Power supply air flow

[mickyching]

Hello everyone,

I'm considering moving the PSU to the bottom of the case I'm building, but I'm not sure there is enough space for proper air intake.

It draws with a 140-mm fan, and there will be a gap along the bottom of the case about 1/8" high, figure a total of about 40 inches in length on this gap, for a total of about 5 square inches of inlet space.

Two questions: Will this be enough inlet space to allow proper air flow for the PSU? Assuming it IS enough space, will the narrow constriction make it sound like a wind tunnel?

I can make the gap wider if needed, but I wanted to get some input from those with more knowledge of air flow than I.

Thanks!!

[CWR03]

The last case I bought has an opening in the bottom for PSU air and it vents out the back. If the case sits on legs to allow airflow, you could mount it tight to the bottom and drill many small holes or cut one large one for intake.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3235568&sku=C283-1170&srkey=cooler%20master%20cosmos

[mariush]

I don't think that's enough space. You should just turn the power supply around so that the fan is taking air from the case and blowing it out but you'll have to think a bit about the air flow inside the case - maybe add a fan in front of the hard drives so that air comes from the front of the case towards the power supply fan.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Don't think you can simply turn around the PSU. The screw holes in the case won't fit. At least with a "standard" case.

Also if you install the PSU on the bottom of the case, it won't blow out the hot air anymore. So I'd recommend to install another case fan on the rear side of the case (on the top).

For the front side I'd use a HDD case with integrated fan (http://www.vadim.co.uk/images/ex23a02.jpg), one that can be installed into two or three of the 3.5" slots.