Some cord messes are beyond repair. No $10 clutter killer could ever wrap up the mess at the back of a powerful gear-filled desk. Instead, you'll have to conceal, like with this less-than-$20 hardware store solution.
Too many cords? If your desk is tucked in to a nook, you can copy this seamless solution from This Old House.

Just head to the hardware store and grab an $8 to $20 section of beaded panel, like the stuff used as decorative molding under chair rails:
"Run wiring behind a beadboard panel in the knee-hole at the back of your desk. Velcro the panel to blocking mounted on the rear legs or sides of your desk so that you can pop it off to access the outlet."
The end result is a seamless look with mock "molding" finish, and a tangled wire mess that's completely hidden from view. And with a few Velcro strips, your mine of cords is still totally accessible.
(Images: This Old House, Lowes.com)

Commercial Flour Sa...
pretty good idea. not quite enough room for a proper surge protector and heat dispersion though.
THANK YOU!! I've got two little kids who love to climb under the desk and tug on cords; even if I neatly ran them along the floor, desk, whatever, that's not any kind of toddler-proof. Besides, this solution is pretty.
This is a great idea. I just have an aversion to desks that face the wall with my back to the room.