Extreme cable managment

[Celeron_Phreak]

First idea: A modular power center to make for my new comp. It'd all be based in the left side of the case, along the 5.25" drive bays, and then all the power connectors from the power supply would lead to there. Then I'd have extension cables go from that to each device that needs power.

Another idea is cutting holes all over the case to get wires where they need to be, but not have it cluttered like crazy.

My last idea is cutting each wire, and extending it to where it needs to go, which wouldn't involve any hacking of the case, or any time consuming wire routing like the first idea.

I don't really know what to do, since I've never really been to good at cable management. I don't want it to look like it does now:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/virax3/2005_Computer/Inside1.jpg

With bundles of wires in the 5.25" bays and all over the other side of the case. I want this to look neat, sleek, and sessy. :D

[Captain Slug]

A reliable modular power supply should solved 80% of your problems. I'm working on developing a product to solve the remaining 20% by centralizing all of the motherobard connections.

Some of the development is taking place in this thread: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=394139
I have the concept finalized, I just need to wait until I have the time and funds to get it made.

And in your case specifically I think you could clean up the wire management by making a new cable routing hole closer to the motherboard tray and on that side of the case.

Here's a suggestion
http://www.captainslug.com/temp/celeron_phreak.jpg

[Celeron_Phreak]

Yeah, but another powersupply really isn't in my budget right now. I've been thinking back and fourth about your modular idea since I saw it (I posted in the thread).

I don't think I fully understand your drawing on my pic though. =\

[Ven0m]

How about making some kind of buses?
You'd stick some kind of tubes or alternative to interior of case and route cables there.

For example - vertical tube that would go from opening in PSU section, go vertically up to top of case, and power cables sticking from it to VGA and drives? Using flat hdd cables might help a bit too - they could be routed along mobo tray, then - cut to thinner stripes and end in drives...

[Captain Slug]

I don't think I fully understand your drawing on my pic though. =\
The red is where the cables are, the green is where they need to go or be moved to. In the case of the ATX and P4 cables I'm suggesting making holes where the green circles are.

And making a junction box can get expensive because you have to buy the box, the connectors, the pins, the wires, etc. If you're on a tight budget it's best to just work with what you have.

[demortey]

Heres what i did...sorry my case is kinda really dusty. havent gotten around to cleanin it out in a while. anyhoo...heres what i did

i took a dremel to the corner of the back of the mainboard tray (pic e), so that wires could be run behind the tray alot easier.

I put the harddrives in backwards, so that the power/IDE is in the back...not sure if your sata cables will be as easy to run if you do choose to go that route.

I basically ran all the wires along the back of the case. Another thing i did was take that white plastic crap off thats around the openings in the case. i thought it looked better without em when i was polishing the inside. also notice through the dust that the bottom of the case is really shiney...if i cleaned it it shines like a mirror....just used autosol and polished the crap outta it.

peace.

[Celeron_Phreak]

Slug, how am I supposed to move my ATX, molex, and SATA cables to the 5.25" bays and still reach their destination?

I've got A LOT of spare parts from misc. electronic devices, so a lot of the stuff (connectors and wires) arn't to much of a problem, I just might fall short a bit.

I don't see cutting a hole for the 4-pin ATX connector possible, as it's right about the PSU. I don't have much room there for anything really.

I think I might wait for my NV6800C1 to get here before I do anything drastic. That way I have a good idea where every power line and object will be.

[pik4chu]

Slug, how am I supposed to move my ATX, molex, and SATA cables to the 5.25" bays and still reach their destination?

I've got A LOT of spare parts from misc. electronic devices, so a lot of the stuff (connectors and wires) arn't to much of a problem, I just might fall short a bit.

I don't see cutting a hole for the 4-pin ATX connector possible, as it's right about the PSU. I don't have much room there for anything really.

I think I might wait for my NV6800C1 to get here before I do anything drastic. That way I have a good idea where every power line and object will be.
cant tell on all of them but it what I think he means is instead of routing all thsoe wires up through the big hole, is to cut smaller ones right near where they plug in. That way only a little bit of wire is exposed and the rest is under the metal divider in the case where there power supply and drives are. The other is to cut a small hole in the motherboard tray to feed the SATA cables behind the drive cage and along the side of the mobo, thus making them less visible.

[flamerail]

I Think it looks nice the way it is now...... :D

BTW what case is that? I may get me one!

[Amarkarian]

Yeah and what kind of heatsink is that? for the vc and processor

[orionlion82]

so are we talking about a custom electrical bus? ive often thought of doing that.
hack off the wiring harness, and just wire, solder and heatshrink your way to happiness. it would be so much cleaner and more versatile to have the wiring completely integrated into the case, rather than having a wiring harness flubbing things up; if this is what i think this is, i would love to see the outcome!

[jcw122]

I Think it looks nice the way it is now...... :D

BTW what case is that? I may get me one!

thats a Lian Li (some of the VERY best cases out there, but pricey) not sure on the model

[subtotal]

thats a Lian Li (some of the VERY best cases out there, but pricey) not sure on the model

looks like a V1000B to me

[Navig]

As I recall, the builder in last months cpu magazine had a voltage rail system integrated into his case.

celeron_phreak, I think your cable management is actually not that bad at all, from a functional point of view. If you want it to look as if it were cleaner, the easiest and most effective thing to do is to sleeve everything black.

