Wire management

From TheBestCaseScenario

Wire Management

Sometimes, the best laid plans in creating a custom build are destroyed by the lack of attention to cables. Everything can look incredible.. until you start plugging in cables, and suddenly all the beautiful custom work is lost behind a rats nest of wiring.

To keep a clean look inside the case, bundle up excess wire, and try to tuck it out of sight. Behind the drive cage is a good spot to park excess wire, or if possible, build some sort of shield to hide it behind.

Zip Ties are your friend. Use as many as it takes.. sometimes I've used 50 in a case to get it to look just right. Tape can be used to help hold wires in place behind the mobo tray also, and intelligent routing will make a huge difference. If you can flip your hdd' around, do it. Put the cables out of sight.

Other than hiding cables, try to use as little as possible. Go modular with your next power supply purchase, and you'll have way less mess to deal with. SATA cables are smaller and easier to route/hide than IDE ribbon cables, so consider that when you upgrade. Do you really *need* that floppy drive? How about those front audio/usb ports? If you wont use them, dont bother hooking them up! Fewer wires to hide!

In closing, use common sense. Less wires = less work. Zip ties rule. Add things to cover wires if all else fails. :)

-Luke122