Should I buy a UPS

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BuddyGoodness

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Mar 25, 2005
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I just spent 1300$ on a computer and I was wondering if I should buy a good surge protector/ups for my comp and if so what one ( I am currently just using a surge protector)? I built this computer: http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/Critique-Build-ftopict213555.html

I use a 700W PSU, should that be a factor when figuring out which UPS to buy? Or should I just buy one based on what the max draw my computer would pull through the PSU (500W ish) Some are good for only up to 200W some are good for up to 1000W but I don't know if I should go off that when trying to decide which one to go with. Can anyone please help?
 
Do you need a UPS? Is your current / frequency in your area variable? Do you have frequent storms, with power surges from possible lightening strikes?

Yes, get one. No, don't bother.

If yes, I'd recommend APC, but they aren't the only UPS supplier out there...

Other items to check out would be how good is your building ground, and is your CPU running off of a GFI circuit?

I personally use an APC 1000 KVA Smart-Ups, but I have a bit more invested than you, and it is expected to be available 24 / 7.

There are also some very good but less expensive line conditioner / surge suppression units out there.

Judge your needs, do a bit of research, and act accordingly.

My 2p
 
Well I don't live in a place where power outages are very common. I just don't want my comp to blow out, I just spent a pretty penny (to me at least) on it and now I am paranoid. Would just a good surge protector be good enough to prevent damage in case of surge or power outage?
 
I'd then invest in a good surge suppressor, with a line conditioner built in. Sorry, but you'll have to do some research...

Names that come to mind, APC, Belkin, Tripp-lite, Leviton... But that's just the tip of what's available.

Google is your friend. Then look for reviews.
 
Thanks... Just keep in mind that a surge suppressor / line conditioner will not save you from the infrequent power outage, that will require a bit of battery backup.

In Sydney (AUS) that's the 'mains' worry... (sorry, needed to get my chuckle in.)
 
For most people a good surge protect will suffice. I bought a Belkin a couple of years ago for around $60 when it was on sale. A UPS is useful if you work with critical data and any sudden power loss will wipe out hours worth of effort.

An example is a graphics designer who's data could mean the difference between feast or fame (well, not that severe). But if the PC is mostly for gaming then I think getting a UPS is a waste just so that you can save your game.
 
Short answer: "Yes."

I'd go with APC or TrippLite. I've used both with good results (i.e. never lost any data or hardware). I've read poor reviews of Cyberpower, but don't remember where. Replacement batteries (they last 4-5 years) for APC are readily available. Allowing for your monitor, cable modem, and router (if applicable), I'd choose a minimum of 500VA. I got a bigger one for the added runtime.
 
I've got a UPS R-800. Like others have said, line conditioning is just as important as surge protection and probably more important than battery backup. Mine even has some cool software that actually reports incoming voltage and lets you set voltage and frequency limits. You can actually see total watts going into your system. Any decent backup will include the line conditioner. A tip on actually buying one: do your research first and then try to find a good deal at one of the big box stores so you don't have to pay shipping on that heavy thing!
 
A good UPS will increase the life of your system and the components in it. I strongly recommend you get one, especially if you even have occasional power fluctuations or outages where you live. A brownout (low power, but not completely off) can cause more damage to electrical equipment than a surge ever could. A power strip will not protect against a brownout but a UPS will.
 
Ok, well I have researched both and it is a tough call. UPS's are expensive and I just use the computer to surf the net, write school papers(though I save ever five min) and play games so the battery back up is not crucial. UPS's are not rated for very high joules (500ish) while surge protectors are rated for up to 3k+. I couldn't find anything that would tell me how many joules is sufficient to protect my comp though so those numbers are kinda irrelevant to me until I know what I need there.

Surge protectors are cheaper though not by much depending on which ones you look at but they only protect against power surges, not brownouts (though I don't know if we have those here in Iowa unless they can be mistaken for a blackout) and other problems.

Also, I couldn't really find much about line conditioners other than box retailers try to sell them to go with home theaters to make the electric "noises" go down or something like that.

All in all I figure if I really wanna play it safe I should just buy a good surge protector and plus a good UPS into it. But I worry I will end up spending 200$ on a threat I made worse in my head than it really is. We have power outages about once a year tops. I have just used a cheap surge protector on this comp and it has never had a problem in the 4 years I had it and my old gateway before that still worked after 7 years of just being plugged into a cheap ass surge protector.


Anyway here is what appears to be a decent UPS though I don't know if this is an off brand or whatnot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16842107113

These look like a decent surge protectors from what I have gathered:
Cheap one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812120401
Less Cheap: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812120208
 
"noise" isn't the same thing as voltage and frequency fluctuations. For audio and video purity you may want to go for conditioning that removes/reduces "noise" but for your computer you're more concerned with consistent and in spec frequency and voltage.

The UPS you had linked didn't seem to have any frequency smoothing that I coud see. It doesn't matter what part of the country you're in, the fluctuations happen all the time. The log on my UPS shows that it intervenes about once a month.

You can get a decent UPS with voltage and frequency stability at Office Depot, Circuit City, or any of the other big box stores. I just saw a full featured 700 watt UPS (APC brand) at Office Depot for $129.

I hear it over and over again from electronics and computer technicians that dirty power causes problems all the time. It's certainly possible that's just their excuse for not being able to figure out what actually caused the problem or it's the excuse for things that just overheat or wear out. But IMHO, power conditioning sure seems like cheap insurance.
 
Anyway here is what appears to be a decent UPS though I don't know if this is an off brand or whatnot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16842107113
Click to expand...
That looks like a decent unit, the newegg specs don't list it's AVR (automatic voltage regulation) capability you have to check out the manufacturer link for more details. The hot-swap batteries are nice, I have an older tripp-lite and it sucks to replace the batteries you literally have to dissasemble it.

The line-interactive UPS units are the best bang-per-buck IMO so I would go for it, and a great deal from Newegg - free shipping! 8)
 
...I couldn't really find much about line conditioners other than box retailers try to sell them to go with home theaters to make the electric "noises" go down or something like that...
Click to expand...
Where I live power spikes and brownouts are very common. Outages are less of a problem.
Over the last 12 years I have used a line conditioner to filter power to my computer, monitor and printer. Yes this costs more than most want to pay, (most won't pay for a good PSU).
This the model I use:
Tripp-Lite LC1200 Line Conditioner
http://www.tripplite.com/products/product.cfm?productID=208
It still works like new...
 
well that looks more like something along the lines I was looking for, does everything but the battery back up which I don't really need.


Only rated up to 500 joules, is that bad?
 
It does seem low.
I plug my line conditioner into a throw-away surge/power-strip.
Once the MOVs in a surge suppressor go, all protection is lost.
I have never had a problem with my computer power supplies, and motherboard voltages are spot-on and rock stable.
 
they do offer this.

5-year $25,000 connected equipment guarantee (covers equipment damaged by an AC power, cable, telephone or lighting surge while connected to properly installed Monster Cable surge protector)
lifetime warranty on the PC 800
 
It appears that the APC is a directly competing product to the TrippLite 1200, and that the 606 is just a smaller output version of the 1200.
IMO, IF you are going to get one of these, then do it right. Don't buy a marginally sized unit and risk overheating it.
 
I used to have a UPS that I took from school, I found it in the throwout bin. It worked, I brought it home, tested the voltages and all, and it worked great. Had it hooked up to my computer/monitor on one side, and on the other, was my 60 dollar surge protector, and it lasted me a long time, at least for something that I didn't even pay for. Sadly, this last black out, when the power came back on, the UPS didn't work anymore, so now I'm stuck with only my surge protector.
 
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