Somedays Google just is NO help at all. . . . I just spent 2 hours searching both google and the forums here for a guide I saw recently about the best techniques on routing your wires and cables in the pc . . . It had some great pictures and had some awesome hints for getting the best usage out of cable ties to route the wires . . .

So, I know I'm opening myself up to "Here it is, found it my first try", but can I get some suggestions for guides you may have seen that could fit the bill for what I'm looking for?

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!

D

There is not really a set way to route ur wiring as it will vary depending on the style of your case (AT, ATX, microATX, etc etc) as well as the size (mid tower ,full tower, server tower, etc) as well as the manufactuer (some with more racks, some without a window/small window, some with risers allowing cables behind motherboard, etc etc) as well as your components (stock cables, short cables, long cables, etc etc) as well as the type of cable (IDE strips, Molex wires, etc etc)...

As you can see where im going with this, because there are so many different variables in a system ,there is literally no system that is the same so cable management varies, however if u post a pic of ur Case and maybe the specs, someone might have it and might have modded it and can give u some pointers. Most people have to put mods into there cases just to hide the cables (such as a false floor, etc) so it will vary so so so much.

Yeah, it really depends on your type of case. I usually route most of my wires just behind the motherboard tray, then tape them down at a point to where they can still reach their destination. I've also found that taping the wires to the top of the case (on the inside, of course) can help out a bit, too. Just watch out and don't obstruct your blowhole (if you have one).

It all depends on how much time and effort you want to put into your wiring. If you had some spare holes in your motherboard for standoffs, you could remove your fan connectors to your CPU fan, and maybe even some of your case fans, and route them around the motherboard like that. Removing molex connectors and various other connectors to make sure you can squeeze them in tight places really helps. For instance, I removed the molex power to my cold cathodes in my Lian Li PC65, then routed the wires behind the motherboard, then up through an empty standoff hole, then had the power supply lead feed right down into that and taped it down securely. Looks wonderful.

Hope this helped! Post some pictures of your efforts, and maybe myself and some other members could point out some stuff specific to your case!

I'm going to be doing this with both of my Xaser II cases, so if anyone else has done this with thier Xaser II and has any case specific suggestions, that'd be great. It may be a few weeks before I can actually find the time to start the project, but I'm collecting any suggestions/hints/guides and whatnot before hand.

If I get the chance this weekend, I'll crack the case open and get some shots of both sides of the Mobo. Mayhaps I can talk a couple of the pimps into photoshopping me in some routing ideas.

D

Edit: Well, I found an interesting link, not exactly what I was looking for, but it's entertaining and VERY informative. . . I'd love to see someone actually put this to use in their case.

Cable Lacing Guide

Check it out!

Wow, it only took me 3 full days to rediscover the link I was talking about. . . . Check out this guide here for some great ideas about cleaning up your wiring messes.

D

thats a good guide.......i never thought of running wires through mobo standoff holes.....i'm so gonna do that....

i also route some of my wires under my motherboard itself.. like my front USB port cables and the pw/reset/hdled/etc cables are just barely long enough to go under my motherboard being held in place between the screw/riser things then they just poke out wherever they are on your m/b. and, my case has enough room on the sides of the hdd trays that i can cram my extra molex connectors and power cords in beside, and between hdd drives.

Quote: Originally Posted by drougnor Wow, it only took me 3 full days to rediscover the link I was talking about. . . . Check out this guide here for some great ideas about cleaning up your wiring messes. D

Man, that is a really good guide. Thanks for finding that. My rig's cables are fairly neat, but could stand some improvement and this guide will be a big help.

An idea I was considering: Some of the round IDE cables I've been using are fairly stiff and don't tuck away very well. I've seen some flat ribbon IDE kits for sale:
http://www.cablesnmor.com/ide.html
and I was thinking of making my own flat cables. Sounds like a backwards step but this way I could make them a bit longer allowing me to fold them and tuck them away easier. I might have to learn Origami ......

That is a very nice guide drougnor, i have also seen another one similar to this one, but can not seem to find it had a little more details and pictures but this will work.

Damn! That's a good guide, thanks drougnor!

TDR
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Love the idea with the Plexi!!!

i an a neat freak in everything but i like the look of seeing where the wire are coming from but hate the muticolor wires we all know what i am talking about. so i use black or white wire covers or what not. i use them on every wire in the case all the way to the mobo ect. i can't stand going to replace an hd or anything and getting lost in wires.