PSU Question

[tallman]

I built my machine last night and it worked just fine. I have one small question though:

I have this PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b650w

and this case:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%2b900

The PSU fan sits face down in the case on four silicon "seats", so that it is about 0.5 cm off the bottom of the case. Is this enough room for proper fan ventilation, or should I flip it?

Thanks

[12twelve12]

I have that case as part of my upcoming build so I know what your talking about as far as the silicon seats. In my opinion I don't believe it's enough clearance. Why not turn the psu over so that the fan is facing up? Every other pic of this case and a psu like yours has the fan pointing up.

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6424/dscf2732ll8.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/7...192b7efaa0.jpg

[tallman]

I think I'm going to do that.... It just looks very awkward.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by tallman The PSU fan sits face down in the case on four silicon "seats", so that it is about 0.5 cm off the bottom of the case. Is this enough room for proper fan ventilation, or should I flip it?

Flip the PSU over so that the fan faces upward. That cases allows mounting the PSU either way.

Cricket

[vtfanmv5]

Yup. PSU fans point up the bottom-mounted Antec 900 case.

[juppy]

Heheh....well, that's a new one on me. Until now, I'd never seen a case with the power supply on the bottom like that. I guess they figure with putting that 120mm fan up top you won't be needing the extra exhaust from the power supply fan to get rid of heat, so just mount it on the bottom.

[cantputt04]

Yeah the air flow in the Antec 900 is ridiculous. I just built using this case. I'm running a P5Q-E with an E8400, 4GB of RAM, and the Radeon HD 4870 with the fan speed increased to 37%.

I can't hear that this thing is even on. My CPU Idles at 40C. My GPU right now is Idling at 36C, and it only keeps going down (it went from 44 to 40 yesterday, now it's even lower). Psh, and they say the HD 4870 has problems being hot. HAH.

[12twelve12]

Originally Posted by cantputt04 My CPU Idles at 40C. .

If you have not done already make sure you update to the latest bios version which is 803. Up until 803 bios, the cpu temps where about 10 degrees off (high). I was showing around 41c idle and I knew that was too high for the aftermarket cpu cooler I have. So I read up on this problem and found out about the bug of the earlier bios'. I just finished updating to 803 and now my cpu temp reads 31c idle and I was able to update before putting the computer together in the case and before installing the OS using the Asus EZ Flash 2 method to update bios. Although if your are using the stock heatsink/fan for that cpu then in the 40's is normal idle temp I believe.

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?...Language=en-us

[cantputt04]

Aha, very informative. I shall do this tomorrow... but I need to find me a USB drive lol.

[12twelve12]

USB drives are cheap these days. Handy to have one so I'm sure you will end up using it for more than just this little task.

Here is what is stated on ASUS' site regarding the latest bios for your board:

Version 0803 2008/07/02 update
Description P5Q-E BIOS V0803
1. Update CPU temperature detection rule.
File Size 1.15 (MBytes)

The P5Q's are new boards and there have been 3 bios updates so far, 3 in about 2 months, so check the site regularly for most recent versions. If you make any changes in bios such as memory timings, overclocking or whatever then make sure you write those changes down so you can reapply them after updating bios. Follow those instructions in the link above (previous post) to the "T".

[jon_e_33]

I'd be wary of messing with the bios unless you have a specific problem with it, since some mobo manufacturers will not return or RMA a mobo if you've flashed the bios.

Also try something like hardware monitor to check your core temps. The asus utilities themselves are pretty bad.

[12twelve12]

Originally Posted by 12twelve12 ...I just finished updating to 803 and now my cpu temp reads 31c idle..]

Oops, I was looking at the motherboard temp. CPU temp at idle is 26c....sweet.

[12twelve12]

If your too concerned about how the PSU looks by flipping it over you could always do modification to your case.

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5...0010pb2rp9.jpg

Source

[not important]

Originally Posted by jon_e_33 I'd be wary of messing with the bios unless you have a specific problem with it, since some mobo manufacturers will not return or RMA a mobo if you've flashed the bios.

BIOS updates are pretty much mandatory on the ASUS boards. I just purchased one for a Dual Core Intel box and the update made thing s a lot easier.

[12twelve12]

Originally Posted by jon_e_33 I'd be wary of messing with the bios unless you have a specific problem with it, since some mobo manufacturers will not return or RMA a mobo if you've flashed the bios.

Some boards require updating of the bios in order to recognize the new 45nm CPU's. I've had MSI, Gigabyte and now ASUS boards and all 3 of those manufacturers supply regular bios updates for their consumers. Never knew that some manufacturers discourage this and I would like to know which ones so that I can stay away from them in the future.

[jon_e_33]

Originally Posted by 12twelve12 Some boards require updating of the bios in order to recognize the new 45nm CPU's. I've had MSI, Gigabyte and now ASUS boards and all 3 of those manufacturers supply regular bios updates for their consumers. Never knew that some manufacturers discourage this and I would like to know which ones so that I can stay away from them in the future.

Sorry, I meant that *Newegg* won't RMA it if you flash the bios. I don't know what I was thinking when I typed that.