Considering keeping my Dell desktop in a van im converting

[Stardown2earth]

Hello and good vibes to you!

I have a Dell desktop that I would have to sell in order to purchase a laptop for on the road. I really like my desktop and if possible I would like to keep it. Does anybody have any experience with keeping a desktop in a van? Will the bumpy roads ruin my computer? What if I built a case for it will that keep it safe? I really appreciate any feedback that I could get selling a computer can be daunting and I already downloaded some cool software to it unfortunately

 

[TMG51]

Bumps and dust are considerations, but none that I would worry about. I would instead worry about power consumption, and space. Do you plan to run an inverter and/or generator to power your desktop?

A laptop is an improvement for both power consumption and space.

Tablets and the like use significantly less power. I'm a PC guy myself, so I understand the hesitation to switch to a platform that uses "apps" and a touch screen. But in the van life we have to make some sacrifices. And I personally would not try to run a full desktop computer in a van setup.

Microsoft Surface does a pretty good job of offering full computing power with limited power consumption and space, fyi.

 

[Reducto]

Vibration can be an issue but bouncing around inside the van would be worse. I'd plan on making sure it's nice and secure.

As for selling, you can always put it on ebay with a reserve that seems fair to you. No negotiating or meeting people in person that way, it either sells or it doesn't and you can ship it off.

 

[B and C]

I have a desktop in my Roadtrek.  https://www.amazon.com/HP-EliteDesk-800-G2-i5-6500T/dp/B0161UY7EW

There is a 12VDC to 19.5VDC adapter to run it.  I put a SSD in place of the hard drive as I think this is the most fragile part.  I have had no issues with it and it has been over some pretty bad frost heaves in Canada on the way to/from Alaska this last summer   It has been in there over two years.  My monitor is a 12VDC TV (only 720P) made for truckers.  I also carry a laptop powered from 12VDC with the same adapter.

I think you have two considerations:

1.  How are you going to power it?  I have 250Ah of battery for mine plus other loads and it runs from 12V with an adapter.  You will probably need a PSW inverter or you could look at the ways some car people add them in their trunk.  You will also need good ways to replenish the power.

2.  You are also going to need a monitor (TV = dual use).  Power for this will also need to be factored in.  A regular monitor may not stand up to the rigors of being on the road.  YMMV

My $0.02

 

[Riverman]

Welcome to the forum...

My used Dell laptop is using 8-watts while idling (with a fully charged battery). I can charge it with 110v, 12-volts or solar.

I will recommend a fine used one on eBay: Dell e6430

Have a nice day.

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Yah, I think if I had to choose, I'd sell the desktop (probably not a lot of resale value there, though) and get a laptop. If the desktop was my only option, then the solid state hard drive makes sense. I have installed both desktops and laptops in some inDUSTrial concrete plants where airborne abrasive particulates were probably worse than you'd experience in the desert southwest and had zero issues. Microsoft's Surface tablets are expensive, I think I'd opt for a laptop for the same $$$ and have the full gamut of computing power, screen size, data storage, etc...but, that's just me. A tablet would be better at space-saving though.

 

[MikeRuth]

i see no issue with that, place the tower on a dense foam base(like a back packers sleeping pad) say 3/4' thick and then strap it down just enough so it can't bounce up and down over crazy bumps in the road.
Do not leave it on while your in motion, shut it down so the hard drive is parked.
Secure your monitor and your good to go.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

One of my jobs in a previous life was dropping and shaking hard drives to failure, inside and outside a PC.

If it was mounted correctly the hard drive should be fine.  It takes a lot to make them inoperable.  They have a higher tolerance to pain if unpowered.
Desktop computers are not designed to withstand a moving environment.  Your biggest concern is the motherboard: in a desktop it is not shock mounted like in a laptop.  Further, the designers of desktop motherboards pay no attention to vibration.

That being said, I know of a number of desktop computers that lasted 2 - 3 years of hard use in utility trucks.

My advice:

• If you decide to keep it build a cushioned box to keep it from bouncing around, making sure you have good ventilation.
• Transport it like a tower (with the motherboard in a vertical position).
• Have a complete backup (mirror) of your hard drive and back up your work after every session; flash drives are cheap or use an external hard drive.
• Don't leave it powered up when driving.

So much depends on your computers design, your driving style and environment.  If you drive a lot of undulating, potholed, washboard roads it probably won't last long.  If on smooth, paved roads it could last as long as in a house.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Hard drives, SDD's and spinning HDD's, are designed for shock loads, rated in G's, and can be as high as 300-400 G when operating and some are up to 900 G or more when not operating.  They are tougher than you think! So any bumps that you survive, the hard drive mounted in the computer will be fine, short of a severe head-on crash or something equally violent. 

Some newer vehicles have factory hard drives in the info-tainment system in the dash, so that is probably the most rugged part of your desktop. Car PC's have been using spinning drives for a decade or more.

But its the boards and cables and heavy power supply in a typical desktop that are physically vulnerable on rough roads, due to vibration and road bumps. 

