bottom mounted power supplies

[coltrane]

I planning on building a new system and I have been seeing a lot of
cases where the power supply mounts on the bottom of the case. I have
never seen this before. Is there a benefit to bottom mounting?

thanks for the feedback

John

 

[coltrane]

The Antec Three

Hundred, for instance, has a couple of 160mm fans in that corner that
can quietly move a lot of air from around the CPU.

thanks, that's the case I am looking at.

 

[coltrane]

Another advantage of this very neat wiring. With bottom

mount PSUs, the most of the power wiring can be routed
behind the motherboard mounting plate, and excess cable
length can be hidden there.

thanks. I would have never thought of running wiring behind the mb.

 

[Brian Cryer]

I planning on building a new system and I have been seeing a lot of cases
where the power supply mounts on the bottom of the case. I have never seen
this before. Is there a benefit to bottom mounting?

I'm sure I read somewhere (possibly in this newsgroup ages back) about the
problem of dust with bottom mounted power supplies. Yes, it was in this
newsgroup:
http://alt.newsgroups.archived.at/comp.hardware/201003/100314126512.html -
looking back the consensus seemed to be that dust would be unlikley to be a
problem (YMMV). While looking for this I have read comments elsewhere which
implied that dust could be a problem, but none which indicated it IS a
problem.

Given that hot air rises you do have the advantage with a bottom mounted
supply that the power supply should run cooler. On the other hand this would
imply that other components might run hotter - so you then need a fan at the
top of the case to get rid of the hot air - which I assume would be
provided.

 

[coltrane]

I'm sure I read somewhere (possibly in this newsgroup ages back) about

the problem of dust with bottom mounted power supplies. Yes, it was in
this newsgroup:
http://alt.newsgroups.archived.at/comp.hardware/201003/100314126512.html
- looking back the consensus seemed to be that dust would be unlikley to
be a problem (YMMV). While looking for this I have read comments
elsewhere which implied that dust could be a problem, but none which
indicated it IS a problem.

The case I am looking at says it has filters to prevent dust. This
doesn't apply to the PSU so dust might be an issue especially being on
bottom.

Given that hot air rises you do have the advantage with a bottom mounted
supply that the power supply should run cooler. On the other hand this
would imply that other components might run hotter - so you then need a
fan at the top of the case to get rid of the hot air - which I assume
would be provided.

The case does have 2 fans on the top.

thanks

 

[Gorby]

The case I am looking at says it has filters to prevent dust. This
doesn't apply to the PSU so dust might be an issue especially being on
bottom.
The case does have 2 fans on the top.

thanks

Even with top mounted PSUs, I always try to keep PCs off the floor to
reduce dust build-up. Even 2cms above the floor reduces dust
significantly. If you have to put your PC on the floor, put it on an old
phone book to get it up a bit.

 

[smithdoerr]

The PSU is usually in its own compartment, basically
sealed off from the rest of the case, except for cable
routing openings. Also, there is a fan, and probably
a drive bay for 2 HDs, all in line with the PSU. There's
a straight line front to back air flow.

Antec does indeed make cases where the power supply is in a separate
compartment but these are not the norm and may be more expensive than what
the original poster wants to spend.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129061

The original poster is looking at the 300 series cases which are more
affordable but do no feature a separate compartment for the PS or behind the
motherboard wiring. The 300s are still a good buy though.

 

[Brian Cryer]

The case I am looking at says it has filters to prevent dust. This doesn't
apply to the PSU so dust might be an issue especially being on bottom.

I suppose that since the PSU sucks air out of the case, having filters on
the main points of entry should help.

If you end up buying it then don't forget to periodically look at your
filters to clean them. I had a bit of a shock over the weekend at how much
dust was in one of my filters on my pc.

The case does have 2 fans on the top.

Sounds reqsonable.

 

[Jon Danniken]

Given that hot air rises you do have the advantage with a bottom
mounted supply that the power supply should run cooler. On the other
hand this would imply that other components might run hotter - so you
then need a fan at the top of the case to get rid of the hot air -
which I assume would be provided.

Hot air does rise, in the absence of other air movement, but what happens
when there are multiple fans interrupting it, directing it along pre-defined
pathways?

Jon

 

[peter]

I would suggest you add a 120mm fan to the front.This would keep your HD
cooler
The top 2 fans draw the hot air from the CPU cooler out.
The bottom mounted PSU will draw fresh air in if you buy the right model and
the
PSU Fan will blow that cool air over the inside of the PSU and out the back
of the PSU
Theoretically none of the hot PSU air should enter the case.
After looking at this Article you might want to reconsider that purchase
but then it all depends upon what your putting inside
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3439

You might want to consider the 600 for only $20.00 more

peter



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"coltrane" wrote in message

I'm sure I read somewhere (possibly in this newsgroup ages back) about
the problem of dust with bottom mounted power supplies. Yes, it was in
this newsgroup:
http://alt.newsgroups.archived.at/comp.hardware/201003/100314126512.html
- looking back the consensus seemed to be that dust would be unlikley to
be a problem (YMMV). While looking for this I have read comments
elsewhere which implied that dust could be a problem, but none which
indicated it IS a problem.

The case I am looking at says it has filters to prevent dust. This
doesn't apply to the PSU so dust might be an issue especially being on
bottom.

Given that hot air rises you do have the advantage with a bottom mounted
supply that the power supply should run cooler. On the other hand this
would imply that other components might run hotter - so you then need a
fan at the top of the case to get rid of the hot air - which I assume
would be provided.

The case does have 2 fans on the top.

thanks

 

[coltrane]

Even with top mounted PSUs, I always try to keep PCs off the floor to

reduce dust build-up. Even 2cms above the floor reduces dust
significantly. If you have to put your PC on the floor, put it on an old
phone book to get it up a bit.

good idea. gives me a reason to go cut up some 2x4s sitting in the garage