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This week I'll let your computers breath fresh air, "What are
you talking about?" you may ask, well, now that your computer
is optimized in the software, let's optimize in the hardware. Let's
"clean" the airflow in your computer by getting rid of some
cables inside it (don't panic, keep reading and you'll know what I
mean), by optimizing the airflow inside, your computer will run much
cooler and will tend to lockup less if there are HEAT related problems
around. As you know the IDE cable (40 pins) and Floppy cables (34
pins) are wide, and they can block the air inside your computer from
flowing correctly, I found this tip in "The Easy Overclocking
Guide" site, and it works wonderful!
I'll try to describe the process as detailed as possible.
(Better print out the following instructions as your computer will
be OFF during the process)
Things you'll need before starting:
A really sharp blade (a razor blade will be perfect, just be careful
not to cut yourself, I'm not responsible)
Zip-ties (best) or transparent tape (good)
Black Permanent Marker (just in case you want to mark the cables for
easy identifying)
A pen and piece of paper (to write down the cables configuration before
starting)
Extra IDE or FLOPPY cables (just in case)
Patience, good pulse and a good eye ;-)
Let's start by opening your computer case (follow your computers manual
if you don't know how to do it).
Look for the cables, they are the IDE (40 pins) and Floppy (34 pins),
if you have an UDMA-66 cable it will be an 80 pin IDE cable.
Warning: Remember or write down where you disconnected the cables
from, you have to put them back they way they were before you started
or your computer may not restart or work properly again.
It will be better if you do a drawing of the cables configuration
and mark the cables (1, 2, 3, etc.) with a permanent marker to prevent
any mistakes.
Let's start with the 40 pin IDE cables first. Count 10 cable lines,
starting from the red stripe, and do a cut with the blade between
cable #10 and #11 about 1/2" long (or 2cm to 3cm).
Cut in one of the end sides of the cable but I found that it will
be much easier to do the next steps if you cut near the center of
the cable.
Now with one hand grab the large part of the cable and with two fingers
grab the other side of the just cut strip, with your fingers pull
the strip towards you and the cable will cut itself, do it until you
reach each ends of the cable.
Start cutting every 10 cable lines (the next cuts are between cable
#20 - #21 and #30 - #31) from the just cut strip and you'll end up
with 4 strips of 10 cables each):
Now grab all 4 cables in one of the end sides of the cable and put
them in an order from left to right and top to bottom, tie the cables
with the zip-ties or transparent tape together,
Now grab the other side of the end side of the cable and do the same,
after the ends are finished tie one or two zip-ties in the middle
of the cable and you should have finished. (well, almost)
Do this between each of the connectors, most IDE cables have 3 connectors,
do the same stripping between to other connectors too.
That should take care of the standard IDE cables, for the UDMA-66
IDE cables (80 pin) use the same method described above, but instead
of 10 cable lines count 20 (the cuts are between #20 - #21, #40 -
#41 and #60 - #61).
For the FLOPPY cable (34 pins) the cutting is a little different,
one of sides of the cable is already cut and has a twist. It has 9
cables, cut, 7 cables (twisted), cut and 18 cables. For this "already"
cut side you are only going to pull and strip the 9 and 7 cables configuration
plus make another cut in the middle of the last 18 cables (cut between
cables #9 - #10) and strip it also. Tie the cables in the same manner
as before in each end (be careful with the twisted cable set, move
the twist more to the end of the cable and tie them all after the
twist) and center, for the other part of the cable it should be like
the IDE cables, but the cut numbers are different, count 9, 8, 8,
9 cable sets (cut between cables #9 - #10, #17 - #18 and #25 - #26).
If you have SCSI cables they count will be the same as IDE, 10 cables
per strip, but you will end up with more strips, just be careful,
some SCSI cables are thinner than UDMA-66 cables and more sensitive,
if the cable has a non standard number (like the floppy) just divide
the number of total cable lines between 4 or 5 strips pair numbers
(9-8-8-9 [34], 10-10-10-10-10 [50 ], etc.)
That should be all, put the cables back into your computer and it
will look real neat and it will feel like it has removed a coat to
the beasty
MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE REAL CAREFULL WITH THE SHARP KNIFE I WOULD
HATE TO MISS ONE OF YOU |
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