Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: MaSonZ on April 24, 2011, 09:07:37 PM
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I'm lookin at Cases to replace the one I got ith a combo deal. I noticed many cases with a Bottom mounted PSU had more fans for taking in cool air and pushing out the hot air. Are there any benefits to having a bottom mounted vs. a top mounted PSU, and visa verse? I cant see much logic to a bottom mounted, as heat rises.
thoughts?
dont be afraid to post your thoughts on a case if you so desire. I only need a mid tower though, no use for a full tower. :cheers:
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I love bottom mounts, IMO they just look better and most cases have a nice slot in the bottom for the fan (so it doesn't push it's hot air into the case).
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Bottom mounted IMO. It balances the case better as larger more powerful PSUs become heavier and usually allows better management of the cables. An other reason is that heat rises, so instead of sucking a bunch of heat through your PSU most cases have a dedicated exhaust(s) there and usually allow for top mounted fans as well. A good example would be the Antec 900 / 1200 or NZXT's Tempest series although they're are plenty more. As far as actual recommendations it really depends on your needs, I myself use the Antec P182 Mini but I know the NZXT Vulcan is a nice mid-sized case with with equally fair pricing.
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I prefer top mounted for just the reason you state; heat rises. I see no reason to add heat to my case. As long as the PSU has it's own fan(s) all that heat just blows out never reaching my other components and in fact, the PSU will help pull other heat out of the case.
I guess if a bottom mount is in it's own chamber or if you have a top fan it wouldn't be a problem. Just my preference.
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I thought this was gonna be an 'alternate lifestyle' thread :devil
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(http://www.nzxt.com/new/images/_upload/product_gallery/IMG_4561.jpg)
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(http://fl1.shopmania.org/files/photo-images/8072/ocz-600w-psu-modxstream-pro-atx-v2-2-80-certified-active-pfc~8071444.jpg)
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No heat.
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Depending on what case you buy , you might need to get cable extenders for the motherboard power.
Other than that don't think it makes much difference top or bottom ....
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Bottom, puts the weight at the bottom making the case more stable.
The one I worked with ran amazingly cool (Antec 300)
Top PSU's seem to put the heat right on the CPU, bottom mounts puts it much further away, letting your fans remove the heat easier before it reaches the CPU. At least in my opinion.
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I prefer top mount too since the exhaust is right at the top and doesn't go up the back of the case.
My case-fan setup: Two exhaust fans on the top of the case and one exhaust fan just below the P/S on the back of the case. Two cooling fans on the bottom, four cooling fans on the side, two cooling fans in the front.
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I like the bottom. Things seem to run cooler.
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I used to think top mounts were the cats meow but after having a few bottom mounts in the last couple of builds and rebuilds I have been extremely pleased with temperatures using air cooling. I thought that all the hot air would congregate up near my CPU but that really hasn't been the case when I am watching CPU temps with some of these hot processors and video cards these days.
For my COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 it has a nice feature to help eliminate any extra heat in the case. It has a shroud that you can place over the PSU in the bottom mount that also catches some of the air moving from the front lower case fan and allows air to move around it and the PSU I have (CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W) has a fan on it that pushes the air out the bottom from the PSU as well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225
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I think it is a common misconception that a bottom mounted PSU contributes to heat in a case. This is simply not the case. As a matter of fact, I firmly believe the opposite to be true.
Let's look at the pros of a bottom mounted PSU with most modern-designed computer cases:
PROS:
-Easier cable management
-Better balancing of the case (less top-heavy)
-Not in the way of optical drives
-Less obtrusive
Now let's look at the alleged pros of a top mounted PSU:
-Less prone to contributing heat to the inside of the case
-You can tuck extra cabling in the top optical drive slot as long as you leave it empty.. but this could be a con as well as you wouldn't be able to use the top slot in this case, so in my opinion this cancels this one out.
Is there anything else? I can't think of any personally.
So if it weren't true that bottom mounted PSU contribute to heat, then there would not be any reason to use a top mounted PSU at all, right? OK then yes we all know that heat rises, and the heat from the PSU would rise up and heat up the motherboard and other components and then get trapped in the top of the case... in theory anyway, but you forget about airflow. Yes heat rises but it is also easily carried away and dissipated by air, meaning that with some horizontal airflow it will simply be blown out the back of the case. Also, by eliminating the PSU from the top of the case, you can install a large 160mm fan in its place (or in some cases two or three of them). This prevents any heat from building up in the top of the case at all. Also, since these larger fans have larger blades they can spin slower and still provide the same airflow for a lot less noise.
As a result, I am a fan of the bottom mounted PSU. As long as the case is properly designed for it, heat is not a factor and in my opinion a bottom mounted PSU will last long because it is sucking in cool air from under the case, instead of hot air inside of the case. Also, my computer is much quieter and the cables look much better.
If you truly are worried about heat, many cases will allow you to install the PSU upside-down if you want, and the intake will pull air in from the bottom of the case and push it out of the back.
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If you get a bottom mount and the case does not have legs you will have to turn the PSU to suck air from the case.
I prefer the bottom mount as long as there is a fan in front, top, and back.
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heh, havin issues deciding...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208034
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133180
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Thermaltake looks like the better of the two, neither would be my first choice but if I did have to pick it would be the Thermaltake case. One thing to note is you should pick up one or two 120mmx120mmx25mm case fans so you have an intake fan and/or side case fan. It actually supports up to three more 120mm fans, the third spot being a top mounted exhaust if you wanted to go all out. The good news is most 120mm's are dirt cheap these days so it's not a big expense.
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Thermaltake looks like the better of the two, neither would be my first choice but if I did have to pick it would be the Thermaltake case. One thing to note is you should pick up one or two 120mmx120mmx25mm case fans so you have an intake fan and/or side case fan. It actually supports up to three more 120mm fans, the third spot being a top mounted exhaust if you wanted to go all out. The good news is most 120mm's are dirt cheap these days so it's not a big expense.
I was thinkin the thermaltake, but the XION looks pretty cool. Only reason I'm choosin them is money. I have 2 120MM Case fans already. Bought them with my rig, just for the sake that they could go in the case. figured a little extra cooling on a rather restricted case is better for now.
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never mind.
semp