When you are mounting a new PC, or simply if you want to add a new storage device with a SATA interface (be it a traditional hard disk or an SSD), you will have to find the best way to channel SATA cables so that they are not in the middle, hindering the flow of air from the box. In this article we are going to give you some tips and tricks to correctly channel these cables and make them look as good as possible.
Normal SATA cables are flattened in shape, and are sometimes a bit tricky to route and bend correctly in the PC case without damaging anything or leaving anything in between. In addition, given their flat shape, they are cables that can hinder the internal air flow of the box, and even generate noise when air passes through them, so it is vitally important to channel them properly to avoid problems.
How to pipe SATA data cables on PC
As a general rule, the motherboards once mounted in the PC case have the SATA ports on the bottom right (both on the bottom and on the right side of the motherboard), and these can be facing up or towards the side.
In most PC cases you will find holes to channel cables that will precisely match these SATA ports on the board, so the first thing you should do is connect one end of the data cable to the corresponding port on the board and insert the other end through this hole, so that the cable runs out the back of the box.
The next step is to see where you have the hard drives or SSDs placed on the board. Generally, PC cases are designed with hard drive racks so that they have the SATA connectors on the back of where the motherboard is, so now what you would have to do is try to carry the cable on this back to connect your storage units.
In this step, check if the box has anchor points for channeling, since the ideal is to “tie” the SATA cables with cable ties or the system that your box uses so that they are always channeled through the same place and do not move.
Of course, it may be that your box has the storage units on the front and facing inwards instead of towards the rear. In this case you can never hide the cables at all, but you should still route them through the back of the motherboard, entering through the hole that we have indicated before to exit again through the hole that is closest to the storage units.
How to pipe the power SATA into the box
Except for very low-end PC cases, the power supply is installed in the lower left part of it, and you will always find holes to channel cables in this area as well. What you should do is precisely use this hole to route the SATA power cables so that they go through the back of the motherboard.
Now, as we have done with SATA data cables, we must find the best way to route the power cable through the back so that it reaches where you have the storage units, and pass it through the closest hole. to these but always looking for the anchor points to be able to “tie” the cable and that it does not move. Pay special attention to the leftover SATA connectors, because they are quite wide and can cause problems depending on the space that your box has at the back.
The cable routing at the rear of the box may not be in a magazine state, but this is usually irrelevant because this area is not visible. The important thing is that doing so will leave you with the cleanest possible interior of cables, favoring the internal cooling of the equipment.
