TSA also will have a field day with it. I had them pull me to the side when I had 2 laptops a Netbook and a Larger Laptop. They swabbed the laptops testing for explosive residue and then a bunch of questioning. I brought my netbook to have a small computer for on the plane and my larger laptop for the hotel room that I was staying at for 5 long weeks on a business trip.
Both on my trip out and back I was pulled to the side and laptops both x-rayed and both swapped and then lots of questions again because I was outside of the norm with 2 laptops.
Bringing a desktop with you you will draw the same attention as well as they can refuse for it to board in which your in a mess of burning a plane ticket or losing a computer if there is no one there to send it back home with.
Also, with a desktop computer unless it is an all in one you will need to bring a monitor with you and cables and keyboard and mouse.
You might get more than pulled to the side and questions such as a full cavity search because you stand out from the norm.
If I was in your situation I would strictly avoid the desktop computer even if its an all in one and invest in a laptop which will make you look like everyone else travelling. If the desktop has to go out with you then ship it out to your destination so it will arrive at your hotel. That's when lots of bubble wrap is needed. Then ship it back home when your done and insure it for its full replacement cost in case it gets drop kicked like Ace Ventura so it can be replaced if destroyed. Put all important data on a thumb drive or cloud storage so that if destroyed you still have your important data, and don't ship the thumb drive with the computer in case it goes missing. Keep the thumb drive on you to make the trip back if you decide to store data on a thumb drive vs cloud storage. I just got a 128GB Flash Drive for $34.99 on sale the other day. Most projects would fit on 128GB or less.
