Neat freaks..how do you manage your pc cabling/wires?

[SAWYER]

I half-assed mine but I want it looking better

 

[TheVrolok]

Inside/outside the case? Either way, for me it's mostly zip ties with some cable sheathing.

 

[0roo0roo]

not worth caring about.

 

[Ksyder]

using a case with cable management features helps. I use an antec p182
modular power supply plus sleeved psu cables help
I use western digital sata cables that are more flexible than normal which helps with tucking the extra length away
sata optical drive also helps

 

[SAWYER]

I'm talking external

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Not giving a damn helps most of all. If you're really concerned about air flow slap in an extra fan, relax and have a beer.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Zip ties. And lots of them.

 

[MotF Bane]

Pictures will help to give specific advice.

Generally, I want to get any cables possible to run behind the motherboard tray. Obviously shorter cables or longer distances are a problem. Cables for 5.25" devices either go in between the 5.25" rails or behind them. Zip tie those to the rails so they don't become visible before you need them. Fan cables get zip tied to the case to keep them in corners. Excess PSU cables go into the bottom 5.25" bay spaces (this will depend on your case). Even your PCI-e power cable(s) should go behind the motherboard tray, if for no other reason to eat up distance. If the video card(s) is/are unusually long, the PCI-e slack goes in between the 5.25" rails. Anything that is completely too short takes whatever route you can manage for it. You can also use heavy tape on the back of the motherboard tray, although it will leave residue, especially if near a hot spot. I use tape if there aren't any openings to secure a zip tie properly.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: Sawyer
I'm talking external

You fucker, I just wrote all that for nothing.

Zip ties are still king. Small heavy objects are good for holding wires against walls and corners.

 

[Brovane]

Originally posted by: Sawyer
I'm talking external

I have found the best technique is velcro. Get a big roll of velcro that you can cut into custom sizes. We use the same thing in our data center at my work. Which is where I got the idea from. I hate zip ties in the data center. I then can velcro up the excess cables slack and this helps tidy everything up. You just have to be patient and take it one cable at a time and carefully bundle up the excess cable with velcro and this helps polish everything up to make it look neater.

 

[mugs]

I built my own desk. It's really just two big pieces of hardwood veneered plywood with trim piece running around it to cover the edge of the plywood. Underneath I had piece of 1x6 running down the middle for support, and at each end of that was another 1x6 running front to back. When I was attaching these support boards I realized that with one more board I could put a shelf BEHIND the long support board, so it could only be accessed from the rear. On this shelf I put my power strips, my external hard drives, my router, and any other junk that I don't need to access often. I screwed some hooks to the underside of the desk near the back, and I zip-tie cables to the hooks to keep them above the shelf. Everything is out of the way and not visible.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Well I'm still interested in how people manage cables internally. For the first time I'm building a PC where I give a crap how it looks and I'd be very interested to see how people are managing the inside of their cases. I've already ordered an Antec 902 and Thermaltake EVO_blue 650w, other parts coming soon.

 

[Squisher]

You've got me.

 

[I Saw OJ]

PC cables are just something that is out of site out of mind. I can never get them to exactly how I would want them, so I dont bother

 

[mrblotto]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Well I'm still interested in how people manage cables internally. For the first time I'm building a PC where I give a crap how it looks and I'd be very interested to see how people are managing the inside of their cases. I've already ordered an Antec 902 and Thermaltake EVO_blue 650w, other parts coming soon.

-Zip ties
-Heat Shrink Tubing
-Sleeving Kits
-Spiral Cable Wrap (a bit easier than heat shrink tubing IMO)
-Adhesive cable holders (dont know what else to call them). Found a pic here

I'm sure there are many other options out there. I've built many many systems, but the last couple I've been really conscious of cable routing/air flow.

Hope this helps in some way.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Inside? It's a decent mess. The P160 didn't have that much cable management stuff but I did my best to tuck wires away the best I could...

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Well I'm still interested in how people manage cables internally. For the first time I'm building a PC where I give a crap how it looks and I'd be very interested to see how people are managing the inside of their cases. I've already ordered an Antec 902 and Thermaltake EVO_blue 650w, other parts coming soon.

If you don't mind some drilling, you can route a lot of shit behind the motherboard tray. Well, assuming you have enough space between that and the outside of the case.

 

[frostedflakes]

Normally my cabling is a mess, but I got the bit by the modding bug recently, and one of the things I did was drill some holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray. For some newer cases drilling isn't necessary, as this type of cable routing is part of the design. I don't know if the 902 is one of those cases though.

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/3108/82172399.jpg
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6551/89016302.jpg

As far as external cable management goes, haven't gotten around to that yet, lol.