\n

Learning how to manage cables <\/strong>in your gaming PC setup is more important than you\u2019d think. Not only does it make everything neat and tidy, saving you from the Reddit ridicule should your rig ever make it into the depths of the forums, it also instils a sense of pride.<\/p>\n

Taking time to do some cable management inside your\u00a0gaming PC may feel like a chore, but it could help your rig flourish. For starters, cleaning up your wires could prevent tasks like upgrading to the best gaming CPU from feeling like an action movie bomb disposal scene. Better still, if you want to boost fps in your favourite games, freeing up case\u00a0space can help keep things cool when overclocking your CPU and GPU.<\/p>\n

Of course, you could just cheat by packing everything behind the best gaming motherboard and jamming the side panel back on, but there are far more elegant solutions out there. Follow these\u00a0six steps of cable management and your setup could look like it\u2019s been done by a professional in no time.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re just getting to grips with how to build a gaming PC, then you\u2019re in the ideal position to think about managing cables. After all, it\u2019s always easier to start from scratch than it is to perform the delicate operation of untangling a bird\u2019s nest of wires that are already sitting in your system. That\u2019s not to say pre-built systems are beyond saving, but they\u2019re a little more work given we\u2019d always recommend stripping it down first.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Modular and semi-modular power supplies<\/h2>\n

With a little elbow grease, almost any PC can scrub up\u00a0to look good, but if you want something to help you manage cables, then a modular power supply comes in rather handy. Instead of letting cables that you\u2019re never going to use spew all over your case or squish behind your motherboard, a modular power supply does away with these unwanted wires by making them detachable.<\/p>\n

Choosing what you can plug in streamlines the process of building the PC, not only making things significantly tidier, but getting rid of the headache that comes with a pile of cables getting in your way as you piece things together.<\/p>\n

If the expense of modular power supplies means this isn\u2019t an option for you, then perhaps turn your attention to the semi-modular options that are out there. As its name suggests, only some cables are detachable with these models, but the ones permanently installed are likely ones you\u2019ll be using anyway.\u00a0Naturally, if you\u2019re looking to maximise\u00a0space within a mini-ITX case, you\u2019ll also want to consider opting for an SFX (small form factor) PSU so that you\u2019ve got plenty of room\u00a0to work with.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re stuck with a non-modular power supply, you can still get a pretty decent hold of cable management \u2013 it\u2019ll just require a bit more effort. Don\u2019t worry if all of this sounds daunting, we can walk you through how to install a power supply, too.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2. Choose the right case<\/h2>\n

Most cases nowadays come with cable routing features, but not all are built equally. If you\u2019re in the market for a new case, whether it\u2019s an upgrade or a fresh build, you should always look out for:<\/p>\n

\n
• Size, as smaller cases tend to be more fiddly<\/li>\n
• Spaces to feed your cables through the backplate<\/li>\n
• A shroud for your power supply<\/li>\n
• A cable routing bar<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Bigger cases aren\u2019t for everyone with the amount of space they take up, but they are usually packed with plenty more features made to manage cables easier, such as a power supply shroud to cover the shame of any extra cables you don\u2019t need and a cable routing bar to keep things orderly. And, facing facts, it\u2019s much easier to move around when you\u2019re threading cables through the back.<\/p>\n

  That\u2019s not to say that you can\u2019t find similar features in a smaller chassis, but if you can\u2019t fit a full tower or even a mid tower setup into your room, then mini-ITX\u00a0models can<\/em> be a little trickier, and you\u2019ll want to use all available cutouts and rubber grommets to the best of your ability. Here are some of the best PC cases for cable management:<\/p>\n

  Cases with good cable\u00a0routing no longer cost a fortune, so there\u2019s really no excuse to manage cables poorly anymore.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

  3. Arm yourself with cable ties \u2013 preferably velcro<\/h2>\n

  Sometimes dealing with cables can be likened to wading through a jungle, especially if you\u2019re running a non-modular power supply. Instead of cutting off the wires you don\u2019t need \u2013\u00a0which we absolutely do not<\/em> recommend \u2013 you can use cable ties to keep\u00a0them at bay and secure them in place once you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n

  We recommend using velcro cable ties over plastic zip or twist ties because they\u2019re less fiddly, they reduce the risk of cutting into other wires, and they\u2019re completely reusable. And the best thing is they don\u2019t cost too much, as you can get 100 velcro cable ties on Amazon for around $12 USD \/\u00a0 \u00a39 GBP.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

  4. Plan things out<\/h2>\n

  If your gaming PC has already been built, your job will be made that much easier if you unplug everything to start fresh. Once you\u2019ve got a blank canvas, you could<\/em> just grab all your components and wing it, but you\u2019ll more than likely run into issues if you don\u2019t go in with a plan of how you want to route your cables.<\/p>\n

