How do you pronounce 'Pune?'

Poo-nay

whew... I'm still seeing security take a second glance at your bags, considering a young man got in serious trouble after building a home-made clock as a project recently.....

fortunately not from MURICA

poon ?

close but not quite

Computer hardware often flies. Most commercial aircraft fly below 40,000 ft.

mine will be flying at 35-38000 ft. its a light aircraft with good powered engines. will be doing 0.8 mach.



After all this consideration i have decided to take my monitor in its original packing. Airline has told me they will mark the luggage as fragile and handle it better. plus im sure monitor can be carry on.

mobo and heatsink and gpu will go into the check-in. again marked as fragile.

the case will be shipped to my by my uncle who will travel with granny in a month by train.

 

[xorbe]

Remove heavy graphics card and cpu HSF. Box it up like they are attempting to destroy it, because well, they are.

 

[zithe]

If at all possible, keep it as carry on luggage. Avoid having it placed in any bulk compartment. That's where some of the worst shocks can happen. Not because of where they're loaded, but anything you can do to avoid having your computer going down a beltloader is a great thing.

Source : Work for fedex airport location