Workable Setup??: Case: no top fan. PSU: top fan. 1/2" vent space?

[PhxKen]

Leaving a 1/4" to 1/2" ventalation space. That looks like restricted airspace to me, unless it's plenty to pull in(?) to the PSU with already warmed-up case air... and vent it partially out the PSU's passive back-side vent, out the case.

PSU product specs don't stipulate certain type cases only.

Full descrip: Will a Antec Sonata Elite case, which is conventional with NO top-side case fan on its horizontal top side, (housing the PSU at the conventional top position), accommodate an Antec Neo Eco PSU (new release) with its PSU fan on its (unconventional) horizontal top side??? There will only be a half inch +/- of fan-vented space between the two. Or is a top-side breathing PSU designed only for cases sporting fans on its top side? If so, sure would be nice if the PSU specs stated it was for top-side breathing cases only. With this setup, it then is either pulling in warmed case air, or blowing out warmed PSU air into the case. Can PSU's be inverted, so the fan is now on the bottom, upside down? At the case backside, the PSU passively vents thru the case's conventional PSU opening, w/o a fan in that position. Confused the PSU product description and specs don't stipulate better matching, if required. First build. Thanks.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Do not install the psu with the fan on top.

In a standard atx configuration with a power supply mounted in the top/rear of the case, the power supply should be installed with the psu fan on the bottom. That allows the psu fan to pull in warm air from the case and exhaust it out the rear panel. That is the only way a top/rear mounted power supply should be installed. That is in accordance with the standardized atx specifications for power supplies and pc cases.

 

[PhxKen]

So it's normal to flip the psu upside down with fan bottom side?

Or is this a PSU designed for cases with top side fans? PSU prod descrip and specs make no mention of case types. Thanks! Case and PSU are both Antec.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

A top/rear mounted psu with the fan on the bottom of the psu is not upside down. Think of it as being in the correct configuration to exhaust warm air out of the case. It is an international atx standard that goes back quite a few years. It is quite normal and expected. Both your case and your psu are designed to comply with the standard atx specifications.

 

[PhxKen]

Much appreciated feedback, thanks!

I'm just going on the Antec PSU product pic with the Antec lettering... with the fan definitely on the top of the psu's pic, not the bottom of the psu. (Actually, they don't show a bottom pic of the psu.)

For cases with bottom/rear mounted PSU or cases with top sided fans, this PSU slotting in might seem a natural fit.

But cases with top/rear mounted PSU's, (given the psu lettering orientation), then the PSU's unit needs to get flipped, inverted upside down? Might seem like a "duh" moment, but just want to confirm before shelling out the money.

Would be kind of silly for PSU manufacturers to roll out two of the same product, just to flip the product lettering for bottom/rear mounted psu cases, and another psu product for top/rear mounted psu cases. Just flip the psu for top/rear mounted psu cases then, correct?

Sorry to belabor this possibly trivial matter. Just has me confused. Use to seeing psu fans at the rear.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

AH! That explains it. You are looking at stock promotional photos supplied by the manufacturer or vendor. They always show the fan on top because it is a feature of the psu. They photograph the psu with the fan on top so potential customers can see it. They also make sure customers looking at photos can easily see any printing or logos on the psu.

 

[PhxKen]

Not sure what you're saying. It's a doctored photo for marketing, with lettering inverted? But for cases with bottom/rear psu mounting, it would be perfect to have the psu fan on its topside, no? PSU's fan, topside, would pull? warm air from the case, out to the rear of the psu/case out side?

But for top/rear psu mounting, the psu fan would have to be on the psu's bottom? Are PSU's flippable; easily inverted for top or bottom psu case locations?

Sorry for my confusion. Moving the fan from the conventional back... to the top/bottom has thrown me for a loop. All the maker would have to do is throw in some clarifying verbiage for case applications! Thanks for the patience!

 

[JohnnyLucky]

No, not doctored photos. They always show photos of a psu with the fan on top even though the fan will be on the bottom of the psu when mounted in the top rear of the case. If they show close-up photos of logos or those data labels they show them right side up so cutomers can easily read them. That's all.

You are correct about atx power supplies mounted in the bottom/rear of a pc case. The psu fan would be on top so it could still pull in warm air from the case and exhaust it out the rear. The atx power supplies are "flippable" as you put it so that they can be mounted in either location.

 

[PhxKen]

Ah! Sure wish PSU makers would add a few sentences to clarify the situation for those of us easily confused. Or a photo of both top and bottom for those type units. Got it. Thanks for clearing that up! Mucho gracias.

 

[tsnor]

You are correct about atx power supplies mounted in the bottom/rear of a pc case. The psu fan would be on top so it could still pull in warm air from the case and exhaust it out the rear. The atx power supplies are "flippable" as you put it so that they can be mounted in either location.

I had same questions as PhxKen. Also appreciate the clarification.

 

[tsnor]

Here is link with pictures of PSU mounted in case with top fan on bottom.

http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_power.htm