Corsair TX650 - which way is up?

[Kieran28]

I just purchased this power supply ( Corsair Enthusiast Series 650-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and AMD platforms - CMPSU-650TXV2 ) and a BitFenix Outlaw case.

In the Outlaw case, the PSU mounts at the bottom, right above a fan vent. See this picture from the Anandtech review.

The Corsair TX650 has a fan on top of it (as seen in the photo on amazon linked above).

I can mount the Corsair with the fan pointing up or down. Not sure which way is correct or best.

Does it matter? If not I'll just mount it such that the cable routing is best. If it does matter, then I'll mount it the correct way and figure out the cable routing later.

In the Anandtech review of the Outlaw case, it looks like the PSU they used does not have a fan on top (or bottom) but on one of the front/back faces.

Thanks for any tips, advice, suggestions, etc.!!! 😀

 

[87ninefiveone]

The fan typically faces down. That way if it's top mounted the fan sucks air from the bottom and out of the case, and if it's bottom mounted the fan sucks air from outside and back out of the case.

It's interesting that Corsair's advertising photo has it facing up because that's not how it is in real life, if it was the stickers would be upside down.

 

[Kieran28]

Okay, I'll give that a try. The sticker on the other side of it (from the amazon picture) is upside-down.... fyi.

 

[rwayne]

Okay, I'll give that a try. The sticker on the other side of it (from the amazon picture) is upside-down.... fyi.

They do that on purpose so the name stays upright for which ever way you install the PSU. You just have to flip it around.

 

[totalknowledge]

It can go either way. I have mine sucking air out of the case.

 

[Kieran28]

Which way does the fan blow? Is that big fan on the PSU an intake fan or exhaust fan?

 

[Kieran28]

They do that on purpose so the name stays upright for which ever way you install the PSU. You just have to flip it around.

Yes, I figured that, but actually it makes it harder to figure out which way is best!

On the one hand, I could have the fan point down, which if I understand totalknowledg I think would be sucking air from the floor of my office then. Do I really want it sucking dirt and dust from the floor?

Or I can turn it over and have it suck hot air off the CPU.

Neither seems optimal.

 

[ko888]

Either way you're going to be sucking dirt through the PSU because that case doesn't have any air filters.

Good cases actually have air filters over the vent holes to handle this scenario.

 

[scout_03]

this fan face down use the same in my mobo and hot air is out at the backof case

 

[totalknowledge]

The big fan is intake for the PSU. It then blows the air out the back of the unit.

 

[amuffin]

Point down.

 

[randomkid]

Yes, I figured that, but actually it makes it harder to figure out which way is best!

On the one hand, I could have the fan point down, which if I understand totalknowledg I think would be sucking air from the floor of my office then. Do I really want it sucking dirt and dust from the floor?

This is easy to remedy. You can easily put air filters at the bottom of your case to cover the air inlets. The good thing about your PSU sucking air from the bottom is that it sucks cool air. The filter you will install will negate your worry about having dust getting into your PSU.

Or I can turn it over and have it suck hot air off the CPU.
Neither seems optimal.

As you said so, this is not optimal & I agree. Install your PSU facing down as I suggested above.

I am amazed to see your case. If I have seen it before, I would have selected it for my new build. I like the idea that the hotair from the GPU's will not go towards the CPU because it will directly rise up. If you could put 2x120mm fans on the top, it will be very sweet.

 

[mike789]

If you check the srew holes you'll see that its meant to point down. Clean the air filters (or install if there are no) regularly, as well as the floor(!), or consider placing the tower somewhere else.

 

[Kieran28]

If you check the srew holes you'll see that its meant to point down. Clean the air filters (or install if there are no) regularly, as well as the floor(!), or consider placing the tower somewhere else.

Actually there are holes in the case that allow the PSU to face either way; thus my question.

It sounds like pointing the fan down (intake outside air) is the most recommended way.

 

[Kieran28]

This is easy to remedy. You can easily put air filters at the bottom of your case to cover the air inlets. The good thing about your PSU sucking air from the bottom is that it sucks cool air. The filter you will install will negate your worry about having dust getting into your PSU.


As you said so, this is not optimal & I agree. Install your PSU facing down as I suggested above.

I am amazed to see your case. If I have seen it before, I would have selected it for my new build. I like the idea that the hotair from the GPU's will not go towards the CPU because it will directly rise up. If you could put 2x120mm fans on the top, it will be very sweet.

I'm glad you like it, as I'm very tempted to return it and get either a Fractal Designs R3 or an Antec P150/solo. Both are about $50 more than the Outlaw. But your comments make me think I should keep it and just buy a bunch of filters. Where can I get case filters and which ones are recommended?

Anandtech really liked the Outlaw. That review was the main reason I bought it. But now that I have one, it appears that the reason it's a fairly quiet case is that the thing is wide open! It's got more vents than not, so the single included case fan is sufficient for stock clocked systems. There's really not a lot of other "silent" design features in it (other than the novel mobo orientation with the cpu below the gpu, and a few rubber grommets on the 3.5" hdd mounting holes.)

Construction of the case is so-so. I guess I was expecting more than I should have for a $55 case. The side panels are quite difficult to remove, for example. My 12-year old Antec case (which at idle sounds like a 737 warming up for take off) has a spring-loaded latch/lever for the side panel, and modular hdd mounts, etc. So I guess I was spoiled in that regard.

 

[scout_03]

this http://www.amazon.com/PuraPC-Computer-Air-Filter-Material/dp/B000FJU8BC

 

[Kieran28]

Thanks for the link. I ordered some.

 

[scout_03]

your welcome

 

[randomkid]

The side panels are quite difficult to remove, for example.

Don't worry to much about it. Taking off the side panel is something you don't do often. Once you are done with all the install, you don't need to open it except for cleaning or upgrade. But the plus side of the CPU being below the GPU and therefore will be cooler will always be there.
I asked my favorite PC store if they carry the BitFenix Outlaw case but unfortunately, they don't. 🙁

 

[Kieran28]

Best answer selected by Kieran28.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey