How to Protect the CPU When Moving a Computer With a Large Heatsink?

[Mana]

I have a Core2 Quad 6600 overclocked to 3 GHz. To facilitate this overclock I bought a large heatsink, specifically the Thermalright Ultima-90. I'll be moving out of my current residence to another home which will require a four hour drive. Given that I have such a large heatsink on top of my CPU are there any precautions I should take to prevent damage to the CPU from any bumps during the road trip?

One thing I have already thought of is that I will be travelling with the case on its side, so the big worry is not vertical movement, but horizontal. Another thing I have thought of is taking some of the anti-static foam I have lying around and putting it around the heatsink to prevent movement. Finally, I could always take the heatsink off, but if possible I'd like to avoid that.

Note: If this is the wrong forum please tell me and I can move the thread to General Hardware or something, I figured it applied here since this involves my overclocked CPU and its rather large heatsink.

 

[Elfear]

As long as you keep the case on it's side and can locate your rig somewhere in the vehicle where it is least likely to bounce around, I'd think you'd be fine. The biggest worry is the moment arm created with a big sink with the case in a vertical position.

 

[Rifter]

keep it on its side(with mobo on bottom obviously) and i think you will be ok as long as you dont need to go offroading to get to your new place. A buddy of mine moves his LAN party machine every few weeks with a 120mm thermalrite on it and has never had a problem.

 

[homercles337]

You could pack your case with old newspaper or something too.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Mana
some of the anti-static foam

Such a thing exists? What is anti-static foam, packing peanuts coated with some kind of metallic overcoat like they use on those hard-drive and mobo bags?

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: Mana
some of the anti-static foam

Such a thing exists? What is anti-static foam, packing peanuts coated with some kind of metallic overcoat like they use on those hard-drive and mobo bags?

AS foam is usually pink in color. I think it's a "special" formula not to promote static. We use it on electronics all the time.
http://www.uline.com/Grp_143/Anti-Static-Foam

EDIT: for the OP, your best option is to pull the heatsink off.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
AS foam is usually pink in color. I think it's a "special" formula not to promote static. We use it on electronics all the time.
http://www.uline.com/Grp_143/Anti-Static-Foam

EDIT: for the OP, your best option is to pull the heatsink off.

:thumbsup: Thanks for that! I had no idea that stuff was anti-static.

I remember receiving some ram in that stuff and actually thought to myself "gee I guess static don't concern these folks..." Glad to find out I was wrong about that (and them).

 

[Gillbot]

:thumbsup:

 

[nyker96]

i recommend putting a large bag of foams inside the case to discourage movements. lay the case horizontally during xport. I think you should survive. be sure to pack some foams outside the case in case it bump around during transport, i would just use a winter jacket or cloth for that or heavy bed sheet. as long as you got packing material inside the case the cooler should not move. good luck.

 

[TidusZ]

I've taken my computer on a plane several times by basically stuffing the case with sheets so that it was fairly "packed" and removing the more breakable and smaller pieces such as harddrives/ram/videocard and taking them in a carry-on. I also lined the outside of the suitcase with pillows and a blanket which I actually used at my destination (yeah, not bad eh?). On one such occasion When I opened my suitcase, my case had a pretty sizable dent in it, but it worked fine. I've done this 5-6 times as I used to work summers far away. So yea, bedsheets stuffed in there works well if you don't have antistatic foam, imo. Computers aren't as breakable as a lot of people may have you believe.

 

[Rubycon]

Yes if it's pink it's anti static. This goes for packing peanuts too.

Carrying the computer with you and handing it over to a courier are two completely different things.

Would you pack your PC in a box (even double boxed) and roll it down a flight of stairs? Well that could happen in transport! I'd remove the CPU heatsink/fan and memory and ship separately.

If you have a large two slot graphics card that should be removed as well. A PC standing upright and dropped just two feet can exert sufficient force on the graphics card pcb to cause damage.