Cable Management Pictures

[wangster]

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.

 

[not so gray matter]

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.

 

[wangster]

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

 

[Lomai]

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.

 

[mitchell65]

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

 

[MadMaxData]

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.

 

[not so gray matter]

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.

 

[Lomai]

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.

:roflmao:

 

[pparks1]

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.

 

[Lomai]

Thanks for the tips pparks

 

[MadMaxData]

Here's an old shot of my test rig. Kinda' blurry shot from an old webcab, but you get the idea....

This rig has dual IDE floppy drives, and both my HDD's are IDE, as well as the two optical drives. So it looks pretrty good for no SATA cables at all, I think.

 

[mpcrsc562]

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.

DAMN! I think I'm in love

That is an awesome job!

Puts mine to shame....
http://www.sevenforums.com/picture.php?albumid=397&pictureid=2105

 

[MadMaxData]

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.

My rigs run a few degrees cooler with the sides off, so the airflow thing is a non-factor. Plus, I have a portable 120v 120psi compressor I use about once a week to blow them out. It's much more convenient for me to leave the sides off, for as much as I'm inside the cases. Plus, they run cooler. Can't beat that with a stick.

 

[stormy13]

.

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.

Excellent advice, especially #3.

For those that want to tackle this sort of thing and don't have a modular PSU or a case with room behind the motherboard tray (or bottom mount for the PSU), an empty drive bay comes in handy for stuffing the excess PSU cables in; best is if in this sort of situation is to put your CD/DVD drive one or two slots from the top and stuff the extra in there.

 

[burtie]

Great advice guys...I need to sort the cabling out in my new build...its a little messy at the moment. I need to get a new DVD writer first as the one I got was from my old machine and has one of those horrible ribbon cables which just gets in the way. As soon as I get a new one its time for me to do some tidying up

 

[MadMaxData]

I need to get a new DVD writer first as the one I got was from my old machine and has one of those horrible ribbon cables which just gets in the way.

You can go with the round IDE cables like I did. They are actually really easy to conceal in a newer case.

 

[mitchell65]

Puts mine to shame....
http://www.sevenforums.com/picture.php?albumid=397&pictureid=2105

Is it on fire by chance?

 

[mpcrsc562]

Puts mine to shame....
http://www.sevenforums.com/picture.php?albumid=397&pictureid=2105

Is it on fire by chance?

:roflmao:
Not the last time I checked...

 

[wangster]

Thanks for all the tips. Looks like I'll be tied up all weekend.

 

[MadMaxData]

Looks like I'll be tied up all weekend.

So will my girlfriend!

Sorry, I couldn't resist....LOL