PSU at Bottom or top?

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dostbhaskar

dostbhaskar

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I was selecting a case for my new built.I find all low budget one have PSU at top.Mid range and higherhave both the option(not in a same model). Please explain the advantage and disadvantages of both.

Thanks in advance..
 
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Mustafa K

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Feb 13, 2013
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i dont know the advantages or disadvantages , but i do know that having the psu at the bottom keeps the pc a little cooler
 
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unksol

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A bottom mounted PSU keeps the PSU cooler, NOT the case. on a correctly oriented bottom PSU it pulls cool air from the bottom and blows out the back. You have to have space under the case though and be careful on high carpet. Extra cables are easier to manage as they lay on the bottom.

A top mounted PSU pulls hot air from inside the case and blows it out the back which is not great for the PSU, and the fan will run faster. Doesnt help the case as you SHOULD have a top or rear vent. In the end either way is completely fine
 
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blibba

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A correctly mounted bottom PSU will draw in air from beneath the case, and that is why it will run cooler than a top-mount PSU, which draws in hot air from inside the case.

Personally I prefer top-mounted, as this gives the advantages of having a case with a top-mounted fan as well as a rear-mounted fan (and both is better than just one) without the issue of having vents in the top of the case, which is bad for noise, dust, spilt drinks and stacked paperwork. Most PSUs are fine dealing with this, and it also saves having a bottom-mounted dust filter.

 
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twelve25

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I've got systems with both orientations and I can see pros and cons to each and neither is really the perfect solution. I personally wouldn't let it be a deciding factor. A good power supply is designed to work well in either configuration and the case is generally designed with fan positions to compliment the PSU position.


 
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Flying-Q

Flying-Q

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The cooler a PSU remains, the longer will be its lifetime due to component deterioration rates being slower with lower temperature. Top mounted PSUs draw hot air from around CPU and uses that as its cooling medium, bottom mounted draws cool air through an external grill in the base of a good quality case.

Q
 
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twelve25

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Usually you see bottom mounted PSU with the large 120mm fan facing up. This means it draws air from inside the case, too, potentially from right around the GPU.

I've never seen one that mounts on the bottom of the case and also has the fan oriented downward. That would be outright disastrous on carpet and low flow even on a hard surface.
 
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mbreslin1954

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I will never go back to top-mounted PSUs, primarily because they make the case so much more unstable. Top-mounted PSUs make the case top-heavy and much easier to tip over. The only issue with bottom-mounted PSUs is that sometimes some of the cables are too short. I guess that's why they make cable extenders.
 
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Flying-Q

Flying-Q

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I have my current case (Lancool Dragonlord) on carpet under my desk and the feet keep the bottom of the case sufficiently clear so the PSU intake filters are open to the air, giving sufficient flow. Most cases that I considered for all of my last few year's builds have had a bottom vent for this purpose.

To the OP, consider your own statement that you have found that only the budget cases have the PSU at the top. Ask yourself why case makers would put it at the bottom on the mid to premium models. Also note that mid to premium PSUs have cables that are long enough to reach (almost) anywhere in a full tower case from a bottom mount position. (I consider any PSU priced below £45 to be budget). If you are concerned about airflow problems under a case then put the case on casters. I have done this on several large tower builds to ease access to the rear for 'alterations'.

Q
 
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dostbhaskar

dostbhaskar

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really an eye opener, thanks.
 
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