NZXT Premium Cables
A Closer Look |
I was sent the CB 24P (24 pin motherboard extension), CB 3F (3 pin fan extension), CB 42SATA (4 pin molex to 2 SATA power headers), CB 6V (6 pin VGA extension), CB 8V (6+2 pin VGA extension), and a CB 8P (8 pin motherboard extension). A nice cross section of the cables that would cover just about any scenario I could throw at them.
 
All of the cables are constructed with a good, dense PET sleeving that does not open to expose the color of the cables even with severe bending of the cables. The ends are treated to equal lengths of heat shrink for a very consistent and visually clean look.  Immediately when I opened the 24 pin case, I noticed a missing cable. I was a bit worried until I realized that the pin corresponded the -5v line, and that is not really in use any more. *BUT*, if you are on an OEM motherboard with a custom PSU, be cautious and trace the PSU lines to insure that this missing line will not affect you. I have not seen the proprietary power supplies in a long, long time, but they still may exist, so be warned. If you are using a PSU that is relatively new, you have nothing to worry about. :) The Premium Cables are listed on the website with a cable length. That cable length is the actual cable, and not the “tip to tip” length of the cable plus the two end molexes. Of the selection I received, I created a chart showing the flexible cable lengths of each model.
Looking at that chart, you will notice 2 cables that seem to stray from the normal ample length are both the VGA extensions. If you are going to use these extensions, my thinking is that you don’t want your original PSU lines and molexes exposed to the general population. You are likely purchasing these to create a specific effect. Most likely that effect will be best achieved by having enough length to connect to the port in question and then run to a hole in the motherboard and connect (somewhere out of sight) to the PSU connection it is replacing. Ample cable length is needed to make some of this trickery reality, as manufacturers just LOVE to move things around!
The motherboard extension has an ample 250 mm of cord length to reach some pretty obscure placements!  The fan header @ 300 mm is the longest cable, and can easily make it to that bizarrely placed fan header, kudos!  This micro meshed extension worked perfectly through that location, as well as stretched across the motherboard and retreating into a side cable management hole in the motherboard tray (if you don’t have an access hole cut in your motherboard tray on your case), but pretty much *just* got to the hole and got the molex on the other side of the tray. If you have a motherboard where the 8 pin is not near a tray access hole, you may be forced to stretch it across the motherboard. Here is a pro-tip: Check the length of your required cabling by taking a piece of string and laying out a path where you hope to track the extension cable. Measure that string and compare to the extension cable length. Be sure to pad the string length by 20-30mm as string lays differently than electrical cable. That should give you a good estimate of what length cabling you need to safely get the molex tucked away. |
