Thanks for the reply. Now I have another dumb question... With the paracord, what's the deal with it? do you need to remove some sort of core before you can use it? or is it hollow 'as it comes'?
Yes, pull out in the inner strands from the paracord or buy Lutro0s 'coreless' from E22 although it's vastly overpriced. Best video tutorials for sleeving are here, they can be a bit over long in places but you do learn a lot
If you're going to make your own wires then I'd recommend Lutro0s crimp tool and the proper Molex ATX pin extractor. The Knipex Wire strippers are a bit of an extravagance but work well. A Flush Side Cutting tool is essential for clean cuts on both PET and paracord sleeve. I prefer the Knipex Flush Side Cutters like this, a bit more expensive but a lot better quality. The Paracord Threading Tool is really useful and saves a lot of time, I make a cheaper version of this tool.
I think I am going to stick to normal heatshrunk braid and not the paracord. It looks like a faff tbh. I'm only looking at sleeving some cables to make them look better so I won't be making cables... TBH? I'm tossing up whether I should just order extensions for what I need (ATX and 4x 6 pin PCIE). I know that it will work out about the same money wise and I would have the tools left over, but I would never use them again. I don't plan to sell my PC any time soon or change it to another one.
You can do either the PET or Paracord sleeving heatshrinkless. I think it looks better myself (and it's easier to get looking good). Bitfenix extensions are pretty good quality although it's a paracord type material. Not a brilliant picture but this is heatshrinkless MDPC-X
What worries me dude is basically messing with something I may end up regretting... Basically the Alienware is all pre wired back to a single plug. That plug goes into the PSU... But it's not as simple as an ATX connector, SATA/Molex/Floppy etc. There are hundreds of smaller wires hard wired into the case for the lighting, vents, electronic control boards ETC. Due to that some of the wires are weird. There is no way to remove the loom unless you literally disconnect the entire thing which means taking the entire chassis apart.. Kier recently modded an Aurora and even he didn't sleeve the PSU. It's incredibly risky tbh. One wrong wire and you blow the entire system sky high That means if I choose to sleeve it I have to do it by leaning into the case and working that way.. It's not an easy feat.. I also have a false floor to make, 5.25 rear bay cover AND take all of the hardware out and paint a section of the inside black. I'm really starting to lean toward sleeved cables... I've seen the Alchemy cables and yeah, they're pretty darn nice by any one's standards.. I had a green one sent to me as a part of a sponsored build I did once but sadly the colour was off of the sleeving I had done already. (Please note I am not all that at sleeving.. I'm OK with a fan cable or two but I wouldn't say I'm an expert by any means )
Can you link me to a picture of the insides of one of them? I'll add it to my list of things to avoid Edit: It's OK I've found a picture of the PSU, what a horrible piece of kit.
The PSUs are actually pretty good. Newton... But yeah, not exactly something that would be easy. I think I'll just order some extensions
I thought Kier sleeved one? Also, nothing other than a lighter is needed for great looking paracord...
I don't think he did in the end. It's more the tool you need to get the paracord on (the tube thing) that concerns me.
The tube? I just use a stylus from an HTC Touch Pro. The guy i got the idea from used a nail at first.
Well I basically found some Gelid braided cables that were reasonably priced. I got a 24 pin, 4x6 pin PCIE and an 8 pin EPS for £30 delivered. Not going to bother faffing over that much as it's not much more expensive than doing it all myself. I have done a lot of braiding work myself already on cables inside the case Will start the complete internal conversion soon. Need some satin black paint and other supplies (some black acrylic for a box in and some dinoc).
