Just a thought

[DDR-PIII]

I was wondering how much the case temp would be reduced if the PSU were isolated from the rest of the case? I know it has to draw air form somewhere so if it were to be isolated just make a hole in the wall of the case beside the PSU where in place a fan could be put @ same RPM the the PSU fan runs @ so it sucks the air from out side the case and blows they air once agian out side the case. Umm i dont think im making much sence hehe but ill try to make it more clear ok

So you make an enclosure around the PSU with only a hole for the wiring to go out then seal that off with some sort of putty ?

make a hole in the side of the case for fan / grill... and that should reduce the case temp right ? or would there ever be a point of doing this ? I know it wouldnt be hard make 10-15mins work maybe less.

what are your thoughts on this ?

 

[Freeloader]

The psu doesn't add heat to the case, but it does help reduce it. The case adds heat to the psu so isolating it would make the psu run cooler by a few degrees.

 

[Mpegger]

Actually, if your running the PSU near its max output, it will be generating some heat. Now wether that heat actually adds on to the rest of the interior case temps is something else. But I do use a PSU outside the case. It does get warm, especially in the summer when my room temps are high. And you can feel the hotter air coming from the exhaust fan.

Also, placing my hand on my case above where the interior PSU is, you can definetly feel it warmer then the rest of the case. Again, how much it affects the rest of the interior case temps, I dont know. Maybe once I get a Digital Doc I'll run an experiment. I'll just throw some of the temp probes around the case and measure temps at regular intervals with the PSU inside, and outside the case.

 

[DDR-PIII]

well either way it'd by a gian right ?

 

[Tipycol]

I think you'd get a better result from just upgrading the psu fan to one with a higher cfm. Maybe you could add your other fan, and have it blow out as well making your psu a good exhaust system for your computer, although two fans might interfere with one another in the psu itself.

If no one else here has any information on this topic, you should test it yourself, find what ways are better for you. And even if they have tried it before, and gotten bad results, you should try it if you still think it will work. Results will vary from computer to computer and it might lower temps on your system.


Tipycol

 

[CrystalMethod]

The psu doesn't add heat to the case, but it does help reduce it. The case adds heat to the psu so isolating it would make the psu run cooler by a few degrees.

This isn't always true. I have a few PSU's that actually add to the heat of the case. This is usually the case with single fan PSU's. A dual fan PSU however, will usually exaust any heat it generates.

 

[RedDeathDrinker]

My PSU added heat to my case.......

There was nort enough airflow to cool the PSU, so I had a thought or two about cooling it......

I replaced the exhaust fan for an 80mm Sunon, and that helped. Slightly Then I looked at the design of the PSU cover..........slight lack of ventilation holes. So, do I go cut some more? Too much like hard work at the time......

Removed the PSU cover, and chucked the PSU back in my case. Dropped the case temp 10C! Fantastic! But slightly dangerous.....

So I added a wire mesh cover (the sort you'd use for hamster cages and the like) My PSU is now running cool and safe.

Fairly grotty webcam pic, but you get the idea


Other thoughts were: Like yourself, actually removing the PSU from the case, or ducting outside air into the PSU, and insulating the cover, to prevent heat buildup in the case....

 

[DDR-PIII]

nice

 

[Freeloader]

There is an important reason why psu's aren't full of hole all over. The psu's venting is made so that the air is forced over the psu's heatsinks. By having the psu open, most of the flow will bypass these heatsinks and the psu voltage will become more unstable.

 

[villham308]

i took the fan out of my psu and stuck it on the back blowing in. also cut away the metal grating at the back for more airflow. It didnt affect the case temp but it did affect the CPU temp, it ran about 1* lower after.

Willem.

 

[DDR-PIII]

1*heh well thats like a million with'em AMD's haha im just kiddin

 

[willlangford]

if you have a ps that has a bottom fan and a back fan it should help your case temp.

~Will