Running cables under the motherboard

[MichaelD]

I'm planning the layout of my P180; I've got some ideas to help me with cable management that involve running a lot of the wires under the MB.

I'm planning on running the 4-pin MB connector and some fan wires under there. Any possible issues with this?

How hot does the MB get? I know that the NB/SB heatsinks get hot, but I've never bothered to see how hot the board itself gets.

Is there any chance the wires could get melted?

 

[JEDIYoda]

huh.....

 

[Dom1105]

ummm i would suggest if you have one running them under the MB tray, even if you don't have a removable one you should have one that is raised off of the side panel. check on this and if you don't then don't run your wires under the board, cause there are sharp things under there that can get kinda hot and if one of the wires melts or gets cut *BBBBSSZZZZZZZZZ* goes your WHOLE system.

 

[MichaelD]

Yeah, the sharp points on the underside of the MB concern me too. I know that people do run wires under there...I wonder if they sleeve them first or not? Hmm.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Bah... I'm still looking for it, but there is a guide that shows pretty much how to hide most-if not all-of the wires. And it involves running them under the mobo tray. Very good guide for doing that sort of project.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Bah... I'm still looking for it, but there is a guide that shows pretty much how to hide most-if not all-of the wires. And it involves running them under the mobo tray. Very good guide for doing that sort of project.

If it's the guide I'm thinking of, it's linked in the "pics of your case" thread stickied in this forum.

The problem is that my case does not have a removable motherboard tray, it's a regular case. (P180). I may just scrap the idea...but it would really help hide stuff.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Bah... I'm still looking for it, but there is a guide that shows pretty much how to hide most-if not all-of the wires. And it involves running them under the mobo tray. Very good guide for doing that sort of project.

If it's the guide I'm thinking of, it's linked in the "pics of your case" thread stickied in this forum.

The problem is that my case does not have a removable motherboard tray, it's a regular case. (P180). I may just scrap the idea...but it would really help hide stuff.

Why would it have to be a removeable motherboard tray?

EDIT: Excellent. Here it is. Holly's Wiring Guide. I was actually searching for this earlier too...

 

[NuAlphaMan]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Bah... I'm still looking for it, but there is a guide that shows pretty much how to hide most-if not all-of the wires. And it involves running them under the mobo tray. Very good guide for doing that sort of project.

If it's the guide I'm thinking of, it's linked in the "pics of your case" thread stickied in this forum.

The problem is that my case does not have a removable motherboard tray, it's a regular case. (P180). I may just scrap the idea...but it would really help hide stuff.

Why would it have to be a removeable motherboard tray?

EDIT: Excellent. Here it is. Holly's Wiring Guide. I was actually searching for this earlier too...

Yeah OP, I used the guide FullMetal added and ran as many wires as I could under my mobo. It doesn't have to be removable (the tray). Run as many as you can, it will definitely help with the cable management. You can also check out the cable management guide by Talcite. It's very helpful.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I'm also planning out how to do the wiring in my case, and it's a bit difficult, as I have to account for a lot of hard drives.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: NuAlphaMan

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Bah... I'm still looking for it, but there is a guide that shows pretty much how to hide most-if not all-of the wires. And it involves running them under the mobo tray. Very good guide for doing that sort of project.

If it's the guide I'm thinking of, it's linked in the "pics of your case" thread stickied in this forum.

The problem is that my case does not have a removable motherboard tray, it's a regular case. (P180). I may just scrap the idea...but it would really help hide stuff.

Why would it have to be a removeable motherboard tray?

EDIT: Excellent. Here it is. Holly's Wiring Guide. I was actually searching for this earlier too...

Yeah OP, I used the guide FullMetal added and ran as many wires as I could under my mobo. It doesn't have to be removable (the tray). Run as many as you can, it will definitely help with the cable management. You can also check out the cable management guide by Talcite. It's very helpful.

Thanks very much! Both those guides are super.

 

[Operandi]

I'm not an electrical engineer but running power cables in close proximity with the motherboard traces might not be a good idea.

 

[KTL]

Motherboards (like other sensitive PCB boards) typically have some soft of mask/coating on the top and bottom layers of the PCB. Unless the masks/coatings were specifically scraped off, the traces shouldn't be exposed. As long as the standoffs between the motherboard tray and motherboard are tall enough, the leads from the through-hole parts on the backside shouldn't pierce the cables run between. But this is dictated by the case manufacturer. Sleeving would probably help since it would add another protective layer against the leads.

I've ran the 24-pin ATX and 6-pin PEG cables under the motherboard in the Stacker since there was enough room and haven't had any issues.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'm just going to have to see how it "feels" with a few wires under there.

Currently, the MB is mounted in my old case (I'm using the system to post this) but very soon (whenever my AC Freezer gets here) I'll be transferring the system over to the new P180.

I can't remember how many pointy things are under my DS3 MB; some MBs are pointier than others...I'll have to see.

 

[IEC]

Never had any issues with running cables under the mobo.

Zip ties and cable wrap/coils FTW.

 

[Zebo]

Stay off the mosfets (if your board has them on rear) and you'll be fine. I run all my stuff under board including power.

 

[VooDooAddict]

Running the power under the board on the P180 might be difficult due to the location of the power cable hole between the cooling zones. At the very least it might not be as perfect as you'd like.

 

[SparkyJJO]

If the tray isn't removable - mine isn't - then just drill holes in it for the wires

 

[Zepper]

Industrial mounting tape (like double sided foam tape but stronger and more heat resistant can hold flat cables against the case and away from the bottom of the mobo. I also use hot glue - it peels off pretty easy when you need to change something. And there are square plastic things with sticky backing to hold zip ties to the side of the case. Radio Schlock and other local electronic parts places have them.

.bh.

 

[Eska]

i wouldnt think it would melt... touch it and feel how hot it is..

 

[beemercer]

I've never had any problems running wires under the mobo.

 

[crydee]

Can you post pics of your work while your doing it Michael? It might give me some ideas for the system I'm about to put in a P180!

 

[MichaelD]

I have some zip tie bases; I am going to use them for cable management.

They are a bit large; I'm not sure if they'll fit under the MB, but I will certainly check! Great idea, Zepper. :thumbsup:

I will take pics. Hopefully, it's halfway neat. I'm actually going to use all the front panel connectors for the case; USB/headphones/etc.

 

[MichaelD]

I checked and there's no way the zip tie bases will fit under the MB.

What I'm going to do is this:

1. Lay cables down in MB area
2. Install MB with just a couple of screws
3. Gently pull/tug on cables to see if "free play" exists
4. If free play = yes, then logically the cables aren't being pinched

AFA signal interference goes; I can't see there being a problem with running fan wires under there. Afterall; the power and signal traces are right next to each other in the motherboard PCB itself.

I won't run any SATA cables under there, though.

 

[crydee]

You can't run them on the side of the case chassis like the Holly's wiring guide instead all directly under the mobo?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: crydee
You can't run them on the side of the case chassis like the Holly's wiring guide instead all directly under the mobo?

Yes, I could, but the problem then will be cable length. I'm trying to get all the fans to hook up to power behind the middle HD cage in my P180. I am going to route all the excess cables up there and hide them. I'm sure it'll be "a work in progress as I go" b/c even the best made plans get derailed sometimes.

It's all the interests of good airflow, not necessarily having a neat and tidy case. Though those two things are interrelated.