Tidy case - How do you do it?

bloodline76 · 12 May 2009 at 10:23

When I look at some of the cases on show I think where are all the wires, my computer looks like some sort of spaghetti disaster compared to these.

Do you have any advice on tidying it up?

edGfaCTor · 12 May 2009 at 10:51

Plan everything out and use a lot of cable ties.

Can you post up a pic of your system at the moment

widdyst · 12 May 2009 at 10:52

Here's a picture of mine, Look where all the wires go....Thats the way to do it so it all goes behind the motherboard tray. Anyone can do it as long as you take your time and think about each cables route. I have done a couple of mods on my case as its an antec 900 and not known for its cable managment prowess

BUT if you choose your case wisely this sort of neatness can be achieved with no mods

Ging3r · 12 May 2009 at 10:59

Always useful to have a modular PSU

Helios1234 · 12 May 2009 at 12:29

Ging3r said:
Always useful to have a modular PSU

Although it's helpful, you don't need a modular psu to have a tidy case. I managed fine with my pc power and cooling. The only thing is at the back of the case where all the cables are, you get a bulge which you need to flatten. I get the same thing with my modular enermax though.

magicroundabout · 12 May 2009 at 12:49

i've not got a modular but as people have said plan out where to put everything. it does take a while to do but well worth it.

here's the front and back of mine

bloodline76 · 12 May 2009 at 15:13

Wow thanks guys. They look fantastic!

Magicroundabout: Thanks for the back picture, that helps a lot. This should really help drop the temps a little as well.

If anyone else has some pictures of the back. Would be nice to compare techniques

EpicCarnage · 12 May 2009 at 15:15

your tidyness puts mine to shame

bloodline76 · 12 May 2009 at 15:58

EpicCarnage said:
your tidyness puts mine to shame

Ill post a picture of mine later and then you will see real shame lol

Mine is embarassingly messy l

AMG · 12 May 2009 at 16:13

you wanna see it in my thermaltake armor than :eek:

even my graphics cards are odd as in totaly different althrough the same (onces ref the other is custom)

J.B · 12 May 2009 at 17:39

To be honest mate it depends on your case. I bought an Antec 900 a year or so ago and the cable managment in that is terrible. I've mangaed to hig a lot of stuff in the 5"1/4 bays but will never look as smart as the ones with the hidden back compartments.

FaceplantSi · 12 May 2009 at 17:48

Very similar setup here to Magicroundabout's... same Silverstone Fortress case, which has good cable mgmt features anyway, and a modular PSU which is just so useful in cleaning up things internally.

Front view

And the rear view...

I have since changed the SATA cables for black ones - I'll try to get some more pics soon

mattfinch · 12 May 2009 at 18:01

Just put all the wires behind the motherboard tray. It's not that hard if you put some work and thought into it.

I'll take some photo's later.

bloodline76 · 12 May 2009 at 18:13

mattfinch said:
Just put all the wires behind the motherboard tray. It's not that hard if you put some work and thought into it.

I'll take some photo's later.

I thought there was some reason for not putting them behind the tray? Possible shorting or something.

Dont really fancy doing that as it took ages getting the CPU cooler on lol

I have a coolermaster stacker 856 (or something like that)

D D Danneh · 12 May 2009 at 20:21

I did try to tidy mine, but some cables just weren't possible. Mainly the 24 pin power and PCI-E power cables, they weren't long enough to hide behind the tray.

alex24 · 12 May 2009 at 20:29

The trick is having:

1. A good case, with plenty of options for cable routing (or mod yourself!)
2. Patience. Lots of it.
3. Modular PSU. Reduces the amount of cables drastically and makes the whole thing a LOT easier.
4. Right length cables. Make sure one cable goes where its neatest/best. Otherwise you'll be linking or changing to non-optimal layouts.

steveinspain · 12 May 2009 at 20:33

So, is there a method or order in hiding the cables around the back ?
I am getting an old Antec P180 in a few weeks which is known for not being the easiest case to be tidy in (my excuse, and a very good one too !) and plan to do a lot to it, but if there is a 'normal practise' in routing the cables it would be good to know !
I expect to do a dry run, then cut out holes for cables, then a paint job, then a final build, so am gathering all the info I can - D D Hanneh, extension cables are available if that would help you...

HighlandeR · 12 May 2009 at 21:05

widdyst said:
Here's a picture of mine

lol what a show off putting the sticker the right way up on the heatsink

you know im gonna top that neatness pic, im gonna just install a motherboard into the case and say beat that

FaceplantSi · 12 May 2009 at 21:46

steveinspain said:
So, is there a method or order in hiding the cables around the back ?
I am getting an old Antec P180 in a few weeks which is known for not being the easiest case to be tidy in (my excuse, and a very good one too !) and plan to do a lot to it, but if there is a 'normal practise' in routing the cables it would be good to know !
I expect to do a dry run, then cut out holes for cables, then a paint job, then a final build, so am gathering all the info I can - D D Hanneh, extension cables are available if that would help you...

TBH Steve, when I did mine I found the key thing to keep in mind was what cables you might need to undo to swap out components - so if changing graphics card can you get to the power easily enough without having to undo everything else? You've gotta sort of think ahead to try to route things to minimise probs if and when swapping stuff out in the future - cause it's a real pain undoing all your good work to change things.

Others may have their preferences, but I'd prefer to put power in first, then data and fan cabling last as I'd poss be swapping out fans (or removing for cleaning etc) soonest - and being smallest they can be routed along other cabling to hide them away. Also when using a case like the Fortress, altho it has the rear cable mgmt tray you should try to avoid crossing the major power cables as the added bulk can affect how well the side panel fits!

steveinspain · 12 May 2009 at 21:51

Hi Si - thats the sort of answer I expect from you - wise words !!
As the main power cable are 20/24 cables or 8 cables, I intend to cut the braiding off mine to allow for flattening out of the bundled cables behind the mobo (No easy to cable manage case for me, you lightweight !!) and will work following your ideas. Having just got me a Noctua cooler I am getting ever more impatient to get my new case and fans out here to get started !