It’s fairly safe to assume that if you do enjoy playing video games, then you probably own a gaming console – a PlayStation, a Nintendo Switch, or an Xbox. But chances are that you also have a gaming computer in your home since gaming PCs tend to offer much more flexibility for a dedicated video gamer like yourself.
During a house move, a desktop computer is definitely not the easier item to move safely, especially when compared to a laptop (after all, laptops are designed to be highly portable – that is, easy to move from one place to another). Desktops computers are generally bulky because of the large sizes of their two major components – the tower and the monitor.
Moving a desktop computer to a new house can be somewhat challenging but moving a gaming PC to a new place is even harder due to its significantly higher cost. A gaming computer is a serious investment that should be carefully protected during all stages of moving.
Read on to learn how to safely move a gaming PC from one place to another so that it reaches its destination in perfect condition.
Why gaming PCs are difficult to move
Gaming PCs are high-end Windows-running computers that are specially designed for gaming. The major difference between gaming PCs and typical mainstream personal computers is that the former are equipped with high-performance video cards because of the need for extra video processing that modern video games require.
Video cards of gaming computers have dedicated memory (RAM), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a cooling system as well. In comparison, typical personal computers use primarily onboard video cards – that is, graphic controllers that are built into the motherboard itself.
Gaming PCs must also be equipped with sufficient memory (RAM) and a powerful CPU in order to meet the minimum requirements of most modern video games – requirements that tend to become more and more demanding for obvious reasons.
Therefore, the major reason why a gaming PC is difficult to move to another home is that it will be much more expensive than a standard mainstream personal computer. The higher cost is the result of the costlier separate computer components of gaming PCs: a state-of-the-art graphics card, a powerful processor (CPU), a lot more memory (RAM), and oftentimes a quick SSD (solid-state drive) instead of a standard HDD (hard disk drive).
Sometimes the video card of a gaming PC can cost more (up to five times!) than an entire non-gaming PC.
How to pack a gaming computer monitor for moving
Depending on your specific computer configuration, you may have two monitors as a way to enhance your gaming experience. If so, follow the same steps below to pack up safely your second monitor for the road ahead.
Here are the steps to packing a gaming PC monitor for moving:
- Step. 1. REMOVE the monitor stand carefully, wrap it in paper, and place it inside a cardboard box that will contain miscellaneous computer parts, including cables.
- Step 2. TAKE OUT any cables going into the computer monitor, wrap them up with care, and pack them separately.
- Step 3. CUT OUT a piece of thick cardboard that matches exactly the frame of the monitor screen. Make sure the cardboard cutout is clean.
- Step 4. POSITION the cardboard piece over the monitor screen so that the display is covered entirely. Then, use small pieces of masking tape (NEVER use packing tape) to secure the protective cardboard sheet.
Bear in mind that a monitor screen is the most delicate part of the entire gaming PC, so don’t rush this critical step in any way. - Step 5. WRAP the entire PC monitor in large sheets of bubble wrap to create a soft protective layer around it. Use tape to secure the sheets and keep them from unfolding during the move.
- Step 6. INSERT slowly the protected monitor into its original cardboard box. If you don’t keep the box you bought the monitor with, then use a moving box of the right size to fit the most sensitive component of your entire gaming PC.
- Step 7. FILL IN any remaining space inside the cardboard box with pieces of crumpled paper. When you’re done, the monitor should not be moving at all inside the packing box.
- Step 8. CLOSE the box, seal it, and label it MONITOR and FRAGILE.
See also: How to pack electronics for moving
How to pack a gaming computer for moving
The next step to moving a gaming PC to a new home is to protect the mid-tower in the best possible way. You shouldn’t forget (how could you?!?) that while monitors are not cheap in any way, it’s the computer tower that contains all the super-expensive components that turn the PC into a powerful gaming machine.
Computer towers look sturdy and even indestructible in a way but that cannot possibly be any further from the truth. In reality, mid-towers are rather fragile and can be easily damaged during transport unless utmost care is taken to guarantee their safety.
Here are the steps to packing a gaming PC for moving:
- Step 1. TURN OFF your gaming PC and disconnect all cables from it. Fold the cables carefully, secure them with elastic rubber bands, and pack them into the box with the rest of the computer peripheral devices.
- Step 2. DO NOT DISASSEMBLE the mid-tower of your gaming computer. The best way to transport your gaming PC is to pack the tower safely and then move it as it is without any attempts to remove its internal components. The reason for this is simple enough: there’s always a risk of damage to any of the super-expensive computer parts if you make the wrong decision to take them out, transport them separately, and then put them back together after the move is complete.
- Step 3. WRAP the entire computer mid-tower in large sheets of bubble wrap in such a way as to create at least two layers of the thick plastic material around the whole metal box. Use pieces of tape to secure the bubble wrap.
- Step 4. TRANSFER the protected gaming PC mid-tower into a sturdy cardboard box that’s slightly bigger than the tower itself. Then, fill in any remaining gaps in the box with crumpled pieces of paper until the computer box fits snugly and cannot shift around inside the packing box. Finally, shut the cardboard box and seal it securely.
- Step 5. USE the packing principle of DOUBLE BOXING to protect your gaming computer in the best possible way. This step is critical so pay close attention in order to understand the fundamental idea of what double boxing is and why you should do it in your case.
- Step 6. FIND a strong cardboard box that’s larger than the cardboard container in which you’ve just packed the computer tower. Fill its bottom with packing peanuts to create a soft cushioning layer, transfer the first cardboard box into the second one, then top it off with more packing peanuts until the first container is completely covered.
- Step 7. CLOSE the lid of the second box, seal it with packing tape, and label it accordingly.
- Step 8. PACK all computer peripheral devices such as a mouse, a keyboard, speakers, a Wi-Fi router, etc. into a separate box but make sure you wrap them up in soft packing paper first.
Double boxing is an excellent way to ensure that your gaming PC arrives in the new home perfectly intact. This packing method is especially suited for super-sensitive items that can be damaged by the inevitable vibrations during a relocation trip.
The pieces of crumpled paper will keep the mid-tower secure inside the first box, while the packing peanuts inside the second box will absorb any undesirable external forces and harmful vibrations so that the computer itself constantly “floats” inside the cardboard boxes.
Read also: Double boxing: Safe packing at its safest
How to move a gaming PC to another home
Without a doubt, the best way to transport a gaming PC is inside your own car while you’re driving to the new place. That’s right – the three boxes (or four if you have a second monitor) will be protected inside your vehicle since you’ll be keeping an eye on them throughout the trip.
Now, if there’s enough space on the back seats, then that’s where you should keep the double-boxed mid-tower. It’s easy to guess why – the most expensive and sensitive computer parts will be in it. The boxes that contain the rest of the PC components can be packed inside the car trunk.
If there isn’t any room on the back seats (when all family members are traveling in the car), then the box that contains the PC mid-tower should also be transported in the trunk. Ensure that the boxes are positioned securely and cannot shift around during transit.
However, if you happen to be flying to the destination place instead of driving across the country, then you’re going to have to trust a professional moving company to transport all your household belonging, including your valuable gaming computer. And if that’s the case, remember to purchase additional insurance for your expensive gaming PC.
Use our Moving Cost Calculator to get in touch with the best cross-country movers in your area.
