Hey guys, basically i've gone a bit crazy over little DIY projects lately. Nice and cheap ones that cost under 100. This one here's a cable management project. Seeing one of those Falcon Northwest systems got me hyped up. Theres no way i should have to pay a 1000+ premium to have a good cabling job. While i don't have a digi cam on me right now... i can post pics soon. Best part about this project is it works with any case, $20 (mine =p) or $200. (I bought my system 2nd hand, so no choice in case >.>')
This job took me roughly 3 hours, mostly because the stupid PWR LED cables kept falling out, and i've been cursed with thick, clumsy fingers -_-' Most of you vets out there can probably do it in 2.
Why would one want to redo cables? A good job increases airflow. A good job looks damn cool =p
I work at a computer store, so i have a bit too much free time around computers =p
Its real simple. I only spent 30 CDN on it! and i still have enough parts left over for atleast 2 more systems without having to buy anymore.
**UPDATE** I have photos! used my cell phone camera, so quality isn't amazing, but i got alotta closeups.
Step 1: Go shopping for suits! er, cable ties!
All you really need is to make a stop at Home Depot. Head over to the electrical section, pick up about 100 cable zip ties. I build alot of systems so i got 1000, it cost $12.48CDN. I'm assuming you guys all have slant cutters. If you don't, buy a cheap, small pair. It only needs to be good enough to cut plastic.
Zip ties, pack of 1000
Next pick up some zip tie mounting pads. Trust me, you NEED these, especially if you have a cheap case. 100 for 9.98. you can get them in 8s if you want. but its like 2 dollars. You typically need 8 for a midtower case, depends how creative and conservative you are.
zip tie mounts, pack of 100.
Most expensive and most importantly, you need spiral wrap. YOU NEED them. its 5.48 for a package of 2 tubes, one thin one thick. both are 1.2m in length. Depending on how many cables you have, how conservative you are with them, one pack should last you for a system. Don't get the tube wrap, get the spiral one. I'll have pics.
spiral wrap
spiral wrap stretched
spiral wrap package of 2
Step 2: Let the fun begin!
This is the fun part. Disconnect everything. And i mean everything. All the cables, even pwr LED and stuff.
Start by untangling the wires, seperate the 20/24pin connector from the rest of the cables. Then seperate the 4pin 12v rail. Seperate all the cables you don't need from the ones you do. Then seperate the power supply fan control. Keep them seperate.
Step 3: Measure twice, cut once
now get creative.
plan out where you should put the wires you don't need. This is where the zip tie mounts really help. You have so many more possibilities. I ended up tieing the unused cables to the roof of the case, almost out of sight. The zip tie mounts should be self explanatory. you thread them through, and then you put cables inbetween and then ziiippp.
Close up of a zip tie mount
Unused cables, secured to roof of case, beside PSU
Now plan out the 12v rail and the 20/24 pin connector. Find a nice place to hide it so it can make its way to the MB connector. Crevices and gaps are your best friends. Wrap the wires in spiral wrap. include any fan connectors that you need. This is why i said spiral and not tube. With spiral wrap, you can make a cable exit anywhere along the path of the main cable group. There is no need for a new tube, simply stop winding the cable at that point and continue winding the rest of the cables in the group. Its hard to explain but pics will clear that up. The 20/24pin is hard to fit into a crevice, i usually just use a zip tie mount. Try to bundle at right angles, it leaves a nice effect in the end. Cut the spiral wrap when its no longer needed. If you run short in spiral wrap, simply space out the spirals.
12v mobo rail. wrapped, mounted.
DO NOT CUT THE WRAP BEFORE WRAPPING THE WIRE. I cannot stress this enough, disregard the package's instructions. The length of the wrap CHANGES as you wrap thicker wires! you'll have to endure slightly more tedious wraping, as the excess gets in the way, but you'll have perfect length wrap.
Now zip the 20/24pin and 12v rail to any surfaces to make it secure. Use mounts if necessary.
20/24pin + 12v rail secured, zipped
Now start with the IDE power cables. Connect them, and try to find a good place to hide them. Its usually good to hide them along the roof of the case, right behind the edge. figure out which parts of the wires travel together, and wrap them together. zip to secure.
optical drive pwr wires. Note the wire is hidden behind case bezel initially.
HD power cables, zipped and spares taken care of.
The frontal USB/Firewire ports are rather bothersome. Theses require doing several times to get right. And in my case, they didn't have the length to go at a right angle, or any angle actually. I ended up doing a nice parabolic arch lol. still looks acceptable i guess. Anyways, connect up, figure which wires have to exit where, and make sure you have the right measurements, and then wrap, zip, cut. You're probably going to have to disconnect them to wrap these. They have the annoying habit of coming undone at the slightest pull. zip tie mounts are probably essential here.
Pwr LED cables etc. Exits wrap at different locations for right length.
