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travel dilemma

hey

i'm moving to rome in 6 days and I need to bring my enormous desktop computer (20"x18"x8") and more reasonably sized monitor with me for music production and freelance design work. I don't have a laptop.

To ship this at UPS they told me it would cost $462.00, which is definitely far beyond what I would be happy paying. I just calculated it on the united states post office website and it's like 235.00.

Has anyone ever travelled with or shipped a desktop computer?

any tips on packaging?

thanks
adam

the computer is a must have for me.
sounds like u may be in the same boat.
suck it up, pay the shit.
u can always pay it off later.

or u can take apart the tower and carry the peices with u, lol.
monitor is screwing u tho hahha.

take the vital components and buy a new machine otherwise when u get over there? bear in mind you'll probably need voltage converters etc for your stuff in europe.

i've brought my tower as a carryon twice with no problem.

quote:

Originally posted by iclone i've brought my tower as a carryon twice with no problem.

I guess you don't have the same hand restrictions we do from the UK then? Either that or you have a tiny desktop!

any advice on the voltage converters?

i definitely can't afford a new computer

I'm going to remove the harddrive and bring it with my luggage though

i guess i am comfortable paying the 235, because it's a good investment for what I need it for overseas, but the problem is also shipping it safely/insuring and then the voltage issues.

the monitor is small and lightweight, not an issue really.

If you are shipping with USPS, then be on the safer side and get your stuff insured.

If you haven't thrown away the original boxes, use them for packing. They come stuffed with styrofoam in the right places to prevent damage.

Best bet as far as packing is concerned.

yeah my tower is enormous. it wouldn't fit as carryon

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec any advice on the voltage converters? what do i need exactly in italy? i definitely can't afford a new computer and. i guess i am comfortable paying the 235, because it's a good investment for what I need it for overseas, but the problem is also shipping it safely/insuring and then the voltage issues. the monitor is small and lightweight, not an issue really.

now you can easily get a voltage converter for it, us is 110 watts i believe, europe is 220-240 iirc. Just buy a reasonable one that covers you for the value of the connected equipment imo. And if you come to the uk, we use 3 pin plugs so you need yet another

quote:

Originally posted by Ian I guess you don't have the same hand restrictions we do from the UK then? Either that or you have a tiny desktop!

the UK/european size restrictions are certainly tighter than in the US. my tower's older -- whatever "normal" size was for about 5yrs ago. [clear as mud, eh?]

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec yeah my tower is enormous. it wouldn't fit as carryon

drat. sorry. worth a shot

lol depends if u have a mini/midi or large tower, but I'd find it a pain moving my stuff. I'd just wrap up all the leads & components safely and buy a new case/psu when i got to the other end, but i'm fussy

good idea on removing the harddrive for travel.
i have high end video card, i'd take that out and bring it with me too.
in case im on a plain and i have to disable a terrorist.
i can stab him to death with the corner of my video card.

quote:

Originally posted by washout good idea on removing the harddrive for travel. i have high end video card, i'd take that out and bring it with me too. in case im on a plain and i have to disable a terrorist. i can stab him to death with the corner of my video card.

you wouldn't get that on if you were in the uk they've allegedly (i've not flown in 13 months) become very very picky on what u can & can't take aboard aircraft after the scares about bombs being taken on in drinks bottles and mixed together onboard.

quote:

Originally posted by Ian you wouldn't get that on if you were in the uk they've allegedly (i've not flown in 13 months) become very very picky on what u can & can't take aboard aircraft after the scares about bombs being taken on in drinks bottles and mixed together onboard.

i've done eight trips to london this year -- on either end, you won't get any liquids/creams/toothpaste through security >100mL or >3oz. you can purchase anything else [e.g., bottled water] once on the secure side.

london gatwick allows only ONE carry-on item, too, so heads-up if you're connecting.

quote:

Originally posted by iclone i've done eight trips to london this year -- on either end, you won't get any liquids/creams/toothpaste through security >100mL or >3oz. you can purchase anything else [e.g., bottled water] once on the secure side. london gatwick allows only ONE carry-on item, too, so heads-up if you're connecting.

