Bring my desktop to another country

[Leychee]

22 hours ago, Blue4130 said:

It doesn't need to be a computer box. Any box will do. 

Understood! I'll see what I can do. 

15 hours ago, Roswell said:

They’re not going to let you bring the system or parts as carry-on. Sharp objects are a no-go. Don’t even bother trying because once they deny you it will be too late to get it in cargo.

Okay, so I'll remove those parts and put them in my check-in luggage. 

 

Didn't think it would be this complicated honestly. Thanks for your help! As soon as I start packing everything I'll probably have a couple more questions.

[Dedayog]

TSA says you can bring it in the place, even as Carry On if it passes their rules for Carry On of course.

 

Can You Bring A Desktop Computer On A Plane? (TSA PC Rules) (travelinglight.com)

 

Desktop Computers | Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov)

 

[TheEggComputer]

On 10/23/2021 at 3:44 PM, dizmo said:

Make sure it's well packed, and there's something supporting the cooler and graphics card, or remove them completely. You can't just use any old foam, as they can create static. Same with bubble wrap.

 

Also in mind your media is susceptible to inspection, with or without a password in most countries. 

Really? I didn’t know that media can be inspected on a computer in most countries. That’s kinda interesting

[Blue4130]

1 hour ago, Leley said:

Understood! I'll see what I can do. 

Okay, so I'll remove those parts and put them in my check-in luggage. 

 

Didn't think it would be this complicated honestly. Thanks for your help! As soon as I start packing everything I'll probably have a couple more questions.

It's not that complicated. Some of these people are just fear mongering. 

[dizmo]

1 hour ago, coneve1414 said:

Really? I didn’t know that media can be inspected on a computer in most countries. That’s kinda interesting

Anything on it. IIRC they also don't need to acquire a warrant.

[Leychee]

Ok so apparently this will be more complicated than I thought. I won't be able to ship it, just bring it as check-in luggage. I don't have the original box and I'll probably put the PC in a suitcase... any recommendations?

 

I also leave in 2 days... so I'm just tempted to risk it, I don't know.

[Togglesun]

Bubble wrap or some foam around it and inside?

[Leychee]

The transport went almost flawlessly, here's what I did:

First of all I used a hard shell suitcase (checked in) to transport the case. I removed the GPU, RAM and CPU cooler (in my case it's a tall one, almost touching the tempered glass of the case). Inside the case, 2 layers of antistatic bubble wrap, 1 layer of clothes (socks, shirts...), another 2 layers of antistatic bubble wrap, some more clothes and another 2 layers of antistatic bubble wrap. Just to be sure, I added some cardboard on top of it, touching the tempered glass. After that, I added another layer of cardboard outside of the case, glass side. Then a whole lot of antistatic bubble wrap all around it, held together with brown tape.

 

The RAM sticks, GPU and CPU cooler were also wrapped with antistatic bubble wrap separately, with a few layers each all around them. I carried the GPU and RAM in my backpack, and the CPU cooler in another carry-on baggage. 

 

I used lots of bubble wrap, way too much honestly, but it paid out. There's not a single scratch on any component, not a dent, and it looks like it's working fine.

 

If you're reading this message before transporting your PC, don't forget to bring some thermal paste (and a screwdriver, obviously, or a Swiss army knife that hopefully has a screwdriver). If you remove your CPU beforehand, don't forget your CPU applicator.

 

The only thing that didn't survive was one case fan, it still spins but it makes a weird noise. Maybe there's a cable touching it, I'll check later.

EDIT: nevermind, the fan is perfectly fine. There was something in the way. 

[Vishera]

One time i carried a full tower PC as a bag unto a flight.

The PC had steel side panels though.

It survived the flight only to die by the hands of a power surge.

[staticdoestech]

You could try placing the pc in a wooden crate and then loading that as separate cargo.