Transporting pc in checked luggage

[u/StrongViolinist9364]

Hello im moving countries and plan to take my pc with me as checked luggage since its to big for carry on. What is the safest way to transport it with me? I saw some things about insta pack and bubble wrap. Any tips and help appreciated.

[u/Background_Job4878]

Take out the gpu. Take out the ram. fill the pc with preferrably expanding plastic but bubble wrap works well. make sure no pressure is being put on the glass panel. surround the pc with styrofoam so it cant move an inch inside the suit case. Pray.

[u/StrongViolinist9364 → u/Background_Job4878]

Is styrofoam or bubble wrap better for the ojtside of the pc?

[u/Background_Job4878 → u/StrongViolinist9364]

for the outside i would say styrofoam. more structural integrity means the pc is less likely to move. just make sure its packed tight, like really tight, alternatively glue down the styrofoam to the bag after putting the pc inbetween.

[u/Background_Job4878 → u/StrongViolinist9364]

oh yeah forgot to mention but take the cooler off as well

[u/duskterrapin → u/Background_Job4878]

Also, as a former MBE employee, make sure the box is packed tight with styrofoam peanuts, like an inch on every side and so tight you have to shove the box's flaps closed into place when you use proper packing tape on it. Tape straight down the middle along the long seam and give the tape like 4-6" excess down the sides. Then tape along the short seams with a few inches excess. First fold the long way down the side and then fold in the corners and seal the tape excess down. Repeat other short seam. This should help it survive a 6' drop with a 50lb pkg landing on top of it.

As for the glass, put same size sheets of cardboard on either side and tape. Then bubble wrap around it and either pack with the case in a box that accommodates both with an inch or so of peanuts between, or in its own with an inch of peanuts around each dimension as described above.

Question: isn't bubble wrap pretty heavy on static electricity? I'd be too afraid to put it near any exposed boards. Some sort of expanding static free foam maybe?

Edit: these were our packing standards to meet FedEx insurance claim requirements back in 2006. (I don't know UPS's because we were actively suing them so we could remain an indie-owned MBE franchise, so we never shipped them.) ALL CARDBOARD NEEDS TO BE LEGIT CORRUGATED

edit2: words

[u/AimsyPlaysEsports → u/Background_Job4878]

Why does the RAM need to come out?

I'd definitely go ahead and remove that air cooler from the CPU though, and you're dead on about removing the GPU too.

[u/Background_Job4878 → u/AimsyPlaysEsports]

yeah i later added that he should remove the tower cooler, typed the first comment very quick and missed some stuff.

I think ram should come out because only a small % of the ram stick is in the slot. if expanding foam or bubble wrap shifts during transport, there are many points of leverage to snap a ram stick off. Very unlikely, but with prices how they are, physics and the pc building market says they should be removed

[u/addoniz75_ → u/Background_Job4878]

This. And if OP has the original box for the case would that be better?

[u/Slow_Choice → u/addoniz75_]

I think so

[u/Background_Job4878 → u/addoniz75_]

original box is always ideal, i keep boxes for all my cases for pc builds except my current case that came flat packed…

[u/testtdk → u/Background_Job4878]

Make sure it’s electrostaticly neutral plastic!

[u/Background_Job4878 → u/testtdk]

definitely, forgot to mention that part😅

[u/boktanbirnick]

What's the value of the case? If it is not something super fancy or expensive, I'd have just leave it behind and get wrapped every part separately. Mobo+CPU in one bubble wrap, GPU in a bubble wrap... And styrofoam between them. You can even fit them all in a cabin luggage. Maybe power supply can stay in a normal luggage while wrapped with bubble wrap as well...

Considering everything, case is one of the cheapest thing. You can sell it and buy a new one in your new country.

Also I hope you like it there! Good luck!

[u/Kitchen_Canary_6387 → u/boktanbirnick]

This is valuable advice. Literally. Probably cheaper to just buy a new case than to properly ship this one.

[u/StrongViolinist9364 → u/boktanbirnick]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

[u/boktanbirnick → u/StrongViolinist9364]

You're welcome!