Entire front panel wiring. this took an hour to get right.
SATA cables are both easy and pleasureable. Don't worry about folding them 180 degrees. If falcon northwest can do it, we can too. Zip them to a secure surface.
IDE data cables are the biggest pain in the a$$. ever.
Don't use rounded cables... "but they look cool!" ...But they actually are not part of the IDE specifications! But they cause signaling problems!
I have seen many people fold the cables. I've always sucked at origami. I probably always will. only thing i can make are paper airplanes. and damn good ones. When you see the pics, you'll probably agree that the signal cables are the ugliest part of the case. You guys probably can fold better than i can. I can't offer much advice here.
Sata power cables are the same deal as IDE power cables, make sure they fit.
Finished product, IDE signal cables really screw it up.
Finished product, IDE cables removed.
So that's pretty much my guide. Heres the main tips i can give you guys for a better looking case.
1. use right angle turns
2. stay in the 2D, but if you must, go 3D
3. Use the crevices alot
4. Out of sight, out of making the case ugly.
5. Try to follow any metal edges on the case, such as the edge of a HD rack or something.
6. The shortest path generally is ugly.
7. The space around the rear case fan is really useful for tucking wires, the fan mount holes are great for zipping.
8. Try to make arrange it in a way where there is no excess cable, use all of it. Looks tidier.
9. Be creative!
Use the crevices!
Exclude connectors from spiral wrap
Anyways, I'm basically waiting for high school to wind down. I'd be very happy to comment on any cabling jobs you guys have done. Just post a pic. If you're stuck and need some pointers, post the pic, i'll try to help.
In retrospect, i think i could have done a better job especially around the IDE power cables. But this is only a small part of my project. Next up i'm going to sound proof the case and then install a plexiglass window and remove the case door. Purely experimental stuff.
I'd like to thank my dad for giving me all the advice about this. He's the one that gave me all the tips with zip tie mounts and spiral wrap.
For you really hard core modders out there, check out this cable management guide.
Holly Wiring
Thanks guys, let me know what you think of the guide. I might write one up on sound proofing after i finish the 2nd part of my case transition.
BTW: this all started with the power cutting out and burning out my PSU... even though i have a $80 APC surge protector -_-' SO... if you like my guide, thank Hydro One =p
UPDATE:
New computer, new wiring job =P
here's the pics.
Pic 1 My computer relaxing in it's natural habitat... my dorm room =P
Pic 2 Upper chambre of the P180.
Pic 3 Entire system
Pic 4 Side view of system
Pic 5 Reverse angle shot
Pic 6 EPS 12v between the HSF and the case wall.
Pic 7 Primary sata drive, cables zip tied.
This job took me roughly 3 hours, mostly because the stupid PWR LED cables kept falling out, and i've been cursed with thick, clumsy fingers -_-' Most of you vets out there can probably do it in 2.
Why would one want to redo cables? A good job increases airflow. A good job looks damn cool =p
I work at a computer store, so i have a bit too much free time around computers =p
Its real simple. I only spent 30 CDN on it! and i still have enough parts left over for atleast 2 more systems without having to buy anymore.
**UPDATE** I have photos! used my cell phone camera, so quality isn't amazing, but i got alotta closeups.
Step 1: Go shopping for suits! er, cable ties!
All you really need is to make a stop at Home Depot. Head over to the electrical section, pick up about 100 cable zip ties. I build alot of systems so i got 1000, it cost $12.48CDN. I'm assuming you guys all have slant cutters. If you don't, buy a cheap, small pair. It only needs to be good enough to cut plastic.
Zip ties, pack of 1000
Next pick up some zip tie mounting pads. Trust me, you NEED these, especially if you have a cheap case. 100 for 9.98. you can get them in 8s if you want. but its like 2 dollars. You typically need 8 for a midtower case, depends how creative and conservative you are.
zip tie mounts, pack of 100.
Most expensive and most importantly, you need spiral wrap. YOU NEED them. its 5.48 for a package of 2 tubes, one thin one thick. both are 1.2m in length. Depending on how many cables you have, how conservative you are with them, one pack should last you for a system. Don't get the tube wrap, get the spiral one. I'll have pics.
spiral wrap
spiral wrap stretched
spiral wrap package of 2
Step 2: Let the fun begin!
This is the fun part. Disconnect everything. And i mean everything. All the cables, even pwr LED and stuff.
Start by untangling the wires, seperate the 20/24pin connector from the rest of the cables. Then seperate the 4pin 12v rail. Seperate all the cables you don't need from the ones you do. Then seperate the power supply fan control. Keep them seperate.
Step 3: Measure twice, cut once
now get creative.
plan out where you should put the wires you don't need. This is where the zip tie mounts really help. You have so many more possibilities. I ended up tieing the unused cables to the roof of the case, almost out of sight. The zip tie mounts should be self explanatory. you thread them through, and then you put cables inbetween and then ziiippp.
