The TechCentrics Where Technology and the Internet Meet

Beat the Heat – Cable Management

Previously we talked about the dangers of heat in a computer system. The dust buildup is what causes much of the heat disbursement issues, but another aspect to keep in mind is proper cable management.

Some systems are constructed and designed better than others. The internal components of a computer system (be it desktop or laptop) generate lots of heat while they operate, and to combat the heat issue, engineers develop ways to increase air flow. Through the use of fans and other heat dispersal systems, such as heat-sinks (metal components used to draw heat away from main internal components), air is moved around the system, helping keep it cool.

While the fans do their best to increase airflow inside a system, the numerous (and it can really be crowded sometimes!) wires and cables in the computer make the fan's job more difficult. The more complex a system is, the harder the fans will need to work to maintain safe levels of heat.

In most consumer systems created by big name players like HP, Dell, and Gateway... cable management is usually done quite well. That is because cable management is thought of in the design phase of the system, and the internal component's locations are anticipated and measured exactly. However, when building a system from scratch, there is simply too many variables to predict on how to properly tie down and organize the cables.

When this is the case, the best approach is to invest in a quality computer case. Lots of cases are being designed to let the wires run behind the motherboard, eliminating the creation of a "rat's nest" in the belly of the computer. With all of these cables essentially 'out of the way', the system's owner can rest easy knowing that at least cable management is not the reason their PC could overheat.

-Steve Rhinesmith, Owner, RhineTech Computer Repair LLC