  As a modular power supply user, you can begin by plugging in the cables your system needs and leaving the rest in its packaging. Don\u2019t lose these, as you might need them for a future upgrade. If you\u2019re running a non-modular power supply, however, then you\u2019re best isolating the unnecessary cables with your velcro cable ties, keeping them out of the way.<\/p>\n

  Fan wires are often quite short, so it might seem like it makes sense to point them directly towards the motherboard, but this can sometimes introduce extra slack that just doesn\u2019t look all that appealing. Conversely, placing it too far away could mean it doesn\u2019t reach. Your best bet is to rotate each fan until the cable sits neatly around the frame with enough room to still plug into a fan header.<\/p>\n

  Remember, rotating is fine, but flipping could turn an intake fan to an exhaust fan and vice versa, which will affect your temperatures. A typical setup would have all your bottom and front fans intaking air and your back and top fans pushing it out. You can tell which way around a fan is because the air will hit the curved part of the blades first.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

  5. Route your cables in order<\/h2>\n

  Since the cables on the best CPU cooler, your fans, and\u00a0case\u2019s front panel are dainty compared to your braided power supply cables and don\u2019t stretch particularly far, you should connect them to the motherboard before starting the bigger project. There\u2019s nothing worse than routing all your cables to find that one won\u2019t reach because another is in the way.<\/p>\n

  Once you\u2019ve plugged in any SATA cables you need and fed them through to the back of the hard drive cage, you can then turn your attention to the big box at the bottom. We recommend tackling the biggest cables first, such as your 24-pin motherboard power connector, as these can be difficult to wiggle through when the other cables are in place.<\/p>\n

  All power supply cables should be routed using the contours along the sides of the case or, preferably, through the back using the cutouts. This means you don\u2019t obstruct fans, heatsinks, or coolers, improving the airflow and even the longevity of your gaming PC.<\/p>\n

  Once all cables have been connected, do one last check to make sure everything is in order, to avoid the panic of pressing that on button with no response. Make sure you\u2019ve definitely <\/em>switched on the power supply at the rear.\u00a0You shouldn\u2019t be able to see much in the way of cables from the front, with the necessary ones disappearing behind the nearest cutout. Behind the motherboard should be just as neat, if you\u2019ve used most of the length of each cable.<\/p>\n

  Once your PC successfully boots and everything\u2019s working, and you don\u2019t feel like a particular cable would be better feeding through another slot, you can tie your cables up, pop the side panels back on, and marvel at all your hard work.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

  6. Outside your pc<\/h2>\n

  Having a tidy looking PC is all good, but the back of the best gaming desk should be just as neat. After all, they say \u201ca tidy desk is a tidy mind\u201d. There are some pretty basic ways to hide cables, such as routing the power cable and display wires behind the stand of the best gaming monitor or investing in\u00a0an under desk cable management system to keep cables off the floor.<\/p>\n

  If cables are really getting on your nerves, you could consider picking up the best wireless gaming mouse and a cordless verion of the\u00a0best gaming keyboard. Those of you that are stuck with wires, however, might want to consider pairing the best gaming mouse\u00a0with a bungee to avoid cable drag and neatly direct them where you want them to go.<\/p>\n

  Those of you with a busier setup that includes the best gaming microphone don\u2019t have the luxury of going wireless \u2013 unless you opt for Antlion\u2019s wireless Modmic, of course. In this instance, you might want to consider drilling holes in your desk so your wires\u00a0disappear beneath the tabletop,\u00a0but you\u2019ll want to make sure your peripherals are definitely <\/em>in their correct position before doing this.<\/p>\n

  Just like inside your PC, we\u2019d recommend the velcro zip ties again for tidying up any excess cable, while still being able to easily detach if swapping out any of your peripherals.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

  What\u2019s the best PC case for cable management?<\/h3>\n

  Most of the best PC cases will be designed with cable management in mind, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019ll be an easy task. Depending on your choice of PSU, you\u2019ll need to carefully assess where to route connections and wires, and if you\u2019re using a non-modular power supply, you\u2019ll need to tuck any redundant connections away in crevices.<\/p>\n

  Do graphics cards need power cables?<\/h3>\n

  Most modern-day graphics cards require a power supply connection,\u00a0 Nvidia\u2019s RTX 4000 series GPUs could\u00a0require a new 600W PCIe standard. However, there are still options for low-spec gamers and\u00a0mini build enthusiasts, as the likes of the GTX 1050 Ti and AMD Radeon RX 460\u00a0can use your motherboard\u2019s PCI for power, and they still pack a modest punch.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

  
  \n
  Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Learning how to manage cables in your gaming PC setup is more important than you\u2019d think. Not only does it make everything neat and tidy, saving you from the Reddit ridicule should your rig ever make it into the depths of the forums, it also instils a sense of pride. Taking time to do some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":36824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.pcgamesn.com\/wp-content\/sites\/pcgamesn\/2020\/02\/Manage-Cables-Gaming-PC.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pc"],"yoast_head":"\n