Wire management taken too far?

[techbuzz]

After looking through the case gallery I have noticed that some users have taken the whole "cable management" thing way too far.

What is the point of pulling every single wire in your case as hard as you can and jamming it behind the motherboard tray or motherboard then taping them all in a huge knot? I agree that one of the main problems in airflow is poor cable management, but come on people...

I don't know...I am probably going to get some backlash because of this post, but I am wondering if anyone else feels the same way?

Sure, when it comes to good cable management and I am the first person to yell and scream at another, but I don't think that it is good to pinch and crimp wires in the smallest places just so the inside of your case looks like nothing is actually hooked up.

I have always believed that using any type of tape in a computer case is a no no.

 

[Ravenas]

Better wire management leads to better air flow. Better air flow leads to lower temps for over clockers. Better temps for overclockers leads to higher fsb. You get the drift. Plus it looks good and professional.

 

[Water Drop]

If you have a case with a window, then cable management is important, because if you have a cats nest of wires visible, it's just ugly. One of the nice things about highend PC's such as Alienware's, Voodoo's, and even the Mac Pro, is that they all have excellent wire management, and is part of the cost of the system. When you build your own, you can do just as good of wire management and it doesn't cost you a dime. It's a cheap way to improve your computer's look.

 

[mrw1986]

AFAIC, wire management is one of the most important aspects of building and overclocking. Also most of the cables that are taped are taped to the back of mobo tray, causing no harm. I don't think you're going to win this battle...

 

[techbuzz]

You guys aren't understanding what I am saying.

I agree with everything you are saying but what I am saying is that there is no point crimping, jamming and pinching wires under the motherboard then finishing up the job with some tape.

My case has great cable management without any tape or pinching of wires.

I don't think I am going win this battle either.

 

[Ravenas]

You guys aren't understanding what I am saying.

I agree with everything you are saying but what I am saying is that there is no point crimping, jamming and pinching wires under the motherboard then finishing up the job with some tape.

My case has great cable management without any tape or pinching of wires.

Depends on how much management the owner wants. You can never tell someone they have too much wire management.

 

[mrw1986]

I see nothing wrong with jamming the wires and such...personally I don't do it because I have no need to.

 

[techbuzz]

Depends on how much management the owner wants. You can never tell someone they have too much wire management.

I guess I don't like to have a case that looks amazing at first look and have it look disgusting behind the motherboard or motherboard tray.

I like to find the happy medium between the two. Tape is just unprofessional.

 

[Ravenas]

I guess I don't like to have a case that looks amazing at first look and have it look disgusting behind the motherboard or motherboard tray.

I like to find the happy medium between the two. Tape is just unprofessional.

BUT this is only my opinion. SO...it really doesn't matter what I think.

Nah I disagree, your opinion does matter. Everyone has their own definition of what good wire management is. Wether you go as far as some people doesn't really matter. As long as your air flow is optimal and everything looks organized, there should be no reason for someone to give negative reviews.

 

[technicks]

So don't say things like that then.
Wire management is pretty important to create a overall look of the pc.
I agree that jamming cables into tight spaces is a no no, but when done right it is a great part of a casemod.

 

[Kursah]

I believe in doing enough wire management to not hinder airflow, which really doesn't take much. Spend one extra hour putting your rig together and odds are you will find a successful route for most of your wiring. One or two wires aren't really going to be a huge hinderance to overall cooling, or at least one that would be noticable.

Some people do go too far, and some go beyond that, which for me is cool to see, but nothing I would aspire for. I try to mix the looks/function a bit, but I'm more for function when it comes down to it. As long as there aren't a bunch of wires in front of fans, over heat-sinks, I'm happy.

Zip-Ties of various sizes and yes even the occasional tape (if really needed) will be very helpful, along with seeing what others have done with similar cases/builds. I think that cable management can easily get out of hand, and in the end, as long as airflow isn't impacted and it looks okay to you, who really cares? If you build a gaming rig and spend more time playing with the damn wires and hardware...what was the point of wasting money on a gaming rig? Just get a cheap bare-bones and play with that, give the gaming rig to someone who'll use it for GAMING!

