Installing a new PSU, fan facing up, or down?

PapaLazaru · 7 Oct 2014 at 22:25

I only ask as they all seem to be designed, as far as the logo is concerned, to be installed with the fan facing up. I have always installed mine with the fan facing down. Just put in a new SuperFlower Leadex GOLD 650W, and again, the logo implies the fan should be facing up?

Facing down must lead to higher temps within the PSU, but also much less dust getting into it.

What's the best way?

Jokester · 7 Oct 2014 at 22:26

Depends entirely on the case, it should be ideally installed such that the fan is pulling air in as unobstructed as possible.

Sasahara · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:32

Face down if possible, you don't want the heat escaping into the PC case, they are design to exhaust the hot air out the back.

With the fan facing up you are working against thermo dynamics trying to pull in air that is being heated, modern PSU fans don't run fast enough to beat this as they aren't designed to.

pastymuncher · 8 Oct 2014 at 13:28

If the psu is mounted in the bottom of the case and there is a vent for the psu to suck air in then fan down. No vent, fan up. If the psu sit's in the top of the case then the fan should face down anyway as it's usually put there to assist in hot air removal.

Cooper · 10 Oct 2014 at 15:16

SuperFlower Leadex GOLD 650W, and again, the logo implies the fan should be facing up?

..it's what carbon fibre vinyl wrap was invented for...

d_brennen · 10 Oct 2014 at 15:19

Cooper said:
..it's what carbon fibre vinyl wrap was invented for...

Not for Max Power (that sill going?) kids to make their car even more chavtastic?

Either way is fine, any difference in airflow is likely to be so tiny as to be insignificant. Fan up into the case will result in less dust in the PSU, which wins it for me