how do you manage cables

Full Answer

How well do you manage your cables?

The three keys to improving cable organization and management are these:

1. Eliminate unnecessary cables If you look around you will find cables that you really do not need daily or that you simply have repeated on the desk. ...
2. Group by types and uses, then identify them When you start organizing cables, it is common to try to make everyone form a “single cable”. ...
3. Hide all cables as much as possible

What is the best way to organize cables?

The Best Single-Cable Organizers

• Command Gray Cord Bundlers. These cord bundlers can keep your dangling cords looking wound and organized. ...
• Nite Ize Gear Ties. ...
• iGotTech Cable Clips. ...
• Bluelounge Cableyoyo. ...
• Velcro Brand One Wrap. ...
• Akwox Wooden Cable Organizer. ...
• Envisioned Cable Organizer. ...

How do you organize cables?

How to Organize All the Cables Under Your Desk

• Step One: Unplug Everything. ...
• Step Two: Mount the Power Strip to the Desk or Wall. ...
• Step Three: Wrap Cables Up and Plug Them In. ...
• Step Four: Label Each Cable (Optional) If you find yourself constantly unplugging and plugging things into your power strip, it might be a good idea to label each cable so ...
• Use a System That Works For You. ...

How to get a better deal on cable?

Ways to Lower Your Cable Bill

• A Lower Tier Plan Means A Lower Cable TV Bill
• Bundled Services Mean Reduced Internet and Cable Bills
• Add Streaming Services to The Mix
• Providers Offer Reduced Rates in Contracts
• Look for Better Plans or Providers Near You
• Simply Ask For a Discount
• Threaten To Change Providers
• Negotiate A Better Deal With Your Provider. ...

How to store cables in a case?

What do you use to cut cable ties?

Where to gather cables for SSD?

What is cable tie?

Why do you need cable sleeves?

Why plug in graphics card cables?

Do PC cables need to go in every direction?

See 2 more

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How to manage cables that can't make it into your cable management compartment?

Use cable clips to manage stray cables that couldn’t make it into your cable management compartment. If you don’t have a compartment at all, you can use a whole bunch of cable clips to keep it all tight to your desk.

What is cable management compartment?

A cable management compartment like a tray or raceway attaches to the underside of your desk and helps you both guide and hide cables.

What to do if you can't help but leave a group of cables showing?

If you can’t help but leave a group of cables showing, you can use a cable management sleeve to wrap them up neatly.

Where to hide surge protector?

Good places to hide your surge protector: between a desk cabinet and the wall. behind other furniture and objects on the side. And if all else fails….

Can you mount surge protectors on glass?

Cable management for glass desks is tricky for obvious reasons. While you might not have the luxury of mounting your surge protector directly underneath your desktop, you can likely still find a spot to hide it.

Can you mount a monitor on a wall?

Wall mounting your monitors requires drilling holes which might be a detractor to some but it is the cleaner option. When combined with routing your wires through the wall, you end up with “floating” monitors without a single stand or cable in sight.

Can you cover wires with a raceway?

If cutting holes into your wall isn’t an option, covering your wires with a cable raceway looks pretty good too.

How to manage wires on a PC?

Proper Steps to Managing Your Computer Wires. 1. Unplug everything from the PC. If you’re planning to manage the cables inside your old computer, unplug your PC from the wall outlet. In fact, we even highly recommend you unplug everything inside the case to make PC cable management easier. 2.

Why is cable management important?

Not only does it keep everything in order– and order is good– but it also improves airflow inside your case.

What About the Outside Cables?

The principle is the same– you can use zip ties and Velcro straps to clean the cables on your desk . Alternatively, using a spiral wire wrap is a great way to keep all your wires together and hidden away from plain sight.

What to use to cut zip ties?

Instead, use some scissors, or even a pair of fingernail clippers.

Is PC Guide reader supported?

PC Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More

Is wireless gaming better than wired?

If you really want a wire-free setup, there are plenty of wireless gaming peripherals available online now. Unlike five years ago, some of today’s wireless keyboards and wireless mice now perform just as good or even better than wired peripherals.

Can ESD cables harm hardware?

It’s a known fact that ESD can harm hardware components and paying a little more for security on ESD-compliant ties/tape can go a long way. Plus, most of these types of cables have different color themes, which also gives you the option to choose according to your setup or theme.

Why is it important to organize cables?

Organizing your cables efficiently makes your room look tidier and spacious. It also allows you to find the right connector quickly when in need. Tying and shortening cable length is the quickest way to arrange them. But that isn’t a permanent solution for the crises these cables bring to your work desk or floor.

