Shipping a custom gaming PC cross nation.

zankuto · May 29, 2013

What tips can you give me for shipping a pc with these specs.

CPU: Intel I3-2120 w/ stock heatsink.
case: Apevia X-dreamer 4 pink
harddrive: Westren Digital 1TB cavier Blue
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 650 Ti 1gb
Motherboard: Asrock Z68 Extreme 3
Ram: G.Skill 4Gb (2x 2gb) 1600mhz ripjaws
Soundcard: Xonar DG 5.1
Wi-Fi Network card: Rosewill RNX-250
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 380D
DVD Drive: Samsung 24x OEM.

Situation:
1. The client has no knowledge of how to reassemble a pc.

2. I have all the orginal Apevia box and packaging/Styrofoam in mint condition.

3. I plan to use UPS ground across country.

What I need:
How can I ship this thing without it rattling apart. Ive read stories on other forums and their only suggestion was to take apart the pc during shipping which isn't an option in this case.

rex4235 · May 29, 2013

Fill it with expanding foam... but seriously, there's not much you can do other than disassembling it (which you cant)

Make sure to get insurance for the parcel. Its cheap, and if in the event its damaged you can seek reimbursement.

Onus · May 29, 2013

You can pay through the nose to have UPS re-pack it, and insure it, but most PCs I've shipped by UPS arrived damaged, some severely.
The last (and only, it sucked so bad) Apevia case I bought would not be something I'd expect to survive UPS handling.
You might try USPS or FedX; I think their rates might be a little higher, but I suspect the latter in particular might be a little more careful with packages.
In any case, screw in all drives and expansion cards, even if they use "tool-free" mounts or clips. Since the CPU cooler is mounted with clips and not a backplate, have the customer call you so you can assist him to be certain the HSF didn't lift up or come off completely. You may wish to throw in a small tube of TIM just in case.

COLGeek · May 29, 2013

Bags of air (get them at any shipping store) can be used inside the case to help secure the guts of the system during transit. They would have to be removed when received and before use.

zankuto · May 29, 2013

rex4235 :

would anti-static penuts work?

COLGeek · May 29, 2013

Anti-static peanuts could work, but you have to ensure 100% are removed and they tend to leave residue behind. I don't recommend their use inside the case. They are fine outside of the case, if packed properly.

zankuto · May 29, 2013

rex4235 :

would wadded up newspaper and cardboard work?

COLGeek · May 29, 2013

Paper/cardboard can work, but will also leave some dust/residue. The airbags really are cheap and leave nothing behind.

Onus · May 29, 2013

If you're worried about airbags snagging or popping, get some ziploc bags (sandwich and/or freezer size) and stuff them with wadded up paper towels or newspaper.
None of these things will protect the case from crushing, which is what happened to the last PC I shipped by UPS; in a heavy box, with foam spacers around it.
And DO screw things down; I had a drive shaken loose in one case, snapping the SATA cable connector off of it.

COLGeek · May 29, 2013

Onus :

This is a great work-around solution/recommendation.

zankuto · May 29, 2013

COLGeek :

I still have the bubble wrap from the Hard drive. would it help it I wrapped it inthe bubble wrap and then wrap that until its a solid fit? im sure I can help they get the hard drive back in place.

mbarnes86 · May 29, 2013

Hi

View from UK

The box used for shipping the empty case is rarely good enough for the built & assembled PC

so you need a box at least 6 inch bigger all round than the box for the case
(eg 3 " clearance)

pack inner box in outer box with bubble wrap or air bags, foam or what ever
pay for insurance and check the insurance terms & conditions for exclusions

best of luck

Mike Barnes

zankuto · May 29, 2013

Onus :

Any specific brand of zipper bag to prevent static?

Onus · May 29, 2013

Everything in the case will have a common ground, so static shouldn't be a problem.
If the hard drive is screwed in, there's no need to wrap it. If it can't be screwed in (???), then take it out and ship it separately, and help the customer [re]install it. A loose hard drive rattling around in the case (or even just vibrating itself against the nearest case wall with every bump) is not a good thing.

zankuto · May 29, 2013

mbarnes86 :

Would taking out the GPU, Sound card, and hard drive placing them in a seperate box together in their own original packing with peanuts. then boxing the the case box in an even bigger box help at all? the only thing I cant have really removed is the heatsink.

zankuto · May 29, 2013

Onus :

Ive heard the best method from some others just a bit ago was "instapak QT foam." can anyone vouch for its success or suggest where to find this?

heizenbrg · May 30, 2013

I have the same problem, am sending my newly built 1800$ PC from California to New York, these are the specs:
CASE: Corsair Carbide 500R
i5-3570k
Noctua NH-D14
ASUS P8Z77 V-PRO mobo
Gigabyte Windforce GTX 670 OC
8GB RAM
Samsung 256 GB SSD
1 TB HDD
Would this method of packaging suffice?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l5CSF0ZaUWs

I also have all the original boxes for every component and some air bags, would it be safer to just remove all the components and put them in their respective boxes? I'll probably need more then one suitcase ( its not a robust suitcase). If so, should ALL the components be removed, including the mobo? I really don't want to screw this up, now I'm afraid to send it through UPS.
Any help is gladly appreciated! I'm leaving in a few days! ( I know, should've done this sooner...)
Or how about removing all the parts, stick them in a suitcase, and ship the empty case seperately? There's no way I can bring the case onboard.
I also have a 27" ASUS VG278HE montitor, It'l probably cost me an arm and leg to ship that too, maybe I'm better off selling it, I do have a smaller one back in NY. It wil cost me 100$ to ship the monitor, I'm expecting the Pc to cost even more...

Onus · May 30, 2013

That FedEx method looks good, provided there is nothing loose (or that can loosen, e.g. "tool-free" mounts) inside the case itself. You may wish to remove any heavy graphics card(s) so they don't snap PCIe slots out of the mobo; carry those in your luggage. Put them back in their anti-static bags and pack them amidst clothing.

Drnonsense · Aug 31, 2014

heizenbrg :

I have the same problem, am sending my newly built 1800$ PC from California to New York, these are the specs:
CASE: Corsair Carbide 500R
i5-3570k
Noctua NH-D14
ASUS P8Z77 V-PRO mobo
Gigabyte Windforce GTX 670 OC
8GB RAM
Samsung 256 GB SSD
1 TB HDD
Would this method of packaging suffice?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l5CSF0ZaUWs

I also have all the original boxes for every component and some air bags, would it be safer to just remove all the components and put them in their respective boxes? I'll probably need more then one suitcase ( its not a robust suitcase). If so, should ALL the components be removed, including the mobo? I really don't want to screw this up, now I'm afraid to send it through UPS.
Any help is gladly appreciated! I'm leaving in a few days! ( I know, should've done this sooner...)
Or how about removing all the parts, stick them in a suitcase, and ship the empty case seperately? There's no way I can bring the case onboard.
I also have a 27" ASUS VG278HE montitor, It'l probably cost me an arm and leg to ship that too, maybe I'm better off selling it, I do have a smaller one back in NY. It wil cost me 100$ to ship the monitor, I'm expecting the Pc to cost even more...

Hey man,

I have some similar specs and I'm in a similar situation. What did you end up doing and how did it go in the end?

Shipping a custom gaming PC cross nation.

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