To CableMod or not to CableMod? That is the question...

[mama]

I am not sure if I should risk modding my power cables for a new build. I'm not prepared to compromise the power supply performance or operation but if using the appropriate replacement cables will add to the look of the build and not effect performance then I will go there. Does anyone have experience with cable modding?

 

[cvaldes]

I know some people here will say you should do it, it's not that hard, etc. Many of them probably already have the gear, some have probably made hundreds of them. Several TPU Q&A forum participants build and repair PCs for a living so they have a different perspective and not all of them understand that hobbyists don't have the same experience, skillset, dexterity, etc.

My basic stance is that if you're going to do this on a regular basis, it might be worth. For a one off? Not worth it.

I built my own Ethernet and serial cables back in the Nineties. I bought small bags of the connectors, the Ethernet wire crimper, some other tools. I still have some of these tools, even DB-9 connectors and pins, even though all my stuff is obsolete and I haven't touched this stuff in the past twenty years or so.

I will point out that I only dabbled with low-voltage cables that wouldn't kill a system if I plugged something in the wrong way. I did use a multimeter for testing the pinouts. I never tried this with power cords, PSU cables, etc.

At home, I am okay with installing a new light switch or receptacle but I'm not going to rebuild the electrical panel. I just don't do this enough.

In the same way, is it worth it to make your sister's wedding cake if you bake cookies once a year?

I bought an SFX power supply and put it in an SFF case whose dimensions were a little too big for the cables included with the PSU: I needed a couple of cables (24-pin ATX motherboard and GPU power) that were about 5-10 cm longer. Because it was a one-off, I decided to just order from www.cablemod.com and pay the premium to have someone do it correctly.

I don't have an unused tool, I don't have a mostly-full bag of connector pins, I don't have a spool of leftover wire. I don't have frazzled nerves, I didn't spend any time beyond than putting a custom length cable into an online shopping cart and typing in my credit card number.

Could I have done it? Without blowing up a $150 PSU? A $200 motherboard? A $600 graphics card? Maybe. It is unlikely that my custom cables would look any better than the custom ones I bought. Would they work any better? No.

Frankly, I have better things to do with my time than make commodity PC components.

Design, test, and assemble a custom cooling loop? Yes, I'm okay with that.

Building a power cable? No, thank you.

I own a Nineties-era soldering iron that I've used maybe once or twice in the past ten years. My soldering skills are pretty bad today because I do it so infrequently. Today's PCBs are far denser, my eyes are old and tired, and modern PC electronics aren't really suited for end user repair. But I'm a damned good cook and baker. And I don't need to put on reading glasses to make pasta or bake a cake.

When I built my own cables in the Nineties, I had a job where such skills were valued. But personally I thought making cables was uninteresting. I only did it when I had to.

Ultimately it's your call.

 

[mama]

I know some people here will say you should do it, it's not that hard, etc. Many of them probably already have the gear, some have probably made hundreds of them. Several TPU Q&A forum participants build and repair PCs for a living so they have a different perspective and not all of them understand that hobbyists don't have the same experience, skillset, dexterity, etc.

My basic stance is that if you're going to do this on a regular basis, it might be worth. For a one off? Not worth it.

I built my own Ethernet and serial cables back in the Nineties. I bought small bags of the connectors, the Ethernet wire crimper, some other tools. I still have some of these tools, even DB-9 connectors and pins, even though all my stuff is obsolete and I haven't touched this stuff in the past twenty years or so.

I will point out that I only dabbled with low-voltage cables that wouldn't kill a system if I plugged something in the wrong way. I did use a multimeter for testing the pinouts. I never tried this with power cords, PSU cables, etc.

At home, I am okay with installing a new light switch or receptacle but I'm not going to rebuild the electrical panel. I just don't do this enough.

In the same way, is it worth it to make your sister's wedding cake if you bake cookies once a year?

I bought an SFX power supply and put it in an SFF case whose dimensions were a little too big for the cables included with the PSU: I needed a couple of cables (24-pin ATX motherboard and GPU power) that were about 5-10 cm longer. Because it was a one-off, I decided to just order from www.cablemod.com and pay the premium to have someone do it correctly.

I don't have an unused tool, I don't have a mostly-full bag of connector pins, I don't have a spool of leftover wire. I don't have frazzled nerves, I didn't spend any time beyond than putting a custom length cable into an online shopping card and typing in my credit card number.

Could I have done it? Without blowing up a $150 PSU? A $200 motherboard? A $600 graphics card? Probably. It is unlikely that my custom cables would look any better than the custom ones I bought. Would they work any better? No.

Frankly, I have better things to do with my time than make commodity PC components. Assemble a custom cooling loop? Yes, I'm okay with that. Building a power cable? No, thank you.

I own a Nineties-era soldering iron that I've used maybe once or twice in the past ten years. My soldering skills are pretty bad because I don't do it regularly. Also today's PCBs are far denser, my eyes are old, and modern PC electronics aren't really suited for end user repair. But I'm a damned good cook and baker. And I don't need to put on reading glasses to make pasta or bake a cake.

When I built my own cables in the Nineties, I had a job where such skills were valued. But personally I thought making cables was uninteresting. I only did it when I had to.

Ultimately it's your call.

Thanks for that. Unfortunately, I have a disease that means I have to try things once. Just to see if I can do it. Thankfully my ailment doesn't extend to an urge to try cyanide.

As to the Cablemod cables, is the quality of the materials and workmanship okay?

 

[Chomiq]

Thanks for that. Unfortunately, I have a disease that means I have to try things once. Just to see if I can do it. Thankfully my ailment doesn't extend to an urge to try cyanide.

As to the Cablemod cables, is the quality of the materials and workmanship okay?

I have their PRO ModMesh Ext Kit and can't complain about quality. Except I used it maybe for 2-3 days and decided I don't really need it (tinted glass).

 

[bonehead123]

Been there, done that, many many times, for my own rigs, as well as client builds where a specific set-up/appearance/layout was requested & paid for... but I have been building pc's for over 20 years, so it's fairly easy for me.

However, as long as you order a custom set, from CableMods or otherwise, that is specified to work with your PSU, then you should not have any problems as long as you plug them in correctly

CableMods cables are well made and last a long time, I've had several clients that come back to me for new rigs but wanted to keep their existing cable/psu sets that I put into earlier builds. Hasn't been a problem so far !

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

At one time. before CableMod, I did a few builds that I did the cable sleeving myself, it was a major Pain and took up ton of time. My patience and dexterity has taken a hit since, so I no longer do all that, now I just do minor stuff, fan cables mostly.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Although I like to keep viewable wiring nice and organized I could care a less what the rear panel looks like and leave all slack back there how ever it will fit.

So would I do a cable mod
Not likely.

 

[cvaldes]

Thanks for that. Unfortunately, I have a disease that means I have to try things once. Just to see if I can do it. Thankfully my ailment doesn't extend to an urge to try cyanide.

As to the Cablemod cables, is the quality of the materials and workmanship okay?

As others have attested, the Cablemod products are fine otherwise I wouldn't have recommended this retailer. Their cables function like the originals and they look good. Plus you can have purple, green, orange, whatever cables without having leftover spools of purple, green, orange, whatever wire.

Make your own if you feel compelled. What you do with your time and money doesn't affect anyone here.

Best of luck with your decision.