Debate: Rounded cables vs Flat for cooling.

[RoadWarrior]

Hi guys,

One might say that rounded cables have the airflow advantage, i.e. they are easier to keep out of the way. Therefore allow better system cooling. However on a rig the other day, I noticed my flat cables on it were quite warm, and warmer near the motherboard. All those dinky strands of copper were sucking up motherboard heat and radiating it away.

So, we might ask ourselves, do rounded cables really do any good? compared to say a neatly arranged install of flat cables, edge on to the airflow that might actually be keeping our board and hdd drive temps down????

What do you think?

Road Warrior

[Zoilo]

For me and nerdlogic, those rounded cables were hard to position. However, we did a pretty good job of keeping them neat enough not to restrict too much airflow. However, I find that flat cables, if they're long enough, can be folded at 90-degree angles and kept out of the way in order to not restrict airflow. I say choose whatever works for you. Whichever one you choose, you're going to have to spend some time and effort positioning those cables the way you want them to go.

[arabarabian]

Rounded cables when it comes to easier airflow are far superior. I prefer them because they are easier to work with.

Thank You,
Daniel

[slater3333uk]

I think the rounded cables are the "easy way out" if you have the time then you can route standard ribbon cables so they offer less flow restriction than the rounded cables. but it takes quite a bit of time and effort to get it looking nice. so most people just go with the rounded cables as you have the instant looks and increse in airflow

i have rounded cables and my main problem is that they are just too long and also i cant find them with a single plug they all have a plug for a slave witch i dont need cous i use raid. so in my case the probably offer as much restriction as normal cables would.

i think the biggest attraction to me is that they look alot better than the ribbon cables did and its a cheap way to customise my rig. i dont think they relly add to cooling ability.

[bafbrian]

Me personally don't have a preference.

I have used Rounded and Flat cables. When I had Flat cables, I just folded them into a W and used rubber bands to hold it. Then I used black tape to make it look good. Or I could just put Rounded cables in and call it a day.

Either way, my airflow has increased seriously, from either Flat or Rounded cables, it doesn't really matter to me.

Another thing is that when I am custom making a computer for someone, I always ask them if they want Flat or Round and explain the pro's and con's of each and let them decide.

[wannaoc]

I actually used both. For my hard drives since they are stacked in front of my fans I used the round cables but for my CD-ROM in the top of my cases I used a flat so I could push it against the side of my case.

I think both have their place in a PC case its all up to the user. Just my thoughts....

[Wonderboy]

I have tried both and stick with the good ole flat cables. The round ones can get pretty tight in some areas and i have found that when neatly organized the flats look better. If i had less components in the way i would probabl go with the round ones, but for crammed spaces (i.e. large RAID setups) the flats win.

Its all a matter of personal preference tho and valid cases can be made for both types.

[Toysrme]

Rounded all the way.

Can't wait till SATA get's 100% mainstream!

[trdsw20]

I would say for a RAID arrangements its probably hell. But since thats not my route then the round usually work well. they dont make novelty flat cables so you could vinyl dye them but why bother. I get 2 round cables and the floppy for 10 bucks. I think well worth the investment.

[KnowlesTech]

I use both depending on the case. The round ones are nice to look at but are usually to long and stick out therefore creating air restriction in some cases, at the same time well tucked flats that curve with the frame of the pc should not stick out any at all except from the MB itself. This can be reversed in a different pc chassis. It is usually dependent on the case though and the length of the cables you need to hide.

[Cjwinnit]

If you can fold flat cables neatly then flat is often the way to go (ok, the real reason is i'm cheap :) )

[trdsw20]

The TRUTH come out !!!

[sirtoby]

If you take enough time to arrange your cables flat ones are better.. however, if you want a quick improvement (and perhaps a bit more fancy looking) .. use rounded cables.

Personally.. I'm too lazy to arrange my cables all the time.. so I bought some rounded ones.. but if you do take your time and don't move around a lot of stuff too often in your puter.. I'd say flat ones.

[Robin Hood]

I have 5 (Cooler Master) rounded cables in my sig rig and bending is something they don't like to do - will not be buying any more.

[BoB NaPaLm]

I use flat cables in all my computers. They take some time to position but once they are done properly, they don't even get in the way of the air path.

I installed a rounded cable on a mates computer the other day...the darn things don't like being positioned...you just have to let them go whereever they like :)

[bill]

Originally posted by BoB NaPaLm
I use flat cables in all my computers. They take some time to position but once they are done properly, they don't even get in the way of the air path.

I installed a rounded cable on a mates computer the other day...the darn things don't like being positioned...you just have to let them go whereever they like :) I agree! fold them right & you hardly even see them!

[Hookem]

Rounded cables all the way...I find even the cheap rounded cables from svc http://www.svc.com/blowout.html Much more flexible than any ribbon cable...What I really like about rounded cables is you can buy them in different lengths...I really like the 10" cables as they usually will reach your floppy and if you are running one hard drive...The 18" dual device cables are great for the CDRW and DVDROM connections...To me there is no comparision...:)

[TerroH8er]

I use rounded cables but if I were to do it again, I would go with some old fashioned IDE oragami with regular flat ones.