ok, so once in departures I can buy myself a bottle of diet fanta or ribena to take on the plane? I always drink like a camel on flights & I'd hate to be paying airline prices for water. One poor guy on a flight from Lisbon to Birmingham had to pay 4 euros for 500ml of water.

quote:

Originally posted by Ian you wouldn't get that on if you were in the uk they've allegedly (i've not flown in 13 months) become very very picky on what u can & can't take aboard aircraft after the scares about bombs being taken on in drinks bottles and mixed together onboard.

haha i traveled to Manchester, Last year? i think it was. Carrying a video card, a hard drive, RAM, and a other little bits and peices in a carry case bag (sealed with anti-static bags of course).

Nobody said a thing. I even grabbed it all out and asked security.. I'm pretty sure at least one of those components could be turned into a weapon.

Ian's right though, It'd probably be a lot easier to just pull your computer apart and buy a new Case (preferably that comes with a PSU) and that will automatically include a new power cable.. Which eliminates the 3 pin thing. Problem solved..

But make sure if you do go this road - You pack your components in anti-static bags, away from heat and magnectic stuff. And be careful not to break the capacitors.

quote:

Originally posted by Fl@k Monkey haha i traveled to Manchester, Last year? i think it was. Carrying a video card, a hard drive, RAM, and a other little bits and peices in a carry case bag (sealed with anti-static bags of course). Nobody said a thing. I even grabbed it all out and asked security.. I'm pretty sure at least one of those components could be turned into a weapon.

lol. i like being in the canary isles, I try to go once a year at least and they're so laid back there, they just smile as you go through security carrying a drink or something ur not really 'supposed' to have. I mean obviously if you weren't friendly and looked sus they'd probably check you over but i've never found them bad at all.

quote:

Ian's right though, It'd probably be a lot easier to just pull your computer apart and buy a new Case (preferably that comes with a PSU) and that will automatically include a new power cable.. Which eliminates the 3 pin thing. Problem solved.. But make sure if you do go this road - You pack your components in anti-static bags, away from heat and magnectic stuff. And be careful not to break the capacitors.

yeah, I'd be extremely careful with how I packed it all, no point getting the other end to find something's fucked up.

quote:

Originally posted by Ian ok, so once in departures I can buy myself a bottle of diet fanta or ribena to take on the plane? I always drink like a camel on flights & I'd hate to be paying airline prices for water. One poor guy on a flight from Lisbon to Birmingham had to pay 4 euros for 500ml of water.

no need for inflight rape'age!

confirm with the carrier -- as i'm only certain for british airways, air france, and american airlines -- but i'd be willing to guess that if those three majors permit liquids from the departure lounge, the other airlines do, as well. i regularly fly with 2 500mL drink bottles plus liquor bottles from duty free shops.

So I don't know the first thing about building a computer. Are the parts all standard sizes? Do I need a new powersupply and does it come with a case? I guess Also I would be worried about the fan unit fitting or the computer overheating

if anyone can point me to the direction of a recommended guide to swapping cases that'd be cool


i guess then all i need to take with me are:

motherboard
disk drives
hard drive
graphics card
sound card
fan unit?

do all cases have proper housings for these?

The average computer case these days has a switching power supply.


Yours may or may not have it. You need to check on the power supply if there is a switch to go from 110 to 220 .... or if on the power supply itself it is indicated 110- 240.

Also ... stuff the case with clothes and stuff like that so you can save on luggage space.


I have travelled with cpus more times than I can recall and never had a problem.

This site looks good

http://www.tomshardware.com/2002/09...ng_your_own_pc/


as for voltage, most power supplies have a 110/220 switch on the back.

ive put PCs in suitcases before, shouldn't be an issue. Pad with clothing and take the vitals separately.



edit: jdat and I rule

quote:

Originally posted by Allied Nations edit: jdat and I rule

damn you and your watermelons, greg.

quote:

Originally posted by iclone damn you and your watermelons, greg.

damn you and your... melons!

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