Power Supply mounting confusion

[Charlie]

OK, I've gotten the bug to build my own computer. Having never done this
before I have been lurking on this group for a while and I've been
searching the internet for information. I have decided to build a computer
based on the Athlon XP processor. I have found that AMD, in their
"Builders Guide for Desktop/Tower Systems" case guidelines, recommends the
use of a "bottom air intake" power supply.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/260
03.pdf

The logic of this seems obvious yet I have been unable to find a single
power supply with specifications stating that it brings in air from a
bottom intake or fan.

Many power supplies have a fan on the top. I'm unsure why since most of the
cases I've seen do not have a hole on the top to match. Then I thought I
would just turn the power supply upside-down, but no, the mounting screw
pattern is not symmetrical and the few cases that show the hole pattern
orient the powersupply with the fan up. I did find a site that shows how
to butcher your "incorrectly" built case to fit an upside-down power
supply.

http://www.directron.com/powermod.html

I would have no problem with altering a case or for that matter the power
supply to mount upside-down but seeing as they went to the trouble to make
the screw pattern different top to bottom I figured there must be a reason.

Am I missing something?

Do some cases have the mounting holes oriented so that the power supply
mounts upside down?

Could anyone here point me to a good 400+ watt power supply with a bottom
intake vent or fan?

Thanks

Charlie

 

[wooducoodu]

no PSU has a fan on top, you're looking at them upside down.

 

[Matt]

Could anyone here point me to a good 400+ watt power supply with a bottom
intake vent or fan?

Practically all of 'em.

 

[Alex]

2 upside-downs make it right ;-) The fan is meant to go on the bottom, not
the top of the unit.

 

[Mark]

I've been using an Allied 400W PSU that I got at Newegg.com for about
US $36. It may not be a "true" 400W unit, but it has been stable for
the several months that I've owned it. It is a dual-fan (pulls up
from the bottom fan and expels through the back one) model with plenty
of power connectors. I believe this model is "AMD-approved" for what
it's worth.

 

[DaveW]

Antec 430 Watt Tru-Power power supply. Excellent choice, built ruggedly,
and conservatively rated.

 

[Andy]

Could anyone here point me to a good 400+ watt power supply with a bottom
intake vent or fan?
http://store.4linkcomm.com/wow640blatxp1.html


Thanks

Charlie

 

[Charlie]

no PSU has a fan on top, you're looking at them upside down.

Ah, the old display power supplies upside-down trick. Well they got me.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[Charlie]

Practically all of 'em.

Well, the power supplies made by PC Power & Cooling are often recommended.
So the first one I looked at (410 ATX) can be seen at:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/ultra_quiet/silencers
/index.htm

It appears to have no vent or fan on the bottom assuming that it is
displayed upside-down.

I then decided on an Antec TruePower True430.

http://www.antec-inc.com/us/pro_powerSupply.html

This does show a fan on the bottom, I just wasn't aware that everyone
displays their power supplies upside-down.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[Charlie]

2 upside-downs make it right ;-)

Honest, I'm not standing on my head and let me check... No my monitor isn't
upside-down.

The fan is meant to go on the bottom, not the top of the unit.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[Charlie]

I've been using an Allied 400W PSU that I got at Newegg.com for about
US $36. It may not be a "true" 400W unit, but it has been stable for
the several months that I've owned it. It is a dual-fan (pulls up
from the bottom fan and expels through the back one) model with plenty
of power connectors. I believe this model is "AMD-approved" for what
it's worth.

I'll check it out.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[Charlie]

Antec 430 Watt Tru-Power power supply. Excellent choice, built ruggedly,
and conservatively rated.

I'm glad you said that. The Antec TruePower 430 is one of the power
supplies I had my eye on.

Thanks

Charlie

 

[Charlie]

http://store.4linkcomm.com/wow640blatxp1.html

Thanks for the link. It looks like a nice power supply. I like the 120mm
fan.

Charlie

 

[ric]

Well, the power supplies made by PC Power & Cooling are often recommended.
So the first one I looked at (410 ATX) can be seen at:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/ultra_quiet/silencers
/index.htm

It appears to have no vent or fan on the bottom assuming that it is
displayed upside-down.

Vent is on side opposite the decal, lest the decal cover it up. Decal
is on top.

 

[Charlie]

Vent is on side opposite the decal, lest the decal cover it up. Decal
is on top.

If this is the case then their mounting holes are the reverse of everyone
else's. If you look closely at their picture you can see that the wider
distance between holes is on the top (decal side). To mount correctly
(according to everyone here) these holes have to be down making the decal
side the bottom. Anyway, the "Silencer® 410 ATX Dimensions Drawing" shows
the vents to be on the front (opposite end from the fan).

Charlie