new power supply units have fan on top?

[Orick]

I added a hard drive and a DVD burner to my parents' old P4. Thought I should upgrade the PSU. A friend recommended this one to me but it looks like it has a fan on the top not the back like the old one. I looked around and it looks a lot of the new PSU's are like that. So do new cases have vent on top now? I guess I can't put this one in the old case because the top of the old case is closed. Right?

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23896

I haven't built a computer in years. So thanks for any help.

[willy]

Once you install it, you will find the fan is actually facing *DOWN*.

I would suggest this one instead ... http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17076&vpn=ATX%2D400%2DPN%2DB&manufacture=Sparkle%20Power%20Intl%2E

Just curious ... What is the spec of the existing PS ?

[Orick]

oh, so the fan is sucking air from inside of the computer, got it. the existing one is a 250W so i figure it will probably not do well with added stuff. the sparkle one you recommended looks good too but I just want to pick something up locally this weekend from CC or tigerdirect. Might even splurge a bit and get this: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3255390&CatId=1077
or

thanks.

[willy]

OK ... CC ... $40 something price range ... ~ 350W ...

Get this ... http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=012265&cid=PS.808

[Orick]

that one looks good but I can't tell if it has a 20 pin connector for the mother board (old P4 mb). another friend just emailed me this. a bit more than I want to spend but might be worth it for less problems. does it look good?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1273332&body=REVIEWS

[willy]

The main power connector is a 20+4 pin .... the 4-pin is detachable.

Here's the manual ... http://www.antec.com/pdf/manuals/EarthWatts_Manual_EN.pdf

Available connectors ... http://www.antec.com/connectors.php?ProdID=27380&SetZone=en

For user's reviews ... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005&Tpk=ea-380

[Orick]

thanks man, I should have googled. :)

ok off I go shopping, appreciate the help.

[woof]

The reason the fans are on the bottom is because of the larger space there - you can get a 120 mm diameter fan there which is substantially larger than what you could put on the other sides. The 120 mm fans move a lot more air and they can do it at a lower speed which means less noise. Of course how well this works varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

[Orick]

thanks woof for your reply too. I guess the photo just shows th power supply upside down and I was fooled.