Which Way Up?

[Pocah]

I remember watching a video years ago, that compared a PSU that draws air from the room as opposed to from the case. The general conclusion was it was best to draw air in from the room, but the difference was not that great so it's wasn't very important.

 

But it occurs to me that since then zero fan speed PSU's have ben introduced, so most of the time the PSU is upside down, with the fan off, and so rising to a higher temperature than it perhaps otherwise would because there are no vents on the top of the PSU.

 

 

So I am wondering, with a very efficient PSU, say an AX, is it actually better to break with current convention and place it so it's intake is facing in to the case and it is recieving some ventilation from the case fans?? Would this basically mean it's fan would remain off for longer? ( Assuming the case is very well ventilated).

[jonnyguru]

I always mount by bottom mount PSUs with the fan pointing up.

 

If the case has a shroud without ventilation.... I simply don't use that particular case.

[Pocah]

I always mount by bottom mount PSUs with the fan pointing up.

 

If the case has a shroud without ventilation.... I simply don't use that particular case.

 

I think with zero fans it probably makes sense. I have one PC with the fan mounted up but only because it's sat on a carpet. My other PC has the fan pointing down. But now I am thinking of always mounting them with the fan pointing up.

[LeDoyen]

for passive cooling it's better to point up.

there's always a slight airflow due to the case positive or negative pressure without needing to spin the PSU fan.

 

And uh.. having hot components below a PCB is bad.. owners of Fender tube amps know what i'm talking about :)