Is it OK to run my computer on it's side?

kissenger · 20 May 2008 at 12:07

I'm having some problems trying to find a good place to store my PC. It's pretty big. I was thinking that I could lay it on it's side instead of standing upright.

Is this OK to do, so long as I don't block any fans?

Andeh · 20 May 2008 at 12:09

yeah, should be perfectly find on its side. No worse than having it standing up.

gt_junkie · 20 May 2008 at 12:09

Should be fine.

Only thing i'd suggest is that it may be worth opening it up to check that no cables find themselves sagging into the path of a spinning fan due to the different orientation.

gt

MikeHunt79 · 20 May 2008 at 12:11

As long as you aren't watercooling, go for it!

kissenger · 20 May 2008 at 12:20

Cool, thanks guys.

Janesy B · 20 May 2008 at 12:37

make sure the MB is not upside down tho!

MikeHunt79 · 20 May 2008 at 13:23

Janesy B said:
make sure the MB is not upside down tho!

Why?

Visage · 20 May 2008 at 13:25

kissenger said:
I'm having some problems trying to find a good place to store my PC. It's pretty big. I was thinking that I could lay it on it's side instead of standing upright.

Is this OK to do, so long as I don't block any fans?

Its ok, but you should make sure that any power hungry components are towards the bottom, so that they get enough electricity.

foxbat · 20 May 2008 at 13:28

You might find it hard to get a CD/DVD into the drive unless it's got a caddy.

Guardsmon · 20 May 2008 at 13:31

you don't want the MB upside down, due to the fact that heat rises and you don't want the board heating up from the CPU and components. The CPU wouldn't cool as well.

memyselfandi · 20 May 2008 at 13:31

MikeHunt79 said:
Why?

Normally because if the motherboard was upside down then you would have a large, heavy heatsink hanging off the motherboard putting stress on it. It's better if the system is laid down to have it lying on the side with motherboard at the bottom as if it was a desktop case.

bayo000 · 20 May 2008 at 13:35

if u got any side fans blowing cold air in turn them around to suck the hot air out

bennyboy2606 · 20 May 2008 at 13:39

Yeah, upside down on the side would be ok or just standardly on the side will be okay

Janesy B · 20 May 2008 at 13:46

MikeHunt79 said:
Why?

It will put strain on the HSF - CPU socket, i've seen it before where the HSF has pulled away and overheated the system.

Janesy B · 20 May 2008 at 13:46

Guardsmon said:
you don't want the MB upside down, due to the fact that heat rises and you don't want the board heating up from the CPU and components. The CPU wouldn't cool as well.

memyselfandi said:
Normally because if the motherboard was upside down then you would have a large, heavy heatsink hanging off the motherboard putting stress on it. It's better if the system is laid down to have it lying on the side with motherboard at the bottom as if it was a desktop case.

looks like i was beaten to it. glad i wasnt the only one

Logic Zero · 20 May 2008 at 16:12

Visage said:
Its ok, but you should make sure that any power hungry components are towards the bottom, so that they get enough electricity.

ROFL

chameleon · 20 May 2008 at 16:46

Ive always wondered why Graphics cards are built this way? Why do they always mount upside down with the heatsink facing downwards and all the heat soaking up into the board. Wouldnt it make much more sense to build them the other way up?

semi-pro waster · 20 May 2008 at 16:58

chameleon said:
Ive always wondered why Graphics cards are built this way? Why do they always mount upside down with the heatsink facing downwards and all the heat soaking up into the board. Wouldnt it make much more sense to build them the other way up?

The ATX format is old and it wasn't envisaged at the time that such large and power-hungry graphics cards would be needed. BTX was a newer format which was designed to be more efficient with parts placed for optimal performance and cooling but it was competing with something that while bodged together, basically works very well and has a huge market share. If you just flipped the card round so that the heatsink was on the top then you'd be putting the heat straight into the CPU in many cases.

It's fine to have the computer lying on it's side, I did that with one of mine for about a year before putting it back upright. Just don't move it while in operation and check for the cables as gt_junkie suggested.

warren_1979 · 20 May 2008 at 17:58

Watch your PSU. My Corsair 520HX PSU made a horrible sound when my PC was on its side. Quickly stood it up again.