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Transporting computer to college?
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1
#1
1 Frags +

I'm gonna be moving states to attend a new college for Fall and I need some advice on what I should do to transport my computer. Are there any cases I can get to protect it in the car (approx. 6 hour drive) or is there something else I should do?

I'm gonna be moving states to attend a new college for Fall and I need some advice on what I should do to transport my computer. Are there any cases I can get to protect it in the car (approx. 6 hour drive) or is there something else I should do?
2
#2
4 Frags +

Wrap it all in bubblewrap and stick it in a box with some packing peanuts.

Honestly you probably aren't gonna do much damage to your tower during a move unless you have a really fragile case or the internals aren't well secured. Just make sure you're not dropping it or anything. The monitor and your peripherals are going to be the things you need to be careful with.

Wrap it all in bubblewrap and stick it in a box with some packing peanuts.

Honestly you probably aren't gonna do much damage to your tower during a move unless you have a really fragile case or the internals aren't well secured. Just make sure you're not dropping it or anything. The monitor and your peripherals are going to be the things you need to be careful with.
3
#3
3 Frags +

I've taken my computer in a 3+ hour car drive like 8 times now...

The case is usually fine if you can put it somewhere secure where it doesnt bounce around.
Personally, I wrap my monitor with some of my bed blankets and comforters and just basically put soft stuff that I would pack in a box anyway around it. Otherwise, you could find a decent sized cardboard box, put some soft clothes in it, put the monitor on top, and the put soft blankets on top of the monitor, and make sure the box is put somewhere safe in the car and doesn't have stuff stacked ontop of it.

I've taken my computer in a 3+ hour car drive like 8 times now...

The case is usually fine if you can put it somewhere secure where it doesnt bounce around.
Personally, I wrap my monitor with some of my bed blankets and comforters and just basically put soft stuff that I would pack in a box anyway around it. Otherwise, you could find a decent sized cardboard box, put some soft clothes in it, put the monitor on top, and the put soft blankets on top of the monitor, and make sure the box is put somewhere safe in the car and doesn't have stuff stacked ontop of it.
4
#4
1 Frags +
kbk-I've taken my computer in a 3+ hour car drive like 8 times now...

The case is usually fine if you can put it somewhere secure where it doesnt bounce around.
Personally, I wrap my monitor with some of my bed blankets and comforters and just basically put soft stuff that I would pack in a box anyway around it. Otherwise, you could find a decent sized cardboard box, put some soft clothes in it, put the monitor on top, and the put soft blankets on top of the monitor, and make sure the box is put somewhere safe in the car and doesn't have stuff stacked ontop of it.

This is what you should do, and if not "bed blankets" I've used towels instead.

[quote=kbk-]I've taken my computer in a 3+ hour car drive like 8 times now...

The case is usually fine if you can put it somewhere secure where it doesnt bounce around.
Personally, I wrap my monitor with some of my bed blankets and comforters and just basically put soft stuff that I would pack in a box anyway around it. Otherwise, you could find a decent sized cardboard box, put some soft clothes in it, put the monitor on top, and the put soft blankets on top of the monitor, and make sure the box is put somewhere safe in the car and doesn't have stuff stacked ontop of it.[/quote]
This is what you should do, and if not "bed blankets" I've used towels instead.
5
#5
4 Frags +

I've heard that if you're worried about anything inside the computer, it's your GPU.

Long car drives = prolonged vibration, and most GPU's are just hanging off a slot or two, so if there's anything that'll get damaged, it's the GPU. I haven't had any damage happen to mine though, and I've carted it between home and my uni apartment a lot.

I've heard that if you're worried about anything inside the computer, it's your GPU.

Long car drives = prolonged vibration, and most GPU's are just hanging off a slot or two, so if there's anything that'll get damaged, it's the GPU. I haven't had any damage happen to mine though, and I've carted it between home and my uni apartment a lot.
6
#6
1 Frags +

My CPU has fallen off twice (once when going to norcal lanfest). Mainly because the mobo has a shitty lock.

My CPU has fallen off twice (once when going to norcal lanfest). Mainly because the mobo has a shitty lock.
7
#7
4 Frags +

I lay my computer on its back so that the motherboard is facing upward with gpu pointing upward as well. This helps minimize any vibration that would come to your pci ports by pushing the gpu down into the port. As for the monitor, definitely secure the screen well, my first trip I didnt and it now has a giant scratch from my case.

I lay my computer on its back so that the motherboard is facing upward with gpu pointing upward as well. This helps minimize any vibration that would come to your pci ports by pushing the gpu down into the port. As for the monitor, definitely secure the screen well, my first trip I didnt and it now has a giant scratch from my case.
8
#8
3 Frags +

take out the gpu and you should be fine assuming you don't have a fuckhuge heatsink

take out the gpu and you should be fine assuming you don't have a fuckhuge heatsink
9
#9
0 Frags +

just put it all on your backseat and put the monitor inbetween the backseat and the back of the front seat
its all good

just put it all on your backseat and put the monitor inbetween the backseat and the back of the front seat
its all good
10
#10
1 Frags +

I had to tansport mine to a lan twice.

The first time, I put everything in a huge tub, tower and all, and put it in my trunk. Everything turned out ok.

The second time, I just put the tower in my backseat, wrapped it in a couple towels, and put everything else in a tub. No damage.

It's not much of a hassle, especially if you're doing mostly freeway driving. Just exercise care and you should be fine.

I had to tansport mine to a lan twice.

The first time, I put everything in a huge tub, tower and all, and put it in my trunk. Everything turned out ok.