Do power strips keep cables in place?

Power Strips are not exactly cable organizers but they sure do keep your cables in place. Cables with their ends in the socket rarely get tangled and do not get misplaced. Power strips also allow you to set up your wires behind the table or at a specific corner in the room. We have mentioned a better cable management option using the power strips or surge protectors at the end.

Can you use Velcro ties instead of zip ties?

Unlike the Zip ties, Velcro ties are reusable and you don’t have to cut them to free the cable. These ties are also used by travelers especially photo-video creators for organizing their cables and transport them easily.

1. Move closer to outlets

I live in an old house, and I know power outlets can sometimes be in some inconvenient spots but, if you can move closer to wall outlets, it will prevent power cables from needing to stretch across the room. This small change can help minimize the look of clutter, and prevent tripping over cables.

2. Go wireless where you can

Almost anytime you can go wireless; you'll get some relief from your cable madness, Wireless Bluetooth headphones and speakers are prime examples of gadgets that can reduce cable fatigue. Yes, I know, they both have charging cables, and I'll get to that in a second.

3.Store small cables and adapters

Charging cables, dongles, and small power adapters add up over time, and I often find they are about 90% of my clutter — especially at my desk. It's good to having a place to store said small items is crucial to getting your cable chaos under control; invest in a cable organizer.

4. Keep essential cords neatly arranged

You probably charge items like your phone and your tablet every day, which means you're going to want access to those cords often and with ease.

5. Tie together excess cords

Some cords and cables are comically long, leaving you to deal with several feet of cord that inevitably ends up in a tangled mess behind your TV, computer, desk, etc. If you're going to have an excess amount of cord hanging around, why not make it look neat?

How to you keep your cables organized?

Have any other tips for keeping your cords and cable tidy? Share them in the comments below.

How to spiff up a cable?

There's no getting around it. Loose wires just look bad. The good news is you can spiff up your office quickly just by bundling cords and cables together. A simple twist tie, found in abundance in any electronics packaging, will make quick work of the mess. You can bind wires together or tighten up unsightly slack by tying off loops of cable. For larger jobs, products like Velcro cable ties or Q Knot adjustable rubber cable ties can pull together bundles of even the thickest power cords. Plastic zip ties are also cheap and effective, but can't be adjusted if you want to change up your cable layout.

How to organize cords on desk?

It doesn't have to be that way. Consider a product like the Cable Corral, which attaches to the underside of a desk and provides an out-of-sight, off-the-floor landing spot for all the cords that otherwise waterfall off the back of your desk. Not only will the solution banish an eyesore, but it will also make it much easier to vacuum the space.

How to fix USB cords when not in use?

Getting fed up with the haphazard assortment of portable devices and their unsightly cords crisscrossing your desk? One low-cost solution: Plug an AC-to-USB adapter into the wall and run a few mini-USB cables into a stylish basket with inline handles. Then fix several small binder clips in the handle space to anchor the USB cords when not in use.

How to label power cords?

Products like the ​ Mini Write-on Flag Tie Markers affix to the cable and present a writable surface. For a DIY solution, wrap a bit of masking tape around the cord, leaving a folded over tab of tape to write the name of the cord on using a ballpoint pen or Sharpie.

How to charge a Kindle?

When you need to charge a smartphone, MP3 player, or Kindle, just plug and place it into the basket, where it refuels safely out of sight.

What happens when you unplug a device?

When you unplug a device, the wire won't drop to the ground and be lost. You can even use jumbo binder clips to bind together multiple cables.

How to store cables in a case?

Use cable ties to fasten the cables tightly and neatly to the back of the case. You can also loop them up and store them in unobtrusive pockets.

What do you use to cut cable ties?

You'll need wire cutters to snip off any extra cable tie length or re-do any cable ties you messed up. Scissors work too, but wire cutters are easier to handle.

Where to gather cables for SSD?

Gather up the small cables from your fans, rear IO, and front panel connectors. Avoid the SATA cables for your hard drive and SSD for now.

What is cable tie?

Cable ties are the obvious pick for managing your PC cables. Not only are they cheap, so you don't have to worry about messing up a few, they're also effectively invisible for anyone worried about aesthetics. PC cables need wrangling, and cable ties get the job done in the easiest way.

Why do you need cable sleeves?

Cable sleeves help a lot when it comes to making your wires have a unified, clean look.

Why plug in graphics card cables?

For the graphics card in particular, you might consider plugging the cables in so that it pulls it upward to prevent sagging.

Do PC cables need to go in every direction?

And those cables need to go in every direction without turning into a high-tech rat's nest.