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PSU Upside down?

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - PSU Upside down?

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hasten   05-08-2009 at 06:22:45 AM

I just purcahsed a case that has a vent above the PSU slot. Is it bad to install my PSU "upside down" so the fan is facing upwards? With the rear exhaust fan directly below the PSU I feel like they would be working against each other, but with the PSU flipped and the fan drawing air from the top...

I can't see any reason it would be bad but don't want to throw a couple hundred dollars down the drain if for some reason is going to kill it.

Probably a newbie questions - Thanks for the help.

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AKM880   05-08-2009 at 06:30:37 AM
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Well its hard to picture your explanation in my head lol, usually I put my PSU upside down because it takes the hot air from the case and blows it out the back.

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Outlander_04   05-08-2009 at 06:46:07 AM
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WHAT case did you buy?

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theAnimal   05-08-2009 at 06:50:15 AM
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That's very likely why the vent is there, may as well make use of it and keep the PSU a little cooler.

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Silver CPUs badge JohnnyLucky   05-08-2009 at 07:10:55 AM
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Generally speaking the large psu fan pulls air into the psu which is then exhausted out the back of the psu. The psu can usually be oriented one of two ways. Some people like to have the psu fan pull hot air from the case and exhaust it out the back. Some people like to have the psu fan pull in cool air and exhaust it out the back. The concept with the second method is that the psu cools itself. It works very well if the case has adequate ventilation, air flow, and cooling for the rest of the components inside the case. The second method only works with cases that are designed for that purpose. With many cases you may not have any choice other than the first method.


Message edited by JohnnyLucky on 05-08-2009 at 07:13:49 AM
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pchaplo   05-08-2009 at 09:53:11 PM
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I cut my case and flipped my PSU. My case looks like swiss cheese lol. I say flp it - just make sure that there is adequate air flow for PSU cooling: intake and exhaust. Sounds like you have that covered! GO FOR IT!

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yoyojam55   05-08-2009 at 11:40:52 PM
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On my new PSU if I orient the fan so it will take air from the case with the fan facing downward, then the power input plug will be upside down, indicating that the PSU is upside down. If I put it in with the fan facing up it will just be facing the top of my case. Which way do I put it in?

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Silver CPUs badge JohnnyLucky   05-09-2009 at 12:45:55 AM
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The orientation of the power input plug and power switch does not matter.

Do you have a top mounted psu? Does the top panel have a hole to allow cool air into the psu? If not, then your only choice is to install the psu with the fan facing down. It's going to be pulling in warm air from the case and exhausting it out the back.

Whether it's a top mount or bottom mount, you still have to have a hole in the panel directly over the psu fan so it can pull in cool air from the outside. Otherwise the concept won't work.

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hasten   05-09-2009 at 02:07:19 AM
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The case does have an air vent in the top - to answer who asked it's a Tagan/ABS Monolize A+ a.k.a. Xclio Windtunnel. The PSU fan matches up with the top vent... although there is an inch or two that if I drilled should be able to fit another 120 there.

I guess I have gotten to the point to ask is there a benefit to flipping it and having it not pull air up directly above the rear exhaust fan? Or should I drill the case and put another case fan intake above the PSU (If it will fit)?

Just wanted to ensure I wasn't potentially going to damage the powersupply, like I said in my original post it was kind of a stupid question. I couldn't think of any reason it would hurt the PSU, but with the cost of 'em these days I wanted to make sure.

Thanks for the help - always the best place to go... I'm still learning so thanks for not jumping on my throat!

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Silver CPUs badge JohnnyLucky   05-09-2009 at 04:42:04 AM
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Installing a case fan between the top panel and the psu fan is not a good idea. First problem is the fans will be out of sync. The second problem is air turbulence. There should several inches betwens fans that blow air in the same direction. I learned about that a few years from a couple of aeronautical engineers that specialized in wind tunnels. They got interested in airflow inside pc cases.

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Bronze CPUs badge jsc   05-10-2009 at 08:32:04 PM
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True. Too many fans can interfere with airflow.

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