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General discussion

point me in the right direction

Mar 7, 2004 6:34PM PST

I tinker with computers alot, but ive come across somthing i have no knoledge of. I'm going to college in the near future, but i have a good number of computers i want to take, now of course i cant take them all, but i would like to take 3-5 of them. What is the best way to put them all in one case? In like one box to save space? ill probably have them connected to a switch so ill only need one moniter, mouse, and keyboard. Any help would be appricated!

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Re:point me in the right direction
Mar 7, 2004 8:30PM PST

Allow me to remind you of a fundamental rule of physics.

If you have X amount of space in a box and computers with volume Y, if X < Y, you're going to have a problem.

Unless you have a bunch of Shuttle systems or maybe a few Sun systems in either the lunchbox or pizzabox style, you can pretty much forget about sticking 3-5 computers in a single container.

Further, assuming you're living in a dorm room, any more than about 2 computers is likely to take up more real estate then you have in the room given you also need a bed and other misc furnature. Even using a loft doesn't really gain you that much extra space. It's a common freshman mistake to bring way more than you can reasonably fit into the large closet most places call a dorm room, which you often have to share with at least one other person. If you're getting an apartment, consider your utility bill for 3-5 systems, especially if you have warm summers where you are.

My advise would be to pick no more than TWO (2) computers to take. One as your primary system, and another sitting around in case something happens to the first (which is common in dorms). Leave the others at home for when you come back over breaks. Hell, if you find that you do have room for more than 2, you can always grab one at a later point. But pack lightly for moving day is the best advise someone can give you. Not only because you're going to have less room than you think, but you also have to carry it all to your room from the car, which is almost invariably the far end of the parking lot, then up a flight of stairs or two or into an elevator. Don't be a typical stupid freshman, pack lightly. You should also find out who your roommate is, if you have one, and coordinate who's bringing what before you move. No point in two people bringing a mini-fridge and microwave, etc.

That being said, I've found one of the best ways to transport computers is to stick the computer behind the seats of a car so they're pinned against the front seats and the back seats, sitting on the floor. Then the monitor goes on the back seat with the glass portion facing the back of the seat to minimize the potential for damage. You can throw the misc stuff like mice and keyboards inbetween them. Most everything else you should need should be able to fit in the trunk, otherwise you're probably bringing too much.

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Re:Re:point me in the right direction
Mar 8, 2004 6:50AM PST

well i ment all the parts to all the computers in one larger case. You can physically run a computer without a case right? so why can you just get some sort of larger case, stick a bunch of mother boards in there as well as the power supply's, and well...everything else?