Which way round should i install my PSU?

dubcat

dubcat

dubcat

Associate
Joined
5 Jan 2005
Posts
753
Location
South East, UK
Hi - this may end up being the first of many questions. Apologies in advance.

Should i install the PSU in my case (coolermaster storm sniper) with the fan up or down? The case does have vents under the psu but there is no dust filter. Also all of the photo's i have seen on the web show the fan on the psu pointing up.

Could someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
Dub
 

NathanT

NathanT

NathanT

Associate
Joined
11 Jun 2009
Posts
813
Install it one way up, check temps over a few days, then change it, check temps again. Whatever gives you the lower temps in your case I guess is the better option.

It will depend on a few things, how tidy your case is, where your case it situated in your room (eg air flow around/under it)

I have used the sniper case myself and the large side mesh panel means that having the hot air come up out of the psu is not going to be that big of an issue.
 

vertica

vertica

vertica

Associate
Joined
21 Apr 2008
Posts
1,087
Location
By the river
If you read your case manual, it will probably say fan down for CM's "tunnel effect". Essentially it isolates the psu and the psu's cooling from everythign else. The psu gets cool air from outside and vents the warmer air out the back.

If it is fan up then it is taking warmer air from inside the case and venting it outside.
Given the ambient temperature inside the case is not likely to be much higer than outside the case, realworld differences will be negligable.

Fan down, it may help your psu be a fraction of a percentage more efficent, but not a noticeable difference, the same with psu life span - the slightly cooler air will prolong the psu's life, but if its going to fail within its useful lifespan it will do. So again mostly marketing rubbish.

Fan down can help from an airflow point of view, if you have intakes at the front and bottom, exhausts at the back and top, then the flow will be more stable than if you are also extracting air at the bottom/back with the psu. But again this will depend on the fans, layout and messy-ness of the cabling.

All in all it will likely make little or no differnece to cooling. but you can try either way.
 

dubcat

dubcat

dubcat

Associate
OP
Joined
5 Jan 2005
Posts
753
Location
South East, UK
In favour of fan up are a reduction of the dust being sucked in to the psu and better looks. In favour of fan down are better cooling for psu (but only marginally better) and better airflow in the case.

Hmm ok. Thanks for that info guys. I'll have a think about it. If the cables are long enough i can indeed try both ways.
 

dubcat

dubcat

dubcat

Associate
OP
Joined
5 Jan 2005
Posts
753
Location
South East, UK
ok i installed it with the fan down. This had the added advantage that i did not have to get an extension for the 8 pin motherboard cable as with the fan down the cables are closer to the mobo and just about reach. Just have to keep an eye on dust in the psu now - not quite sure how to do that.
 

GSS

GSS

GSS

Associate
Joined
9 Sep 2009
Posts
21
This may help, Search 'magnetic fan filter' I use these under my bottom grill & PSU fan to keep the dust out, infact I use several on my case, I think they're brill!
 
Last edited:

GSS

GSS

GSS

Associate
Joined
9 Sep 2009
Posts
21
RJC thanks for wink! I'm such a Numpty & obvious Newbie! Forum Rule 1 broken already, what a Thug! :p I've edited the post & I'm off to read the rules thoroughly! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom