OT: proper pc packaging for shipment?

Shipping something like this is very risky, the odds you'll be happy are remote.

Sell locally.

You need to double-box them, with plenty of space and padding around the inner box.

The computer can fit into the inner box tightly, with little or no padding.

I did this a few years back with some classic KLH equipment, and it got to Europe safely.

one

this

no

one of my tips

Packing fragile items for the postal system. As well as bubble-wrap inside cardboard boxes consider the following. Save pint or 2 pint plastic blow-moulded milk cartons and use like Storopack. Clean out and dry with cap off. Replace the cap and use as packing inside a larger cardboard box than you would otherwise use. One on each face acts like car air bags or even Martian lander. Perhaps part fill each bottle with polystyrene chips in case the bottle bursts in a heavy bump. If the gap is too small then release cap and squash a bit before replacing cap. Tape in place around previously bubble-wrapped item. I sent an old bakelite cased meter to Italy using this technique. It already had a known crack in the casing and didn't worsen in the journey - which is some testament for the technique.

-- Diverse Devices, Southampton, England electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on

The general idea is to put as much space between the PC and the sides of the box. It's not unusual for me to receive a new PC with perhaps

There are also various grades of fiberboard:

Got a heavy duty box with the heaviest fiberboard you can afford.

When I ship something, I like to use the original box the machine arrived inside. I save many shipping boxes for common machines. However, the space is becoming more expensive than just buying a new box, so I'm doing less of this.

There are vendors that sell computer specific packaging:

As a simple test, when you have it all boxed and taped, balance the box on a corner. If the corner caves in under the weight of the box, the box collapses, and the tape tears off, it's not going to arrive in one piece. Many vendors will cringe at this test, but it was suggested by professional shipping company and seems to work.

Its always a good idea to make sure the screws or card securing hardware is in place before shipping to stop the PCI/PCI-e cards from coming out of the sockets.

Good Luck

I fill a bag with foam peanuts & wedge it tightly in the chassis to prevent heatsinks & cards from popping loose. You need a tight fit to really fill in the gaps. Don't forget to tell the buyer to remove the bag before firing it up!