Close up of a zip tie mount
Unused cables, secured to roof of case, beside PSU
Now plan out the 12v rail and the 20/24 pin connector. Find a nice place to hide it so it can make its way to the MB connector. Crevices and gaps are your best friends. Wrap the wires in spiral wrap. include any fan connectors that you need. This is why i said spiral and not tube. With spiral wrap, you can make a cable exit anywhere along the path of the main cable group. There is no need for a new tube, simply stop winding the cable at that point and continue winding the rest of the cables in the group. Its hard to explain but pics will clear that up. The 20/24pin is hard to fit into a crevice, i usually just use a zip tie mount. Try to bundle at right angles, it leaves a nice effect in the end. Cut the spiral wrap when its no longer needed. If you run short in spiral wrap, simply space out the spirals.
12v mobo rail. wrapped, mounted.
DO NOT CUT THE WRAP BEFORE WRAPPING THE WIRE. I cannot stress this enough, disregard the package's instructions. The length of the wrap CHANGES as you wrap thicker wires! you'll have to endure slightly more tedious wraping, as the excess gets in the way, but you'll have perfect length wrap.
Now zip the 20/24pin and 12v rail to any surfaces to make it secure. Use mounts if necessary.
20/24pin + 12v rail secured, zipped
Now start with the IDE power cables. Connect them, and try to find a good place to hide them. Its usually good to hide them along the roof of the case, right behind the edge. figure out which parts of the wires travel together, and wrap them together. zip to secure.
optical drive pwr wires. Note the wire is hidden behind case bezel initially.
HD power cables, zipped and spares taken care of.
The frontal USB/Firewire ports are rather bothersome. Theses require doing several times to get right. And in my case, they didn't have the length to go at a right angle, or any angle actually. I ended up doing a nice parabolic arch lol. still looks acceptable i guess. Anyways, connect up, figure which wires have to exit where, and make sure you have the right measurements, and then wrap, zip, cut. You're probably going to have to disconnect them to wrap these. They have the annoying habit of coming undone at the slightest pull. zip tie mounts are probably essential here.
Pwr LED cables etc. Exits wrap at different locations for right length.
Entire front panel wiring. this took an hour to get right.
SATA cables are both easy and pleasureable. Don't worry about folding them 180 degrees. If falcon northwest can do it, we can too. Zip them to a secure surface.
IDE data cables are the biggest pain in the a$$. ever.
Don't use rounded cables... "but they look cool!" ...But they actually are not part of the IDE specifications! But they cause signaling problems!
I have seen many people fold the cables. I've always sucked at origami. I probably always will. only thing i can make are paper airplanes. and damn good ones. When you see the pics, you'll probably agree that the signal cables are the ugliest part of the case. You guys probably can fold better than i can. I can't offer much advice here.
Sata power cables are the same deal as IDE power cables, make sure they fit.
Finished product, IDE signal cables really screw it up.
Finished product, IDE cables removed.
So that's pretty much my guide. Heres the main tips i can give you guys for a better looking case.
1. use right angle turns
2. stay in the 2D, but if you must, go 3D
3. Use the crevices alot
4. Out of sight, out of making the case ugly.
5. Try to follow any metal edges on the case, such as the edge of a HD rack or something.
6. The shortest path generally is ugly.
7. The space around the rear case fan is really useful for tucking wires, the fan mount holes are great for zipping.
8. Try to make arrange it in a way where there is no excess cable, use all of it. Looks tidier.
9. Be creative!
Use the crevices!
Exclude connectors from spiral wrap
Anyways, I'm basically waiting for high school to wind down. I'd be very happy to comment on any cabling jobs you guys have done. Just post a pic. If you're stuck and need some pointers, post the pic, i'll try to help.
In retrospect, i think i could have done a better job especially around the IDE power cables. But this is only a small part of my project. Next up i'm going to sound proof the case and then install a plexiglass window and remove the case door. Purely experimental stuff.
I'd like to thank my dad for giving me all the advice about this. He's the one that gave me all the tips with zip tie mounts and spiral wrap.
For you really hard core modders out there, check out this cable management guide.
Holly Wiring
Thanks guys, let me know what you think of the guide. I might write one up on sound proofing after i finish the 2nd part of my case transition.
BTW: this all started with the power cutting out and burning out my PSU... even though i have a $80 APC surge protector -_-' SO... if you like my guide, thank Hydro One =p
UPDATE:
New computer, new wiring job =P
here's the pics.
Pic 1 My computer relaxing in it's natural habitat... my dorm room =P
Pic 2 Upper chambre of the P180.
Pic 3 Entire system
Pic 4 Side view of system
Pic 5 Reverse angle shot
Pic 6 EPS 12v between the HSF and the case wall.
Pic 7 Primary sata drive, cables zip tied.
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