Everyone has their own opinions and suggestions in this area, really I think some take it TOO seriously. But there has to be the spectrum of folks like me who just care enough about cable management for function, and those who like things to look like they're damn near wireless inside of your case, and everyone in between.

 

[techbuzz]

So don't say things like that then.
Wire management is pretty important to create a overall look of the pc.
I agree that jamming cables into tight spaces is a no no, but when done right it is a great part of a casemod.

I think the case as a whole should have good cable management.

 

[keakar]

You guys aren't understanding what I am saying.

I agree with everything you are saying but what I am saying is that there is no point crimping, jamming and pinching wires under the motherboard then finishing up the job with some tape.

My case has great cable management without any tape or pinching of wires.

I don't think I am going win this battle either.

i totally agree with you, if its in the way of airflow i could understand it but unless you still have IDE ribbons in your case, nothing restricts the airflow untill you reach over 100mph where turbulance has an effect. yes a ball of spagetti will interfere somewhat but unless your a total idiot 2 zip ties will confine your entire wiring harness to one trunkline.

i say right now you are wrong if you think you are making any difference beyond that. yes it looks nice and yes getting the main trunk out of the airflows direct path helps but after that it is all about looks.

give me two cases, one that costs $200 with cable management and a windo the other a generic windowless case with decent airflow and you can keep your window, i'll take the generic and be happier.

to me the insides of the case hold no intrest and im not wanting to see it all the time. its like those see through phones they used to make, you couldnt give me one of those either.

 

[sneekypeet]

To each their own is my way at this topic.

Some people have their PC in plain view of the world on their desk. That makes it somewhat of an eyesore as a big plain case with no options. Some desire a window, so they can dress up the interior and make it look more appealing to be in the room.

Kind of likt the difference between a go to work car and a ...say 69 Camaro. you wouldnt put the nice chrome and paint on the Kia you drive to work would ya.

Some people strive to show their creativity in different venues. Some of prefer to have our PC's that are sitting within arms reach to look a little better since we see inside it all the time.

 

[King Wookie]

As someone who has done cable management on a macro scale,(wiring of recording studios, churches, offices, etc.) I do appreciate the effort some guys have put into cable management.

It does depend on the type of project though, as a heavily modded case with lazy cable management looks terrible; but there are those who don't display the inside of their cases. (such as myself) In that case, simply running the cables in a neat and orderly fashion is all that's needed.

As my system also gets used to do audio work, it's designed to be as quiet as possible. And the chocolate shop colours of my Noctuas are not pretty. Hence I haven't cut holes in my case to try and hide the cables, simply tied them down to promote good airflow. My preference is to use plastic coated wire twisty thingies (serious technical term that) . They're not pretty, but really practical.

Oh, a point to remember, any time a cable is placed under stress, there is a Much higher likelyhood that it will break. Or even worse, sharp edges could cut through the insulation. 12V on the chassis anyone?

 

[erocker]

You guys aren't understanding what I am saying.

I agree with everything you are saying but what I am saying is that there is no point crimping, jamming and pinching wires under the motherboard then finishing up the job with some tape.

I agree, while I am probablly one of "those" people, I would never crimp, jam, or pinch wires under the motherboard. I would also never pull any wires "tight". Without doing any of the forementioned things, I can achieve the look of proper cable management. I run my wires along the backside and make sure the slack from the wires are nicely put away or ziptied by the PSU. It takes a lot of work to do it correctly. Some care about c/m some dont, and to each thier own.

 

[thegave]

If you have a case with a window, then cable management is important, because if you have a cats nest of wires visible, it's just ugly. One of the nice things about highend PC's such as Alienware's, Voodoo's, and even the Mac Pro, is that they all have excellent wire management, and is part of the cost of the system. When you build your own, you can do just as good of wire management and it doesn't cost you a dime. It's a cheap way to improve your computer's look.