The second time, I just put the tower in my backseat, wrapped it in a couple towels, and put everything else in a tub. No damage.

It's not much of a hassle, especially if you're doing mostly freeway driving. Just exercise care and you should be fine.
11
#11
1 Frags +

if you have the room, I would honestly take it apart and transport the components separately instead of letting the parts jiggle around inside the ports, potentially snapping; but that's most likely to be due to a bulky, high profile GPU. Not like it's common, but be better safe than sorry that way.

if you have the room, I would honestly take it apart and transport the components separately instead of letting the parts jiggle around inside the ports, potentially snapping; but that's most likely to be due to a bulky, high profile GPU. Not like it's common, but be better safe than sorry that way.
12
#12
0 Frags +

thanks for the answers guys! i'm just a bit concerned because the highway i will be driving on is extremely bumpy from my experiences, and i will probably end up taking out the CPU heatsink and GPU (since they're the largest and loosest things in the case). also i can't store it in my trunk because the temperatures will be in the 110s when i'm driving.

thanks for the answers guys! i'm just a bit concerned because the highway i will be driving on is extremely bumpy from my experiences, and i will probably end up taking out the CPU heatsink and GPU (since they're the largest and loosest things in the case). also i can't store it in my trunk because the temperatures will be in the 110s when i'm driving.
13
#13
0 Frags +

If its just a 6 hour drive just wedge the tower on the floor behind the passenger seat. It won't move at all. Before I got a laptop to LAN with I used to lug my tower all over like that.

If its just a 6 hour drive just wedge the tower on the floor behind the passenger seat. It won't move at all. Before I got a laptop to LAN with I used to lug my tower all over like that.
14
#14
0 Frags +

I make a six hour trip eight times a year for the last five years due to college. I definitely recommend putting your computer on its side, so the mobo faces up. I haven't had any huge issues after the move (making the trip right now actually lol). I like to put blankets around the case. Most issues you may encounter after the trip canbe fixed by simply reseating your equipment to make sure it's in tight.

The biggest risk is damage to your GPU and CPU fan. I regret not removing both during trips, my CPU fan must have broken during one of my trips and its hard to tell if the GPU was damaged at all but it's an easy removal.

As for your monitor, I like to keep the styrofoam that comes with the original packaging and box for trips. Lay them with the backside facing down.

I make a six hour trip eight times a year for the last five years due to college. I definitely recommend putting your computer on its side, so the mobo faces up. I haven't had any huge issues after the move (making the trip right now actually lol). I like to put blankets around the case. Most issues you may encounter after the trip canbe fixed by simply reseating your equipment to make sure it's in tight.

The biggest risk is damage to your GPU and CPU fan. I regret not removing both during trips, my CPU fan must have broken during one of my trips and its hard to tell if the GPU was damaged at all but it's an easy removal.

As for your monitor, I like to keep the styrofoam that comes with the original packaging and box for trips. Lay them with the backside facing down.
15
#15
0 Frags +

Going back and forth from OU to NE Ohio 3 times a year for a couple of years, while risky looking back on it, I never had any problems with it getting screwed up. I just always put it on the floor in the back passenger foot area and put the seat back so the seats hold it. I would always put a blanket around it too. Simple, and I never had to take anything apart. Unless you have some really shitty shocks, your car shouldn't bounce that hard

Going back and forth from OU to NE Ohio 3 times a year for a couple of years, while risky looking back on it, I never had any problems with it getting screwed up. I just always put it on the floor in the back passenger foot area and put the seat back so the seats hold it. I would always put a blanket around it too. Simple, and I never had to take anything apart. Unless you have some really shitty shocks, your car shouldn't bounce that hard
16
#16
0 Frags +

always helps to keep the original boxing for monitors and GPUs

always helps to keep the original boxing for monitors and GPUs
17
#17
1 Frags +

Yes remove the GPU and heatsink as they will wobble and break possibly if you dont

Yes remove the GPU and heatsink as they will wobble and break possibly if you dont
18
#18
0 Frags +
matterteaYes remove the GPU and heatsink as they will wobble and break possibly if you dont

Only if you drive like a mainiac. If its mostly highway driving and you don't hit anything you should be fine. My tower went with me all over the east coast and I never had a problem.

[quote=mattertea]Yes remove the GPU and heatsink as they will wobble and break possibly if you dont[/quote]

Only if you drive like a mainiac. If its mostly highway driving and you don't hit anything you should be fine. My tower went with me all over the east coast and I never had a problem.
19
#19
0 Frags +
thrashermatterteaYes remove the GPU and heatsink as they will wobble and break possibly if you dont
Only if you drive like a mainiac. If its mostly highway driving and you don't hit anything you should be fine. My tower went with me all over the east coast and I never had a problem.

The problem is when people suddenly cut you off with a right turn on a red light. Main reason why my CPU fell off, some asshole cut my sister off and the breaks made my heatsink & CPU fall off.

Though Scythe CPU heatsinks are fucking huge.

[quote=thrasher][quote=mattertea]Yes remove the GPU and heatsink as they will wobble and break possibly if you dont[/quote]

Only if you drive like a mainiac. If its mostly highway driving and you don't hit anything you should be fine. My tower went with me all over the east coast and I never had a problem.[/quote]
The problem is when people suddenly cut you off with a right turn on a red light. Main reason why my CPU fell off, some asshole cut my sister off and the breaks made my heatsink & CPU fall off.

Though Scythe CPU heatsinks are fucking huge.
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