When purchasing a new PC, you have two options: buy the parts and build your own custom PC, or get a prebuilt PC from a custom PC builder or an OEM. Either way, cable management is going to be an important factor in how good the finished custom PC looks and that can be a challenge. Things like ARGB fans introduce tons of additional cabling to the mix, as do USB hubs and other considerations. Even just handling the front panel connectors alone can be a challenge in some chassis, but with a few handy tips and some pre-planning, cable management can be tackled with a minimum of fuss.

4 Plan everything

The more you plan, the easier it will be to build

Even a pre-built PC requires thought about which components the company will put together. When building your own custom PC, the amount of planning and research you need is even greater, as you have to worry about whether components will fit together in the space inside the chassis you picked. If you've read reviews and picked the best PC case for the hardware you've selected, you'll also know about any cable management features of the chassis, which will make things easier as you put everything together.

When planning out your build, some things to keep in mind include:

• If the case already has a fan hub: Even if it does, you might need a secondary fan hub depending on how many fans you are using or which type of fans they are.
• If the case has cable channels for easy routing
• Where any cutouts for GPU and motherboard cables come out
• If your motherboard has USB-C internal headers for the front panel connectors
• Where the PSU mounts, how far from other components it is, and if you need an SFX model

You'll also want to know if your motherboard has enough headers for everything to plug into. This is less of a consideration if you're using additional fan hubs, as most of your fans will plug into the hubs, but it's worth checking where the headers are on the motherboard so you can plan where the cables will be routed.

3 Simplify your cable needs

It's better if you don't need any cables other than power

Do you know what really simplifies cable management? Not having any cables at all. While that utopia is still a ways off, PC hardware manufacturers have been working on other ways to hide the cable clutter. A new prototype from the DIY-Ape team has you plug the PSU straight into the motherboard, so you don't need any cables. Another showcase prototype from MSI moves the power connectors and even the I/O panel to the rear of the motherboard, so you can hide everything on the side you can't see.

Prototypes are one thing, but you can still get PC components that move the connectors to the back of the motherboard for clean cable routing. Maingear has its Zero PC range, which uses MSI motherboards with rear connectors so that the only cable you see is the one powering the graphics card. You could also simplify things by using M.2 NVMe SSDs instead of SATA ones, which need no cables and are often hidden on the motherboard behind metal shields.

Fans are often the source of the majority of cables inside a PC build, but you can simplify this by using fans that daisy-chain or magnetically attach to each other, so the number of cables you need to find a header for is drastically reduced.

2 Use a modular PSU

Fewer cables, fewer headaches when it's time to put things together

When picking the power supply for your custom PC build, there's almost no reason not to get a fully modular model these days. Prices have come down, and it's getting harder to find a PSU without modular cables at any price. The main reason to pick a modular PSU is that it starts with no cables attached at all, so you can plug in only the ones necessary for your PC without introducing additional cable clutter to the mix. It also opens the door to using fully-custom cables, making it even easier to hide the cables for powering your components.

1 Use custom cables

Make them yourself or get them made to fit

If you can't reduce the number of cables inside your custom PC build, you might as well make them a feature. Custom PSU cables will make your build stand out in the crowd, and you can get them made in almost any color combination and pattern. The other bonus to getting custom cables is that they can be built to the exact lengths needed for the PC case you picked out, making the build look even cleaner as you won't have additional loops of cable to hide.

I've also made my own custom cables in the past, which means total control over color, length, and other considerations. You can even measure each individually sleeved strand of wire so that the cables follow the curves you want. Adding cable combs keeps everything together during the build and creates an aesthetically pleasing effect. Don't forget a big supply of zip ties, as these will be essential for hiding cables behind structural elements and ensuring you can close the back panel.

Cable management takes time but pays off in the end

Managing the cables inside your custom PC build is a long but rewarding process. It's also highly dependent on the PC case you choose, as some are designed to make it easier to hide cables in channels or have plenty of existing tie-down spots. Getting fully custom cables for your PC makes things even easier, as you can have them made to the exact lengths you need, which is important whether you're using a huge, glass-encased case or a tiny shoebox. Pre-planning cable runs and hardware positions makes the entire process easier when it comes to building time, and I highly recommend doing so. That goes double for any components or cables you might need to access later for troubleshooting or upgrade purposes.