Avice needed PSU placement.

Khorvos · 5 May 2009 at 08:49

I've bought a 650W BeQuiet PSU which has the fan sat on the top of the unit. Now when I bought it, the sales chap said I /could/ fit it into my Antec 900 case with the fan pointing down at the floor of the case, so it didn't intefere with the airflow over the chip.

There /is/ just enough clearance with the PSU resting on the rubber feet in the case, but I'm hesitating to fix it that way round as surely the PSU would get a little hot? Wouldn't it be safer having the fan pointed up straight at the large fan sat at the top of the Antec case?

Obviously I want to try overclocking my new shiny 920 D0 chip at some point, and would like to give it the best chance I can, considering I am only air cooling - But I also want to ensure my PSU last...

Any advice/thoughts appreciated.

Locke · 5 May 2009 at 08:52

If there's clearance, then it'll be fine, doesn't need much.

archer_dan · 5 May 2009 at 08:54

It'll be fine to mount it with the fan toward the bottom of the case - i've done the same thing in my Antec 300. I was nervous when i first installed it and kept checking the back of the PC to see if the PSU was getting hot, but it's been fine.

Khorvos · 5 May 2009 at 09:10

That's great guys thank you - I have already fitted it the right way up, but will turn it upside down before I start the process of connecting my cables up...

- Plenty of time this evening while I wait on Windows 7 coming down.

Only other thing I'll need to stress about is if i've got the fans the right way round for a push n pull configuration on my Notcua... Guess I'll monitor the temperature for a while...;P

StevenRaith · 5 May 2009 at 09:25

Khorvos said:
That's great guys thank you - I have already fitted it the right way up, but will turn it upside down before I start the process of connecting my cables up... - Plenty of time this evening while I wait on Windows 7 coming down.

Only other thing I'll need to stress about is if i've got the fans the right way round for a push n pull configuration on my Notcua... Guess I'll monitor the temperature for a while...;P

Tha fans are marked with the rotation and the airflow direction, but if it's in place already, then the pushing in fan side will be the open side, and the pulling out fan will be the side with the fram arms on it, if you get my drift.

Khorvos · 5 May 2009 at 09:59

I did double check the arrows on the fan casings, so hopefully all set up ok. - Never played with anything other than the default cooling you get with your CPU before. So new territory for me.

Been chewing over the idea of placing the PSU fan face down, and just wonder what real benefit I'll get... As hot air rises surely a good portion is still going to go straight up the back of the case? Wouldn't it make sense to point the fan upwards to push it out as quickly as possible?

monkehhh · 5 May 2009 at 12:00

With the PSU pulling in air from underneath the case, then exhausting it straight out the back - I guess you've got a nice cooling 'loop' for your PSU that's isolated from what's going on inside the case, which can't be a bad thing?

Edit - assuming you don't have your case sat on a thick rug

Khorvos · 5 May 2009 at 12:44

Ahhh - I was assuming the air was drawn in through the back then exhausted via the fan - The advice I was given makes more sense now...

darwinws · 5 May 2009 at 16:59

Yes in my experience it is better to mount the PSU with the fan intake on the bottom, stops it interfering with the airflow in the case and it means the PSU always gets the coolest possible air (from outside the case).

Khorvos · 6 May 2009 at 07:44

Did that - though my cabling is an absolute rats nest... No idea how i can tidy that up lol.... Wrestled for ages to get the GTX295 in, and in the end to do so I had to take out a plastic housing on the HD cage for an additional fan.... Was worried I'd broke something as I was losing my rag at that point...

Only problem is I might have unseated a cable somewhere (Investigating tonight), as when I powered the box up, all the pretty lights came on... The rear fan and Noctua span up, but nothing else.... Eventually top fan started up too but the front 2 fans haven't done anything yet... I can only assume it's because they're not needed with everything running so cool at the moment.

More importantly, tried to load my OS, and while I've plugged my HD in (Samsung 1TB spintronic), it's not recognised.... I've flashed the BIOS from the disk provided, but it's not showing up when I try to do a windows install... So this evening it's back into the case to double check all my connections, and make sure i haven't missed anything. - It shouldn't matter which SATA ports I use should it? (I used 5 & 6 as they were easier to access for my fat hands!)... Suggestions/pointers greatfully accepted before I go digging this evening.