How To Transport Computer From Usa To Thailand......

[Ahnsahn]

What is the best way to bring my home built computer from USA to Thailand? Should I remove all the computer parts from inside the tower and pack them securely in a suitcase? Customs problems? Or is there another preferred method? Also, once the computer is here and up and running, would it run w/out problems on Thai 230~240 current if I swtich the current selector on the back of the Power Supply Unit from 115~130 to 220~240 or should I use a power converter?

Thanks....

[monty]

Take everything out of the tower, pack it good, put in suitcase and leave the tower at home. To bulky to lug around!

Just buy a new tower here, chinese brands start at 20 US$, with power included.

These are obviously low quality, but for a standard computer will suffice.

The high quality towers are bit harder to find, but one shop in Bangkok specializes in the higher quality stuff...They stock both Coolermaster and Lian-Li cases as well as enermax powersupply's

http://www.busitek.com/

[Crossy]

I'm 100% with Monty.

Dismantle your PC, put the mainboard, video card, RAM etc. in the suitcase. Pack the hard disk in your carry on, say nothing to customs. To be honest I wouldn't bother bringing any other parts, just buy new here.

BTW make a backup before you strip it all down, just to be safe.

[sting01]

I'm 100% with Monty.

Dismantle your PC, put the mainboard, video card, RAM etc. in the suitcase. Pack the hard disk in your carry on, say nothing to customs. To be honest I wouldn't bother bringing any other parts, just buy new here.

BTW make a backup before you strip it all down, just to be safe.

Back up several time on several suport, keep one with you.

The only problem you can have is wen your luggages are electronically scanned (not sure that wording is correct but I hope you get the point). Depend the quality of the HD, depend if the customs scan is not too much powerful, your HD can be erased. I do not have hear about that since ages, but it's still possible (let say 1 chance on 100 000 or something).

In fortune tower, ratchadapisek road, you have a shop specialised in middle to hight cases (the quality I mean), and it could be worth to take a look there. In Pantip there is mostly cheap case at 350 bht lol.

[bino]

[The only problem you can have is wen your luggages are electronically scanned (not sure that wording is correct but I hope you get the point). Depend the quality of the HD, depend if the customs scan is not too much powerful, your HD can be erased. I do not have hear about that since ages, but it's still possible (let say 1 chance on 100 000 or something).

I wouldn't be too worried about scanning the hard disk... I've always sent my laptop thru the scanner in every country with no problems, and I'm sure the airport security in every international airport has scanned hundreds of thousands of laptops with no problem.

If there is any chance that the scanner will damage your hard drive- probably more like one in a billion. Chances are probably higher of accidentally dropping your carry on bag and damaging the disk that way. Probably good to wrap the disk in a sweater, coat or something else that is soft inside the bag in case this happens.

Edited April 15, 2006 by bino

[Ahnsahn]

Thanks for all of the good advice......good point about laptops going through customs.....

[Crossy]

[The only problem you can have is wen your luggages are electronically scanned (not sure that wording is correct but I hope you get the point). Depend the quality of the HD, depend if the customs scan is not too much powerful, your HD can be erased. I do not have hear about that since ages, but it's still possible (let say 1 chance on 100 000 or something).

I wouldn't be too worried about scanning the hard disk... I've always sent my laptop thru the scanner in every country with no problems, and I'm sure the airport security in every international airport has scanned hundreds of thousands of laptops with no problem.

CHECKED baggage goes through some very powerfull kit these days, that's my major reason for saying to put the drive in your carry on.

The gear used for carry on baggage checks is much less powerful, my laptop had survived multiple scans over the years with no problems that I can attribute to the airport checks.

[The Coder]

baggage goes through some very powerfull kit these days, that's my major reason for saying to put the drive in your carry on.

Would any of you saying not to put hard drives in checked baggage happen to have a reference to potential risks or are you just spouting out opinions with no factual basis? As the data density on hard drives increases, it gets increasingly difficult to record or erase the surface. It's so tough to record on them you can put a degausser right next to them and it wont' do anything. It's getting to the point hard drive manufacturers are going to start using lasers to heat up the surface to prepare it for recording in order to increase the flux density. If you can record on a hard drive with a scanner several feet away that would be an amazing achievement to me.

I have brought a desktop to Thailand in a hard shell suitcase. I brought the case too because I didn't want a cheapo Thai casea or to get ripped off on the high prices of a good quality, limited choice cases. I took the hard drive out of the case was the only thing figuring everything else was secure and could take a thumping. Came through ok.

[Crossy]

baggage goes through some very powerfull kit these days, that's my major reason for saying to put the drive in your carry on.

Would any of you saying not to put hard drives in checked baggage happen to have a reference to potential risks or are you just spouting out opinions with no factual basis?

Not 'spouting', and I object to the use of the term, just a reasonably informed opinion from an engineer.

I'm not aware of any actual PROVEN damage being done by the baggage scanners, athough there have been (immediately post 9/11) reports of CDs and DVDs being 'fried' whilst in checked baggage, so evidently something pretty hefty is being used.

BUT

Why take the risk of damage or theft?

Edited April 16, 2006 by Crossy

[udon]

The high quality towers are bit harder to find, but one shop in Bangkok specializes in the higher quality stuff...They stock both Coolermaster and Lian-Li cases as well as enermax powersupply's

http://www.busitek.com/

Thanks for the tip about Busitek