Cleaning up internal wires for better airflow

[Garfield]

I was previously talking to RainMaQer extensively via PM about getting cooler temps and he suggested that I clean up the wires for better air flow. Like he said, I'm going to either use zip ties or electrical tape. I'm going to post some pictures of what internally my case looks like currently (without everything "tidy"). I have to borrow my dad's digital camera for that though and hopefully I can get those pictures by today.

So, I would just tie these PSU wires together as tight as possible? Should I try to "move" them to one side of the case? I'm a little bit hesitant about cutting the IDE cables. Maybe I'll just fold them. Any suggestions?

 

[Yodums]

Do you have a car?

Or if not is there an auto shop near by? You can go there and ask for loom wire, for the PSU wire. You'll see that lots of people here have black wire on their PSU wire that's loom wire. Even for fans they have it.

OR even a closer look:

The wire is covered in a loom wire.

I recommend you hidding your wires in bay, or zip tying them to the side of the bay.

Other than that it should make a huge improvement

 

[donny_paycheck]

Grouping them all to one side in one large bunch is best. It doesn't affect high speed IDE or SCSI cables either. Crosstalk between them is not an issue. I would do as you said; wrap them with electrical tape or better yet, spiral wrap or split loom tubing as Yodums suggested. You will literally be able to feel the difference in airflow by placing your hand near your exhaust fans.

 

[Yodums]

By the way, you either way the wires to be:

On the case as in, located on the base of the case, side or top, or in the bays. Never leave them sticking out. There could be more to this than just airflow, if you run a Delta fan and your got some wires sticking out and it sucks in the wire, its going to chop that thing, kill the processor with it!

Yodums

 

[Garfield]

Okay, I'll go look for zip ties and see what I can do. Maybe I'll do what Yodums says with that loom wire. I'll try to clean this wiring up today or tomorrow. I'll get back to you fellas when I'm doing it and done. Thanks, fellas!

 

[Yodums]

Okay, I'll go look for zip ties and see what I can do. Maybe I'll do what Yodums says with that loom wire. I'll try to clean this wiring up today or tomorrow. I'll get back to you fellas when I'm doing it and done. Thanks, fellas!

Use MSPaint and then draw us your case with all the wires hanging out and we'll help you.

 

[Garfield]

By the way, you either way the wires to be:

On the case as in, located on the base of the case, side or top, or in the bays. Never leave them sticking out. There could be more to this than just airflow, if you run a Delta fan and your got some wires sticking out and it sucks in the wire, its going to chop that thing, kill the processor with it!

Yodums

Thanks, Yodums. I'll take a look and make sure no wires are close to the fans. I'll also keep this in mind when I reconfigure the placement of my wires. I appreciate it.

 

[Garfield]

Use MSPaint and then draw us your case with all the wires hanging out and we'll help you.

Are you serious? Won't that be...a lot of drawing? Are you bustin' my chops?

 

[Yodums]

Are you serious? Won't that be...a lot of drawing? Are you bustin' my chops?

Just use lines.

Simple draw the bays with a penciel, sketch the wires how they look.

Fairly easy I can draw you my case.

 

[donny_paycheck]

Here is what I just did to my dual Xeon system when I upgraded from PII-450/2mb Xeons to PIII 733/2mb CPUs. That is my new 36gb U160 SCSI 15,000 RPM Cheetah drive on top of the case. I still need to install it.

Can you say RTCW CLAN SERVER?!?! Oh yeah, SMP rocks!

 

[Garfield]

Just use lines.

Simple draw the bays with a penciel, sketch the wires how they look.

Fairly easy I can draw you my case.

I think it'll be better if I just take a digital picture of my case inside . Lemme go ask my dad if I can use his camera now.

 

[Garfield]

What I'll do is take a picture of the case right now and then try to fix everything up and then take a picture of my modifications to the wire placements and then I'll post both pictures. Might be a day or two because I'm slightly busy today.

 

[Garfield]

I'm going to get the ties needed this friday and then I'm going to start on straightening it up inside the case. Then I'll post the pictures.

 

[Portishead]

There is a guide on how to apply the wire looming over at virtual-hideout. http://www.virtual-hideout.net/guides/cable_sleeving/index.shtml

This might give you some ideas on cleaning up the inside of your case.

 

[Garfield]

There is a guide on how to apply the wire looming over at virtual-hideout. http://www.virtual-hideout.net/guides/cable_sleeving/index.shtml

This might give you some ideas on cleaning up the inside of your case.

Thanks for the link! He seems to be doing what Yodums said with loom wire and the bit. I just want to get the wires out of the way of the air flow.

 

[Jeniva]

looms are the way to go....it took me a while to get my looms all on..but it sure does clean it up:
[EDIT: this was before I zip tied the looms, and you will notice the inverter for the EL cable just laying on the case bottom...Its now mounted out of the way..

 

[diehrd]

I agree cleaning up the inside seriously helps cooling.It hs for me lowered system temps and processor temps.....If ya look close the IDE cablse run behind the motherboard.....

 

[Smizack]

I agree cleaning up the inside seriously helps cooling.It hs for me lowered system temps and processor temps.....If ya look close the IDE cablse run behind the motherboard.....

Kewl idea man. Never thought of that...

 

[Starfoxer]

i think electrical tape works awesome!!!!
it's neat, perdy and you can match your PC's color scheme.
here is a pic to sho you how mine turned out.

 

[Starfoxer]

before wires