My GX270 had fantastic wire management when I first got it (second hand). It's gone to pieces now after I started installing things (SATA hdd, VGA, changed the ram).

 

[Fitseries3]

im waiting to see someone solder the wires to the back of the motherboard so there are absolutely no wires visible at all.

im all about cable management but, yeah.... some people take it a little far.

 

[imperialreign]

After looking through the case gallery I have noticed that some users have taken the whole "cable management" thing way too far.

What is the point of pulling every single wire in your case as hard as you can and jamming it behind the motherboard tray or motherboard then taping them all in a huge knot? I agree that one of the main problems in airflow is poor cable management, but come on people...

I don't know...I am probably going to get some backlash because of this post, but I am wondering if anyone else feels the same way?

Sure, when it comes to good cable management and I am the first person to yell and scream at another, but I don't think that it is good to pinch and crimp wires in the smallest places just so the inside of your case looks like nothing is actually hooked up.

I have always believed that using any type of tape in a computer case is a no no.

tape, for the most part is alright - although, there are better means of holding down large bundles of wires, I think most of us just don't think of it, because all those cables are on the side of the tray no one ever sees. Tape just looks tacky, though, but sometimes there isn't much choice

As to kinked and "stuffed" wires - yeah, that's a real bad practice, it doesn't take much to break the wire strands on some of these smaller lines.

But, looks can be decieving, also - it may appear that some wires have been stuffed into some small nooks and crannies, but then again, there might be more than enough slack on them that it's not really a problem, but if you don't take the time to wrap them some more, excessive rubbing on the corners around those crannies when pulling stuff in and out will lead to headache sooner or later.

I'm all for good cable management, too, but leaving lines with absolutely no slack, or anything else that can be considered damaging to one's hardware is definitely over doing it. If it doesn't fit, either purchase longer cables, or modify them yourself to be longer if you have the capability. Even in my case, things might look taunt coming out from behind the mobo, or near hardware, but everything has more than enough slack on the back side of the case, and I can easily work all my connector underneath the motherboard without having to remove/unscrew it from it's standoffs.

 

[thegave]

What's wrong with tape? If/when I get a new case for my shit I'm going to get some pretty white or blue electrical tape to make little bundles of wire.

 

[Fitseries3]

i dont use tape because it leaves everything it touches sticky and dust collects on the sticky.

 

[Firedomain]

lol.... nice thread!...... with ppl like me.... my whole case is a window!!!!!!!!
i currently have probably 1 of the worst looking lot of wires behind my mobo & shockingly i expected to get a little EMI because i have no mobo tray, my mobo is mounted directly to the side of the case (makes it a pain for cable management... but i have no other options).... but my comp still runs flawlessly! does almost look like some are under stress, but there not... i made sure of that when i had to feed them behind the mobo when i had the side & 1/2 of the mobo off!!!!
boy was that a long day........... (no tape/zipties or anything holding my cords.... just fed behind the mobo & back out to the component.)

 

[CarolinaKSU]

I have the Xclio A380+ case and cable management is nearly impossible due to the design of where the power supply sits and and there is hardly any space between the motherboard tray and the other side panel. I have my wires (for the most part) neatly bundled into the corner of the case. I think this is ideal because the inside of my computer actually looks like the inside of a computer.

I believe this is where pcgolfer85 was going with the original post. Some of these cases look like just a bunch of parts in a box, the wires are what gives the computer life after all.. I believe as long as they are bundled neatly out of the way and allow for proper airflow, there is no problem with some wires visible.

 

[techbuzz]

I believe this is where pcgolfer85 was going with the original post. Some of these cases look like just a bunch of parts in a box, the wires are what gives the computer life after all.. I believe as long as they are bundled neatly out of the way and allow for proper airflow, there is no problem with some wires visible.

That is what I was trying to say. Thanks man!

 

[thegave]

Well the tape is only meant to cover the bits that its holding together right?

Anyhoo there's always rubbing alcohol to clean the sticky off