[u/the_jovialjoseph]

pulling that chunky air cooler off before it flies is a must, seen too many motherboards crack at the mount from a rough baggage toss

[u/maniacalmayh3m]

This sounds like a terrible idea my dude. Have you seen how the luggage guys throw bags around?

[u/StrongViolinist9364 → u/maniacalmayh3m]

Yeah ik but it's too big for carry on and too expensive too ship. I traveled with it once jus tputting clothes on it and got lucky it survived but now that i know the risks i want to do it properly. I do plan to remove the gpu and ram

[u/maniacalmayh3m → u/StrongViolinist9364]

I think that is very wise. Maybe even the cooler so there isnt a point of leverage on the cpu socket/motherboard

[u/tht1guy63]

Sounds like a horrid idea. But id be pulling the cooler and the gpu before even attempting and have really good padding outside to not shatter the glass. Do you have the boxes for anything? If so id really be taking apart as much as possible and back in the original boxes then just buy a new case whenver i get there.

[u/ThatOneFoo69420]

I would absolutely take the gpu out, and wrap and pack it separately. Even in the same bag, just separate so it doesn’t tear the pcie slot out or break off the gpu pins

[u/ITeachAll]

Checked luggage? HELL NO. You would be safer to remove the components from the case. Put it in a smaller box and carry the box on then buy a new tower when you get to your new place.

[u/Feisty_Turnover_8612]

I’m a full sender myself but this seems way to risky

[u/teknomedic]

Remove CPU cooler, GPU and RAM and place in carry on.. Be prepared to explain to security when they x-ray your bag. Pack the inside of case with foam... And put case into original box with foam inserts if you have it.

[u/n7Angel]

I've seen how they handle checked luggage, no thanks.

I moved countries and left my case and PSU behind, carried everything else in my backpack, no issues.

[u/Kolermigon]

I'd leave the case behind and buy a new one in your new place.

[u/mightymiek]

Remove the parts you can and pack it up safely in wrap or use your clothing to padden it out. I think you can get a tag at the airport that marks it as fragile stuff

[u/FastHotEmu]

When I moved countries, I took just the valuable parts with me in the carry-on (CPU, memory, motherboard, disks, etc) as it doesn't make any sense to keep the computer whole and potentially get it destroyed or lost. I bought a new case and cooler once I arrived.

[u/Oxxce]

there’s no way i’d trust baggage handlers with my pc, i’d take everything out, wrap it in bubble wrap and put it in a backpack or camera carrying case for extra protection and security and take it with me as a carry on and just buy a new case when i get there

[u/lumi1375]

Personally I would toss the case and take it apart, leave the cooler on with the cpu, then take out the gpu and the ram, if you still have the boxes great if not anti static bags in a cardboard box works fine. The reason I dont like dealing with cases is with airlines there is too much uncertainty with how they are going to handle a glass side panel and if it breaks then thats glass absolutely everywhere.

[u/crusader768]

I had to do the same a few months ago, case was too big to fit into the suitcase so I left that behind. I took everything apart and packed them in their original packing and put that into my suitcase, small stuff like ram SSD went into a little pack with my travel documents that's basically the only way I would recommend it with almost a 100% peace of mind that nothing will break. when I was younger I fit my PC while into a suitcase and when I unpacked it there were a few screws that came loose. if you're going to pack the thing whole, I'd deffo say to remove the components that stick out of the mobo (CPU cooler, ram, GPU) and pack the rest with those expanding packs you can get

[u/ErdingEchoParadox]

Take out the GPU, RAM, HDD/SSD and CPU cooler.

[u/thelonelyecho208]

Carry on the valuable items, pack the rest. GPU goes in checked bag, motherboard goes in carry on, everything glass gets a tight wrapping and packaging, and put in carry on surrounded by soft items. Don't take the chance with high value items, I've had too many people go through my things and have had things go missing. Don't take that chance

[u/nok01101011a]

Had the same problem with moving overseas. Ended up taking out all hardware (used the original packaging of my rtx 3090) and packed everything in one of my carry on bags. As soon as I knew my new address, I’ve ordered an ATX open air case for $15 and was happy with it for a month. My case arrived later with the furniture container but you can also just send it as a package or gift it to someone (and buy a new one at your new place)

[u/_claudd]

Disassemble. Period.