Plus the power consumption can be a few hundred watts with the PC power supply and the monitor together. 

You should plan on a LARGE solar array and plenty of battery to supply this power hungry machine. 

Much better to either plan on a laptop, or a miniPC like a stick PC, or brick PC, or my favorite, fanless PC's....they are even more rugged than laptops.

Plus, there are software packages (sometimes with a high speed USB cable) that can 'migrate' all of your data and programs to another computer.

 

[John61CT]

If you have to, can make it work, follow tips here to extend its life and minimize power usage, but save up hard for a more suitable replacement when (not if) it breaks.

Note the Intel NUCs and similar are rugged, power-efficient and more upgradable if you need big screens, full keyboard etc.

 

[jimindenver]

The last power supply that I put into a PC was 450 watts. That is more power than my little A/C uses although I know it doesn't use it all of the time. Still it has to be planned for both in battery and replacing the power on a regular basis.

One thing I would suggest is to add filtration to the vents that pull air in. The dust out here is wicked.

 

[Stardown2earth]

Hello and good vibes to you!

I have a Dell desktop that I would have to sell in order to purchase a laptop for on the road. I really like my desktop and if possible I would like to keep it. Does anybody have any experience with keeping a desktop in a van? Will the bumpy roads ruin my computer? What if I built a case for it will that keep it safe? I really appreciate any feedback that I could get selling a computer can be daunting and I already downloaded some cool software to it unfortunately

Thank you so much for your time on your insightful  replies. I really appreciate this from the bottom of my heart. 

I will continue to read them carefully and figure out what I will do. To answer a question, my van has a second compartment under the battery for a second battery. This is how I plan to power the computer on the road. It is very exciting to hear that there is potential to keep the computer. I was thinking a wooden frame linned in thick foam. ?

The computer initiallylly cost over $800. This is part of the my dilema. I like the quality of the computer for certain creative computer projects I work on.  (Videography, photography, video editing among others). Im aware that laptops are just as good but i somehow feel emotionally attached to this computer...sadly. 

I would hate to ruin it just because i want to use it for myself. ??

I will post exact equipment...just a sec?

 

[Stardown2earth]

Stardown2earth

Thank you so much for your time on your insightful  replies. I really appreciate this from the bottom of my heart. 

I will continue to read them carefully and figure out what I will do. To answer a question, my van has a second compartment under the battery for a second battery. This is how I plan to power the computer on the road. It is very exciting to hear that there is potential to keep the computer. I was thinking a wooden frame linned in thick foam. ?

The computer initiallylly cost over $800. This is part of the my dilema. I like the quality of the computer for certain creative computer projects I work on.  (Videography, photography, video editing among others). Im aware that laptops are just as good but i somehow feel emotionally attached to this computer...sadly. 

I would hate to ruin it just because i want to use it for myself. ??

I will post exact equipment...just a sec?

 

[Stardown2earth]

Bumps and dust are considerations, but none that I would worry about. I would instead worry about power consumption, and space. Do you plan to run an inverter and/or generator to power your desktop?

A laptop is an improvement for both power consumption and space.

Tablets and the like use significantly less power. I'm a PC guy myself, so I understand the hesitation to switch to a platform that uses "apps" and a touch screen. But in the van life we have to make some sacrifices. And I personally would not try to run a full desktop computer in a van setup.

Microsoft Surface does a pretty good job of offering full computing power with limited power consumption and space, fyi.

I have a small inverter that I think i may need to replace (750 watt) if I decide to keep it. I would need to factor that to my cost.

thank you so much for your insight.

 

[Stardown2earth]

Vibration can be an issue but bouncing around inside the van would be worse. I'd plan on making sure it's nice and secure.

As for selling, you can always put it on ebay with a reserve that seems fair to you. No negotiating or meeting people in person that way, it either sells or it doesn't and you can ship it off.

thank you!

I think, the reality is, that i may have to just post it somewhere and see what I can potentially get for it.

:/

 

[Riverman]

Simply pick up a used laptop for when you travel.

 

[Stardown2earth]

The last power supply that I put into a PC was 450 watts. That is more power than my little A/C uses although I know it doesn't use it all of the time. Still it has to be planned for both in battery and replacing the power on a regular basis.

One thing I would suggest is to add filtration to the vents that pull air in. The dust out here is wicked.

gotcha on the wattage! thank you!

&

You can say that again! Dust is proving to be my biggest nuisance. 

Add that to the bill! lol

 

[DLTooley]

Don't leave it running when you are moving. Make sure your cables are secured so the motion doesn't cause metal fatigue at the junction.

I find I use my refurbished iphone much more than my laptop when I'm on the road. That strategy would help with the overall power use as well.

 

[Weight]

I would never sell my personally used computer. There is not enough monetary worth to make up for the personal information that can be recovered by a hacker.

 

[B and C]

With freeware a DOD (Department of Defense) wipe can be done on the hard drive and a fresh copy of the OS (Operating System) can be installed.  The DOD wipe is all 1 and 0's rewritten as many times as you tell it.  DOD uses 8 passes IIRC.  If it is good enough for them.......