Windows 7: Cable Management Pictures

I've built around 10 computers so I'm by no means an expert. In my prior builds, I didn't really care about how it looked inside because (1) I don't over-clock so I didn't care too much about air-flow; (2) I don't like the plastic window in cases so I don't get them, therefore, nobody sees what my computer looks like inside.

Before I made the purchase, I was considering just buying a computer from Craigslist to see if I can save some money (yeah... this economy is killing me). As I was browsing through, one poster actually put on the title "clean cable management" or somewhere along that line and posted a picture. I was amazed at how clean it was inside.

Can you guys share some inside pictures of computers so I can get some tips from them? I've got 3 hard drives, 2 optical drives, and a memory card reader. No matter what I try, I can't seem to be able to neatly manage my cables like the pictures I saw on Craigslist.

There's someone around here that's a clean cable management nut... He's got a pic linked via his sig, talk to him :)

Here are some pics anyway, some non expert suggestions:

Lots of zip ties & round cables.
Tuck cables under bars, use the shortest cable to get from point a to point b along a hidden path.
Run cable along sides, etc.

I'm sure others will have better suggestions.

Wow, very nice! Thanks for the pictures. I never thought about putting the SATA cables underneath the motherboard. Is that a common practice?

Yes it is.
It continues to amaze me as to how some people are very skilled on the subject.
I can't get them right most of the time.

I looked in my homebuild and now feel totally ashamed

And here I thought I was the only clean wiring nut. Neither my primary rig, or my test rig have side panels on them because I'm inside them so much. I would literally lose sleep at night if my cables weren't all nice & neat, and tucked away.

What's that three letter acronym? DCO? nah can't be it.

I'm one of the guys who cares about cable management...and I don't use cases with Windows or lighting. I do keep my side panels on all of the time however, because removing them screws with the airflow and allows dust into my case that my intake filters cannot stop.

I got into cable management as a server admin who builds and configures rack mounted servers and hated them being messy.

The key to building a clean box is
#1). The right case. You have to have a case with access holes to hide the cables behind stuff. My case, the Antec P182...has an inch or two behind the mobo before the other side panel. I can get a ton of cabling into that space.

#2). The right power supply. I went with a modular power supply on my newest build from Corsair and it's been great. Rather than a spaghetti mess of cables...you simply plug in exactly what you need and nothing else

#3). Take your time. It takes me roughly 2 or 3 hours usually to think my cabling through on my box. Then, I usually use velcro straps (no zip ties), electrical tape and such to keep everything bundled together.

Thanks for the tips pparks