Cable Management Help

[Sonokamome]

Hello. I am in need of some cable management suggestions and links to prodcuts for cable management.

The following are links to the insides of my computer and some of cables behind the computer case. I would like to know what cable management solutions you can provide for me to be able to clean up this mess.

The following are link should show you what I mean.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4379639371_9ca755bec2_b.jpg

Thanks in advance.

 

[TheStu]

Well, some more angles would help.

Next up, what I would suggest is to start by eliminating what you don't need. It looks like you have a lot of fans in there, how many are really necessary? Also, is it necessary for them to run off of Molex power? Why not hook them into the motherboard? That way the system can regulate its own temps instead of them running full tilt 24/7.

With fan cables (and I got this from I think MechBgon's site) I tightly wind the cables around the shaft of a screwdriver and then slide it off. This causes them to coil up like a phone cord, makes them shorter and neater and it looks kind of cool.

Tuck any excess cables into the drive bay area. Zip ties are your friend.

 

[Sonokamome]

I'm not running all the fans on a molex and yes all fans are needed for the case.

The fans are being connected to a fan controllers (I apologize for not posting a picture earlier of it)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4380398666_43882e3ea7_b.jpg

Thanks for the tip.

 

[pcgeek11]

Hello. I am in need of some cable management suggestions and links to prodcuts for cable management.

The following are links to the insides of my computer and some of cables behind the computer case. I would like to know what cable management solutions you can provide for me to be able to clean up this mess.

The following are link should show you what I mean.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4379639371_9ca755bec2_b.jpg

Thanks in advance.

That looks like someone ate a bunch of wire and then threw up inside a PC Case.

Start at the power supply and determine several routes (generally where the different cables will take to their destinations. Group the wires into sections using Zip Ties and route them along these paths zipping them into bundles and branch off a cable where it goes to a component.

______|____|_____|

 

[0roo0roo]

bag of zip ties.
it doesn't need to be pretty

 

[corkyg]

I like Oroo Oroo's solution. Remonds me of a real world problem experienced when working - we were building A/D D/A converters for F-14 avionics for Grumman. Beautifully dressed wiring harness and efficient layouts. Big problems with EMI.

We accidentally discoverted while working on the units, that undressing the wiring harness and jumbling them up solved the EMI problem. Power and data cables dressed too neatly together can emit and magnify EMI because the emissions add together - sort of analogous to marching troops across a wooden bridge - the cumulative unified footsteps can damage the bridge.

 

[Sonokamome]

You see there is a needed PSU connection for the motherboard which the PSU can only reach by going from the bottom to the top between the CPU heatsink fan and the exhaust fan (>_<).

Also....is there any electrical tape that I can use to actually stick against the metal without coming off? Black electrical tape perhaps?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4394058144_790be19054_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/4394059358_2da28f2dae_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/4393292867_2819f1ddfe_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4393291471_97ddbdcb00_b.jpg

 

[0roo0roo]

lol you got ocd?

if you really are that hardcore go to the hardware store and look at stuff down the isles for you to improvise with, hell you can drill holes and cinch stuff down with U bolts if you wish.

It makes almost no difference in actual performance/cooling, todays heatsinks and cases are just very good, and cpus have plenty of power saving and stuff so things don't really need to be babied that much. esp with esata now, there are no ribbon cables left.

don't use tape in your case. the adhesive will eventually come off and leave you with a mess. electrical tapes stickiness is not that great either, its mostly for wrapping around wires, not holding stuff to other stuff. just use a few zip ties and cinch stuff up and or against some case cage bit through screw hole.

 

[Sonokamome]

Fine Fine Fine.

zip ties it is. But thanks for the help all of you!

 

[zagood]

A few things...you should use the case's motherboard cutouts to route more wires behind the motherboard. Also get a ATX 12v extension so you have more options to move that cable.

Also get adhesive zip-tie mounts, don't know exactly what you wanted tape for but those would probably work for what you're planning.

 

[Modelworks]

zip ties + hot melt glue.
Put zip tie around wire and tack it in place anywhere you like with the glue.

 

[Modelworks]

Also....is there any electrical tape that I can use to actually stick against the metal without coming off? Black electrical tape perhaps?

There is a two sided tape that can be used. I had some left over from replacing molding on my car so I gave it a try. This stuff is strong , be sure you want it where you put it. I once tried to remove a fan that I had placed a 2" long piece of this tape on then stuck it to the case so the fan would be horizontal in the case, nothing holding the fan but that tape. It worked, never moved. When I went to remove the fan it wouldn't budge. I ended up having to break the fan plastic and pry off the rest of the plastic !
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Scotch-Moun.../dp/B0026HOTZ2

 

[Sonokamome]

Zagood: that's sounds like a good idea because it's my suspicion that the cable is obstructing some of the airflow from the CPU heatsink to the exhaust fan and so I i'll give that solution a try.

Modelworks: I could try that molding tape or the two sided tape white tape. thanks again.

Again thank you all.