Full Tower Organization for Dummies help needed.

[Macgregor]

My components have begun to arrive and some time next week I will begin to build a PC for the first time. I suddenly came to the realization that despite all the insight I've gained recently, I've no clue as to what is the best way to organize the hardware in my SC 750-A Case. Length of cables seems to be an issue with regard to data corruption. So, where should I put what with what length cables. Well, here's what I've got to put together:

Super Micro SC 750-A
ABIT BH6
Celeron 300A w/Glacier 4500C
Mushkin 128 PC-100 Cas2-GH
IBM 14GXP 14.4GB 7200/Ultra ATA
AsusTek 40X CD-Rom
Hercules Dynamite TNT
Xitel Storm Platinum
Floppy

Thanks very much for any assistance. I've checked sites with tutorials on how to build computers, but they leave out too much for first timers.

[DavidX]

Web sites on this subject can be good but they're no substitute for a book. There are plenty of excellent and well-illustated books on building/upgrading computers. They can be quite expensive but are well worth the investment.

[Ed_S]

If I'm reading you right, you need to know the order, top to bottom, to locate the drives to avoid cabling issues, correct?

If so here's what I do, has worked for years w. large full tower case.

CD drives high up w. long cable (28", was hard to find )

Floppy & tape drives next, also on long cable, 24"

HDs down low near MB with std 18" cable

Have had no cable-related problems with this.

Try to stick with the std cables if possible, but keep an eye out for long ones, you'll need them if you keep the box long enough to fill it.

[Macgregor]

Thanks DavidX. I'll probably try it without purchasing a book though; in the past, I've found upgrade books to be vague. Ed_S, thanks indeed for your detailed response. This helps a great deal. Greatly appreciated, and I'll be glad to pass on my wisdom, some day, the same way.

Macgregor