Antec 900 Cable Management

I have managed to keep most of the cable mess on the back plate behind the motherboard. However, it will never look amazing through the window without taking a dremel to it, which I am reluctant to do.
 
Hijacking the thread here a bit, but I don't think we need another Antec 900 thread ;)

Anyone had any luck installing Thermalright IFX-14 inside one of these cases? I'm looknig at all the inside pictures and it looks extremely unlikely.
 
Well yesterday I decided to get my gaming machine up and running (minus a decent graphics card) and at the same time have a bash at making the build look tidy.

Didn't have a picture of the empty case (made a few holes to allow for better cable management). Anyway, here's a picture of the mobo, drives and HD installed:
S5002329.JPG


Next I install the PSU and had a play with how I was going to install things.
S5002330.JPG


Had a play and routed as many cables as I could round the right hand side of the case (so when the side was put on you wouldn't really see them, probably a small lump but thats about it):
S5002331.JPG


Next I connected the Sata and IDE cables.
S5002332.JPG


Now a picture with the sides back. Its probably not the tidiest build, but it's my first shot at building a machine and making it look tidy.
S5002333.JPG


Any suggestions for next time?
 
Wow, thats allot better than mine! As for the hijacking, go for it! Isn't there an offical antex 900 thread somewhere? Would be nice if someone started one and posted a decent tutorial with regards to case management. I know personally, i would get allot out of it. I think the more KM oriented threads the better. You guy have however explained allot. Anyone know where i can get a cheep dremal?

Otherwise people such as myself just keep asking the same nooby questions :D
 
looks really nice hamsey. well done for first try.

did you hide any cables behind mobo tray ? if so can you get a pick of that.

any wherese the rear 120mm fan ?

also i guess im not the only one using ide still :)
 
Blackhawk47 said:
looks really nice hamsey. well done for first try.

did you hide any cables behind mobo tray ? if so can you get a pick of that.

any wherese the rear 120mm fan ?

also i guess im not the only one using ide still :)
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Ye its behind the mobo tray and anywhere I can tuck them. I put the rear fan on the side.

I'll get some more pictures up later mate.
 
Invest in a dremel and about 1 hours work and you can hide ALL your cables :D



Three holes in the motherboard tray , one big circular hole underneath the psu, 2 cutting discs and 1 hour later it comes out like this :D
 
u see a small hole beside the psu put non used cables there and they will be locked with other pannel from other side if it makes sense :)
 
mmorpheus1 said:
Invest in a dremel and about 1 hours work and you can hide ALL your cables :D



Three holes in the motherboard tray , one big circular hole underneath the psu, 2 cutting discs and 1 hour later it comes out like this :D
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Dude, how have your connected to Sata cables to your HDDs?
 
hamesy said:
Dude, how have your connected to Sata cables to your HDDs?
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Turned them round the other way and routed the wires out the side of the drivebay with the fan wires and round the back of the motherboard tray :cool: Had to use right angled sata cables and cut off power plugs and replace with flush mounting ones so that the wires dont catch on the fan. :D

The best thing about this mod it it can be done without cutting any new holes , you just need to change sata cables and mod the power leads.:D
 
mmorpheus1 said:
Turned them round the other way and routed the wires out the side of the drivebay with the fan wires and round the back of the motherboard tray :cool: Had to use right angled sata cables and cut off power plugs and replace with flush mounting ones so that the wires dont catch on the fan. :D

The best thing about this mod it it can be done without cutting any new holes , you just need to change sata cables and mod the power leads.:D
Click to expand...

nice nice . i like it though i dont really like the inside of the antec 900 the steel(?) seems somewhat unattractive though i guess its just taste. i wonder what it would be like if someone painted the internals black in the antec 900....would look sweet
 
Blackhawk47 said:
nice nice . i like it though i dont really like the inside of the antec 900 the steel(?) seems somewhat unattractive though i guess its just taste. i wonder what it would be like if someone painted the internals black in the antec 900....would look sweet
Click to expand...

Well I was actually thinking this on Saturday when I put my machine together. I might actually do it during the summer.
 
Mine is such a mess compared to others in this thread :(

IMG_0572.jpg


Probably because we hooked it all up last so everything was in place and we had to try and work around it, was a right pain in the arse and that was the best it could get!
 
Ok, my very first case modding attempts trying to improve the cable management in this awesome case.

This was the situation before and I am sure you will agree its not great... I mustered up the inspiration from here and set forth!

Before.JPG


So I dragged myself to B&Q and bought a 25mm Hole saw and associated mandril, three metal files (half moon and x2 differing grades) and magnetically tipped pozi-drive and straight tipped screwdrivers to help deal with those awkward MB screws. All this for under £20, yes yes I am a tight git but I couldn't justify spending >£60 for a dremel when that could be better put towards go-faster hardware! :D

Someone once told me to think three times, measure twice and cut once! A pain, but worth it!

I felt nervous whilst drilling the case. The mild steel was not as mild as I had anticipated, but I got there in the end having broken off one the teeth on the hole saw!

Reason of hole from bottom right going clockwise;

PSU powerleads
SATA cables
CD/DVD IDE cable & power
PCIe x2, HDD SATA & Power
MoBo Power
CPU Power
Molex Fan Plug


This was the end result:

DSC03585.JPG


Some 30 mins of filing later:

DSC03588.JPG
 
Having put all the gubbins back into the case and spent far too long rearranging the cable hairball on the rear of the MB tray. The trick is to fan out all the cables the minimise the thickness in any one area to allow the side panel to put back without bulging.

The mess which will rarely be seen again :p: I was lucky that my CPU power cable was just(!) long enough to reach all the way.

Cable%20Mess.JPG


And of course the final results (for now anyway):

After.JPG


And with all the purdy lights (should have fitted side panel):

Dark%20LED.JPG


Overall I am very happy with the outcome and as a bonus has dropped my load temps by ~2/3 degs overall. Not bad for moving some cables around! :cool:

Next steps will be to fit some blowhole trim to the filed edges (can't find this stuff anywhere, suggestion welcome :)) and apply the reverse drive mod! I also want to extend the HDD/Power/Reset cable, but need to teach myself how first!

Now just need to find the time...:D
 
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Nice work there Vector, considerably neater than my case! I am only using the provided holes at the moment.

BTW, I like how you changed the positions of your intake fans on the front of your case to get better airflow towards your heatsink :).
 
Chalex4 said:
Nice work there Vector, considerably neater than my case! I am only using the provided holes at the moment.
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Thanks!

I have read that later versions of the case have other holes. This is mine pre-mod:

DSC03584.JPG


Do you have a piccie of yours showing other provided holes (stock)?

BTW, I like how you changed the positions of your intake fans on the front of your case to get better airflow towards your heatsink :).
Click to expand...

Indeed, improves airflow over RAM and TT! :D

Cheers!
 
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