[star882]

Round cables are good for cooling, but properly positioned flat cables should work just as good.
Round cables can cause problems, so I just go with flat ones.
http://dansdata.com/rcables.htm

[Bobby]

Excellent link!

I've been doing research on rounded vs. flat for a few weeks and I could never really get a good answer. Your link pretty much addresses all the concerns I had/have with rounded cables. I've read the IEEE spec for ide cables and was wondering why companies were making and selling 24" and 36" ide cables.

-Bobby

[Giblet Plus!]

I like the flat teflon coated cables. :)

[Mikeonatrike]

For a long time did nothing about the cables, just put the drives in and left the cables all over teh place cuz i leave my side panel off 100% of the time. But i got board one day and tried to tuck them in places, that was hard, so i toook the little buggers and twisted them till they were round.

[Zerileous]

as has been said before in this debate, i would aggree that:
rounded cables are good if your lazy-they block less air when they block air

flats are good if your meticulous enouh to fold them out of the way-they will provide no hinderance to airflow whereas if your just lazy and run them straght to the drive it will block alot of air.

[Bobby]

Actually, I spent a lot of time trying to get my cables folded and it just won't help. I have a fan going over 2 hd's and the cable in the back is redirecting the air to the mobo. My mobo temp is often the same as my cpu (~30°C) or sometime more. I ordered a pair of Vantec rounded cables just to try out. I heard they're one of the best for rounded cables. I might take it apart and see how they're constructed before I use them.

-Bobby

[dowmace]

Alls I have to say is Flat ribbon cables that glow in the dark are the best!!!!!

[Tim-E T]

I bought rounded a IDE and a floppy cable. If i could i would take back the IDE cable as it is really hard to position. But the floppy cable is just fine because it is thinner.

[Hookem]

Man I would like to know where you guy's are gettin these rounded cables that are hard to position...I have never seen a "ribbon" cable that after you fold it up and tie wrap it that has any flexability compared to a "store" bought rounded cable...I really do not understand the "lazy" comments...Better is better...Period, in my book anyway...More aerodynamic, more flexible and they look bad to the bone verus "ribbon" cables...I know I will never go back to "ribbon" cables...:eek:

[dowmace]

I haven't bought a cable in forever because I have probably around 100 ribbon/rounded cables I don't worry about which one I'm pickingup I just grab one out of the bag

[Cjwinnit]

Flat cables are better for folding, and i'm now addicted to it, I fold all the time.

(I'm getting mixed up now... :) )

[RoadWarrior]

That's a good link at Dan's data, I haven't got any commercial round cables and knew at the outset (first time round cables discussed) there would be problems with crosstalk, and howto guides on making your own had always emphasised stripping the cable up in 4s or so, which would keep a ground associated with each signal wire. I never DREAMED they would be all completely split up like that in commercial cables. However, I digress muchly, just seeing that though has given me much more reason to stick with flatties along with than the realisation that thier better surface area might be helping to draw heat out of the interfaces.

Road Warrior

[donny_paycheck]

I prefer rounded, since they are easier to work with.

Also, I did a speed test of rounded vs. flat a while ago, and in a RAID 0 of 7200 rpm drives, going from rounded to flat did not affect array performance.

Rounded cables did enhance cooling performance, though. The air exhausting from the back of my Antec SX1000 series case was cooler and more voluminous. The rounded cables were right near the air intakes, so they didn't impinge on airflow like the flat cables did.

Rounded, baby.

[adelphia83]

I don't like flat cables for these reasons:

You have to hide them, or you will be seriously impeding airflow through the case. Needless to say, not what you want in an overclocked system.

When you bend the 80wire cables (ATA/66+), it's hard to get them unbent, and when you do, you just create another bend in the cable. In short, if you have to keep rearranging these cables (frequent hardware upgrading), and re-tuck them into small places, they will eventually break, or you'll be left with one sorry looking cable. I've had several ATA/66+ cables break a connection in certain places because I kept moving them. ATA/33 are easy to fold and bend, and do not suffer the problems I've round in ATA/66 cables.

Round cables are not the most flexible (well if they're of decent quality they're not), but they do look good in the case, and they do not restrict airflow as much as a flat cable let loose in a PC case. Seeing how I do frequent upgrading on my PC, I've found these round cables work best, because I can just plug and play. I usually use a Nylon zip-tie to tie it to the power supply cables (or cables that are nearby) to keep airflow going past.

I don't have a problem with cable length of signal quality, because I only use these with CDROM's and my old Seagate 4.3GB, because my main drives are both SATA. I would probably be concerned with sticking my main drives on rather "iffy" ATA/100 round cables (after reading the link posted earlier).

[TheGr8s1]

round cables are better in my opinion. alot easier to maneuver around and it sure makes things look alot nicer.

[huneycutt]

I doubt the flat cable contributes much to MB cooling even if it is laying on the MB because of the insulation. Can't feature the heat transfer being enough to effect the MB temp.

As for round cables making cooling & circulation better, take several rubber bands and gently fold the flat cables into half size and hold them there with the rubber bands, or twist ties. That would make them as small as round cables and you save a few bucks to.