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PSU fan direction?

Tags:
  • Fan
  • Fractal Design
  • Components
  • Seasonic
Last response: in Components
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December 5, 2013 10:50:11 PM

I have a seasonic xp2 and a fractal design r4, the manual for the psu says it should face the mainboard but all these advice I see claim it is better for it to face the bottom for better cooling. Could someone explain whether this matters and which direction is better?

More about : psu fan direction

December 5, 2013 10:57:45 PM

Bottom.Because it takes cold air from outside the case. I don't even think you can install it with fan vent upwards.
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December 5, 2013 11:00:44 PM

THe PSU should be facing downwards.

If the fan is pulling air down 2 things will happen that you do not want.

1. Heat from your graphics card and the rest of your system will be pulled into your PSU. For the record a power supply is the most heat sensitive component in a computer.
2. The downdraft will cause airflow to be irregular and likely cause "dead" spot of unmoving air inside your chassis.

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December 5, 2013 11:01:21 PM

gcatalin said:
Bottom.Because it takes cold air from outside the case. I don't even think you can install it with fan vent upwards.


Why not? Just turn it around. :) 
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December 5, 2013 11:08:18 PM

Alright thanks, it just seemed it shouldn't face down with the letters being upside down and all.
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December 5, 2013 11:29:20 PM

I know. It looks odd.
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Best solution

December 5, 2013 11:32:23 PM

It depends on the case. That case is designed for a fan down mount as it has a bottom ventilation cutout and fan filter. Even then don't mount it like that if your case will sit on high/shag carpet because those case legs are not very high and you don't want to smother the power supply.

In a bottom mount case without the cutout you would mount it with the fan facing up. It would get a little warmer air that way but would also help ventilate the case and as long as you have decent airflow would not hurt the PSU. Make sure to clean that fan filter often.

Some power supplies come with the logo on both sides upside down from each other so it shows mounted both ways.
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