Best method to get rid of a mess of cables?

[Jugernot]

I already have three of my ribbon cables rounded (2 IDE and 1 Floppy), but I've still got a mess of cables in my Inwin Q500 full tower. Here is a pic:

Mess of cables

What is the best way to clean up? Anyone have any pics or know a site that does?

Thanks

 

[dennilfloss]

You might start by bundling some of them with plastic twist-ties.

 

[Jugernot]

Well I just got done pushing and tugging cables and zipties, here are some pics:
Picture #1
Picture #2

I also used a plastic cylinder as a conduit between the top and bottom sections of my case. Its kind of hard to make out, but here are a couple of pics:
Notice the plastic tube next to the cables
This is the same things, from the top down

So far I think my cpu temp has gone down from around 95F to 92F. Not bad.

Tell me what you guys think I should change

Thanks

Jugs

 

[Viperoni]

If my q500 wasn't under my desk, I'd snap some shots.
I gotta hookup my scsi drivers though

 

[Jugernot]

Ohhhh come on, don't let a desk get in your way! Maybe we can get a Q500 thread going?

 

[Renob]

I can see lots of dust in your system. HEHEHE nice job on your wires and cables...

 

[Dynamix3D]

Jugernot: OMFG! I have a Q500A also (coincidence) and dude my cables are so neat its not even funny. I wish I had a digital camera right now so you can see exactly how neat it is. My airflow is great, there are no cables blocking anything. I have all my IDE and Floppy cables rounded, and all are tied with Zip ties, and I used this cable tubbing that organizes all the wires to be places in single tubes. Damn dude you need some work on that case, but its definately possible, just keep trying you will figure something out.

 

[Dynamix3D]

Here is a link to the sprial tubbing I used. This link if from CaseEtc. but I do not recommend that you buy it from there since there prices are ridiculously high. However I bought this stuff from Home Depot and it comes with 4 feet of the large size, and 4 feet of the small size for $2 and change. Meanwhile CaseEtc. charges you $1.50/foot and thats not even including shipping yet (What a RIP-OFF).

 

[ericd]

If you don't mind it being black you can get like 10 feet of spiral wrap for like $4.00 at Radio Shack. I wish I had a digital camera so I could show the inside of my SX 1030...I must say it is pretty damn organized considering how much crap is in there.

Eric

 

[eyor]

I like to fold my IDE cables like this...

 

[jsbush]

The method that eyor said is really good, I just did it. Used elastics instead of tieraps. I know the elastics won't last for ever but they leave a clearner finish. If I can find my digital camara I'll take pics.

 

[Viperoni]

I just started rounding a bunch of udma66 cable's, which I'll incidentally need to get rid of
They are ULTRA low profile, amazing how much neater they become

 

[Yossarian]

Anyone have a link to the right way to round cables? I'm assuming this means carefully separating the wires with a razor blade...

 

[eyor]

Pip boy: they actually turn out just as good when folded. It is actually better because you do not risk cutting through one of the wires or cutting too much of the insulation off of part of one of them.

 

[Jugernot]

eyor, I like you folding idea! I'm gonna try it with my 80wire cables.

 

[eyor]

LMK how it works!

 

[Dynamix3D]

Personally I prefer to round the cables, rather than to fold them. Rounding cables is so easy.

 

[Laz]

I usually make custom lenghth IDE cables, but I have none right now in my system. I have the same case so here are some pictures of my setup, it's under my desk as well so I hope you will excuse the quality of the pictures.
myurl

 

[Yossarian]

Just curious Laz, why don't you have RAM in the slot nearest the CPU? I thought that was the #1 slot on most mobo's.

 

[shiznut123]

i fold my cables because i might screw them up if i cut them

 

[Dynamix3D]

shiznut: You should not screw up because rounding cables is so easy. Even the ATA66 cables are easy, just splice every 5 cables. You do not have to cut them each individually. I seriously wish I had a digital camera so I can show you how nice and neat it looks inside my case with the rounded cables.

 

[shiznut123]

what if i accidentally cut 1/2 way though 1 wire?

 

[Viperoni]

Trust me: Some udma66 cable's are easy as pie to round, some are a bit harder (like the ones im selling), and then there are those the WILL NOT SPLIT PROPERLY NO MATTER WHAT.
If you expose a conductor, just wrap it up in electrical tape and it should be okay.

 

[Tateman1]

I rounded my cables, but I didn't cut them with anything. I just counted over and split it with my finger nails. Once you get a little open, you just need to pull down the rest of the cable. It is very simple and easy to do.

 

[Laz]

PipBoy, my MB is an Asus A7V and according to the manual the slot nearest the CPU is DIMM 3. I could be wrong but I have tried the ram in all sorts of different configurations and it works in all of them. I stuck with this one because I get paranoid of driving the needlnose pliers into it when I install or remove the heatsink :Q .