Upside Down PSU's

Ralph_ENG · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:40

I am asking on behalf of my Boss at work who brought my old PC off me last year.

He had a burning smell and it seems his PSU went, i laughed as it didint go when i had it but anyway.

He asked me a question about the old fitted PSU which was upside down when he took it out and i wasnt sure as i didnt build the system.

The system was the old 4 or 5 years ago

"Titan Goliath" Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz @ 3.60GHz Quad Core DDR3 System"

I assumed it was meant to be like this to help with flow away from critical parts that need to extract the heat and you wouldnt want the PSU heat being pumped into the system ? and he was just asking the question as there is a 10mm gap under the PSU when its mounted upside down but no gap if not ???

I hope this makes sense, any questions please ask and ill try get the information needed.

Gripen90 · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:49

Not sure I understand. Is the PSU top mounted or bottom mounted in the case ?

Gibbo3771 · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:50

If it is bottom mounted it just seems to be upside down, the fan normally faces down the way with a 5mm gap or so.

HecFam · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:53

I have my PSU mounted at the bottom facing down. But then my case has an air hole mesh there so that it can be fitted like that, depends if the case has an option for it. PSU fans are intake i think, so like this it doesn't drag in the hot air already in the case.

areksnumbr1sxylady · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:54

bottom mounted, up-side down psu`s are a common practice... Just make sure your PC is not placed on carpet or make sure that case is elevated a bit from the ground to allow some air to flow beneath the case. Top mounted, up-side down Psu`s are also common...

If a PSU has 120mm fan it sucks the air in not out... so its up to you which way you want it, it depends on the airflow in the case. Obviously PSU that is facing down in a case which has no bottom fan mesh specifically for PSU is very wrong.

Akagi · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:54

Was the fan pointing up into the system, or down into the bottom of the case? If it was pointing down into the bottom of the case, is there an intake hole there?

The way the PSU is oriented wont matter unless airflow is severely restricted.

Ralph_ENG · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:55

Its Bottom Mounted but as you look at it it all the writing is upside down so he has put it up the right way and wanted to check this was correct.

There is a 10mm gap apparently.

I can try and get a photo

Unicorn · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:56

Mine is downwards facing through a floor mesh/filter. Depends if its mounted on top or bottom

Akagi · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:58

GrimsbyLAD said:
Mine is downwards facing through a floor mesh/filter. Depends if its mounted on top or bottom

Mine too...

It will be fine either way up if there is an intake at the bottom. I have mine 'upside-down' so that the PSU airflow is isolated.

5960xNvidiaGamer · 29 Apr 2013 at 14:58

It doesnt matter if the psu faces up or downwards.

Ralph_ENG · 29 Apr 2013 at 15:07

Thanks for quick replies

fiveub · 29 Apr 2013 at 15:16

On my case I have to have it upwards, although there is a slight gap underneath, but no air holes, it was not good enough and the PSU was overheating. So if no mesh/holes then I would recommend having it upwards.

Ralph_ENG · 29 Apr 2013 at 15:28

I cant remember what the case was on that model, was 4 years ago and gave me no problems what so ever.

Thanks

paulstung · 29 Apr 2013 at 15:34

It makes no difference what way you mount it. They wouldn't have 2 mounting options on cases, if it did.

honosuseri · 29 Apr 2013 at 17:07

Makes no real odds as people have said.

I always mount the PSU fan up. I tend to end up doing builds in windowed cases so it looks cool done that way (forgive the pun).

If the case has decent venting in the bottom of the case (a dust filter would be nice too), so long as the rig isn't sitting on deep pile carpeting, fan down is fine. By mounting fan down the "heavy duty cables" will be closer to the mobo tray so it's easier to route out of sight and gives you a little more length to play with for cable management.

Bacon? · 29 Apr 2013 at 17:38

When I had my Zalman before the Ghost I had the fan up because the vents on the Z9 weren't great for ventilation. But if youve got vents and not sitting directly on a surface (5-10mm) above it then it doesnt matter.