Then you need to just take some time and think about each cable you see, and ask yourself, what can I do to make this cable look neater? Option#1--sleeve in black. Option#2--hide it somewhere. Option#3--create a new hole for it run more unobtrusively. Option#4--group it with other cables and use split loom. Option#5--if you have the tools, mini sub harnesses can be used to group items together.

Capt. Slug has already outlined some of his thoughts re: individual cables in his nice pics.

This is one of my systems. As you can see, I've done nothing extraordinary, just flipped thru the options for each and every stray cable:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Acrylic%20clean%20cabling/Profile.jpg

[orionlion82]

Navig!
you were much too humble about that.
nearly had me in tears.
unbelievably amazing and inspiring!
wow.

[Celeron_Phreak]

Case - Lian-Li V1000B
Price - $185 from NewEgg

CPU cooler - Zalman CNPS7700-Cu
Price - $55 from NewEgg

Video cooler - Zalman VF700-Cu
Price - $55 from NewEgg

Note that the prices I paid for them were about two months ago, and they are before the shipping was added to them. No, I'm not rich, I just wouldn't settle for less. :)

I've considered sleeving the PSU wires, but I really don't have the time. At least not until I can find another week to take off and do my own thing, but that wouldn't be on paid vacation time. I might end up quitting my job, or get fired for fratranizing with a girl at work, but we'll see.

Now I just need some time to take my system down and really look at how I could organize my wires. I hate taking my system down, so who knows when I'll get the chance to take a look at it.

[threeme2189]

its not that bad phreak...mine was worse and i just used loads of zip ties and put stuff i don't need behind the mobo tray.

[Captain Slug]

Slug, how am I supposed to move my ATX, molex, and SATA cables to the 5.25" bays and still reach their destination?
For the power cables just use extensions or enlarge the hole that the USB header is passing through. Wire management is all about consolidation and concealment.

I don't see cutting a hole for the 4-pin ATX connector possible, as it's right about the PSU. I don't have much room there for anything really.
You could tuck it under the motherboard then extend it through the USB header hole with the ATX and drive power cables.

Then, to hide the remaining power cable you could maybe intall a rubber cord guide channel or use clips so that they're all running against the edge of the motherboard tray.

[AlabamaCajun]

This is getting insane!, awsome work. Don't worry about the dust, a clean case is either an idle pc or a modder with too much time on their hands.

[gorilly]

my cables are quite well hidden http://photobucket.com/albums/v61/Miccutajar/Computer/

[JudgeDredd]

Meh.

http://home.austin.rr.com/depti/wiringocf.JPG

[Skeen]

This is one of my systems. As you can see, I've done nothing extraordinary, just flipped thru the options for each and every stray cable:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Acrylic%20clean%20cabling/Profile.jpg

Show him the other side. ;)



I find behind the mobo tray is the easiest. Sleeving in black's a good idea too.

[Celeron_Phreak]

Well I wrapped all the PSU wires in black electrical tape and hid them/routed them pretty well, so not much is seen. It does look better than before, that's for sure. Trying to put the left side panel is a bit awkward now, which I'm not sure why, but I'll look at it again later.

[Tyreal]

Show him the other side. ;)



I find behind the mobo tray is the easiest. Sleeving in black's a good idea too.

Hehehe. :cool:
I'd like to see it too...

[Skeen]

If you search Navig's threads, you can find it.

I was just giving him a hard time.

[waddupmm]

Yall gonna make me bust out mine..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/waddup858/Picture375.jpg

And yes I know the mobos molex isnt plugged in and the floppy wire aint plugged in their older pics

[Kill_A._Byte]

Nice work navig... now about that wall paper...

[Archer36]

Nice work navig... now about that wall paper...

I was having the same thought...

waddupmmd you still need your Video Card, and your HSF and a CPU while your at it. I find that one annoying molex going to the video card quite irritating. Someone needs to invent wireless power :shrug:

[waddupmm]

Peep the sig, cpu is vapochilled, videocard is gonna be a x300 till I can save up enough for a 7800, which is long enough that it wont be hard to plug especially since they get powert through the new 6pin molex thingy, and at the end of my last post I said it was an old picture

[Celeron_Phreak]

I've seen Navig's case long before I posted this. The opposing side is ugly as hell, no offence. ;)

[Skeen]

It faces the wall so no biggie.

[Navig]

Alright then, here are the cabes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Acrylic%20clean%20cabling/Cables.jpg



But I will also submit a sneak peek at my latest build:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic/Nakedsystempresata.jpg

This is a wiring nightmare! If you count psus, I think there are 14 fans and 1 blower. The video card alone has 4 cables (molex power, blower, 70mm fan, rpm monitor), but I've got them tucked away! Also add dual power supplies, a wireless on switch, UV lighting, voltagemod measure lines (Vcore, Vdimm, VTT, 3.3V, 12V, and 5V) and it was a electrician's nightmare/wet dream depending on you like it!

navig