Moving a WC PC

therealdippy · 29 May 2025 at 13:01

I'm going to move house and to be safe I'll take my PC in the car. I plan to drain the system, remove the graphics card and carefully pack a towel in the case to absorb any residual coolant in case it leaks. I will then put the case in it's original box which includes the polystyrene packing and lay it flat in the boot (i.e. motherboard horizontal), perhaps on a few towels to absorb shocks. Any comments on this plan (especially from anyone else who has done the same)?

cbd-flower · 29 May 2025 at 13:11

I wouldn’t worry too much, just put it horizontal with some padding like you said it should be fine.

Finners · 29 May 2025 at 13:13

How far is the car journey?

Everything you said is basically what I did when I moved. Although I had it in the passenger seat and pushed it forward to jam it against the glove box so it couldn't move.

SpudMaster · 30 May 2025 at 00:45

I wouldn't worry about leaks, just keep the pc right up if possible. The pressure created by your pump running would much greater than simply driving.

Just support the GPU as you don't want that snapping off if it's particularly bumpy or a long journey.

Rroff · 30 May 2025 at 02:32

When I moved I had around a dozen monitors, several PCs and related stuff packed in my pickup, I did disconnect and/or support things like heat sinks and GPUs and made sure everything was well packed (used old duvets, etc. to wedge the base units in). ~30 minute drive with some not great roads without a problem.

Glanza · 30 May 2025 at 10:53

Up to you if you do all that, when I used to run custom loops I'd put it in the car as it was laid down and it was fine driving a hour both ways.

pastymuncher · 30 May 2025 at 11:42

I wouldn't even bother draining it but like the others have said, make sure the gpu is supported.

Mcnumpty2323 · 30 May 2025 at 12:27

You're taking every precaution possible
More than needed probably
But since you have the original packaging
might as well put the pc in it
Shouldn't be any issue
Watercooling pcs get sent out by couriers
Who won't go to the lengths you are
To take care of them

Driven a few hundred miles with mine before
Just put a towel on the back seat
And had the pc laying down
It survived fine
Was more worried about the glass panel than
Anything else
But had nothing available to pack it in
Didn't drain it or remove the gpu either

therealdippy · 30 May 2025 at 14:28

Thanks for the replies. It's a 125 mile journey which usually takes 2.5 hours. I have confidence that I could ship it without draining except for the GPU. It is supported with a bracket, but nevertheless I don't want to take the risk - some of the roads on the journey are not quite up to the high standard we have become used to in the UK, and it would just need a bad jolt and bad luck to cause damage. So if I remove the GPU then it's best to drain it - something I have not done for a few years, so it's a good excuse for a flush and refill with fresh coolant. It's good to know that others have not had problems by doing less so I should be OK!