I’m in the process of building a PC and will be moving states next month. Ideally, I’d like to at least get it built and booted up before moving, because I’m moving to a more rural area without easy access to a MicroCenter or other store that sells components. It’ll be a ~700 mile drive, the second half of which will be through smaller mountain roads. What is the best way to do this, so I can avoid damaging any components?
Edit: Thanks for the advice everybody, the consensus seems to be to remove and package separately the hard disks, GPU, and anything else heavy that sticks out from the board, then wrap the whole thing in towels and blankets and lay it on its back for the duration of the journey.
I moved over 4000 miles away with overseas shipping on a pallet that traveled about half the distance in a truck by land.
Here is how I did it:
GPU in its original box since that was made for sea shipping.
HDDs taken out, wrapped in foam, and put in boxes.
Other components stayed in the case, but the case was filled with large air pocket packing material to support the air cooling block. Computer was then put in the original case box and stored with the orientation of the cooling block vertical. The side to side movement is eliminated with the packing material and less stress was placed. Safer yet would be to remove the cooler if it is air.
If you have a glass side panel, make sure it is surrounded by packing material.
That is it! Everything arrived in perfect condition except for some books which got wet from the humid saltwater air in an enclosed space.
