In the middle of a build....ughh..which way does the PSU go?

d|b · 10 Mar 2010 at 21:55

OK...so this is new to me. Last time I built a computer the PSU was located at the top of the case but my new Fractal design case says it should go at the top.

My question is whether I should mount the PSU so that the fan is sucking air through the vents at the bottom of the case (i.e fan facing placed against the bottom side of the case) or have it turned the other way around. Doing so would mean that the PSU sucks air from the in the case and blows it out.

I guess the first option (which I have done in the photo) seems to be more sensible but will the top of the PSU not radiate heat straight in the GFX card this way?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Strawberry · 10 Mar 2010 at 21:57

If your PC has a space at the bottom and fan grills there, then keep it facing down.
Otherwise it's just begging for stuff to fall in it.

Either way it doesn't really make much of a difference, but the air at the bottom is usually colder than the air inside your system.

setter · 10 Mar 2010 at 21:59

The way you have it is correct, i have the psu in my Lian Li case mounted the same. All the heat will be expelled via the vents on the back of the psu.

Thekwango · 10 Mar 2010 at 22:31

sorry to hijack, but i was told to mount the psu the other way up, i.e with the fan drawing air in from the case, rather than from the 15-20mm or so you have at the bottom/underneath of the case. was this wrong?

setter · 10 Mar 2010 at 22:36

If the case has vents in the bottom, i think its better to have the fan facing the botom of the case, mine here.

As you can see, my psu is raised above the vents on a small shelf, also this keeps the 8 and 24 pin power cables closer to the motherboard, helping when it comes to cable tidying.

Thekwango · 10 Mar 2010 at 22:41

ah, see i'd kinda thought that, cause the other way up then surely the psu would be drawing 'warmish case air' in to cool itself. Rather contradictory, i assumed. but seeing as i was so new to this i thought it best to listen to others advice.

cheers

d|b · 11 Mar 2010 at 00:57

Thanks...built the damn thing...now if only I can install the OS!