UPS... What power do I need ?

[mikeyinstant]

Hi everyone
I'm looking at buying a UPS because I'm fed up with the power cut where I live in Colombia. Things just aren't the same here as England with regards to tech stuff.

I have a 650 watt PSU running i5 and a GTX 979 and other bits. The other thing I have is a Logitech g920 which by the way I can firmly say is a bag of piss if used with the PC. Don't buy it! And a 27 inch 144hz AOC monitor. I'm not sure what sort of wattage I will need to cover all of that when the power goes out.
I'm thinking about 700watts from a UPS will be needed.

Any thoughts.
Thanks
Mike

 

[mrmez]

Ok, so with a UPS you have two main numbers Watts, and amp hours.

Watts is basically the amount of hardware you can run. Even a small UPS usually has sufficient watts to run a bunch of stuff. 700w is plenty as your system should only use maybe 500w total and only under max load.

Next is amp hours. Thats basically how long the batteries can run things.
For example: a 720w / 14AH UPS is rated for about 10 minutes run time at 50% load (360w).
Or as little as 3 minutes under full load.

As you can see, unless you spend over $1k, a UPS is really only designed to give you enough time to save your work and shutdown safely.

 

[InvalidError]

The PC + monitor should use less than 400W, which should be within a 750VA UPS' capability. If you want more backup time, you will want to consider a 1000VA or higher unit which should have a bigger battery. For ~$150, you can get a CyberPower 1500AVRLCD which has a pair of 7.2Ah 12V batteries. Some people may recommend getting the "pure sine wave" version but the vast majority of modern electronic equipment won't care, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over that.

 

[R_1]

if the power outtages are intermittent, you'll need a larger unit. after the three minutes the battery will need to recharge, that will take time and if the power goes in and out continually a small unit will give very limited protection, say three one minute outtages over the period of a day, any more and the recharge time will be insufficient to continue protection.

 

[mikeyinstant]

The PC + monitor should use less than 400W, which should be within a 750VA UPS' capability. If you want more backup time, you will want to consider a 1000VA or higher unit which should have a bigger battery. For ~$150, you can get a CyberPower 1500AVRLCD which has a pair of 7.2Ah 12V batteries. Some people may recommend getting the "pure sine wave" version but the vast majority of modern electronic equipment won't care, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over that.

Thanks
Though i was reading about the none pure sine wave not being effective with an Active PFC PSU and that it could potentially harm my computer. I have an Active PFC PSU. So im losing a little sleep over it.

What do you think? Had any experience with Active PFC PSU with none pure sine wave UPS?
Thanks

 

[InvalidError]

What do you think? Had any experience with Active PFC PSU with none pure sine wave UPS? Thanks

All three of my LCDs have APFC and my PC as well. Never had any issues with any of them using "stepped approximation" UPS.

I have a first-gen Antec EarthWatt PSU in my PC, the ones made by Delta which allegedly had issues with approximation UPS, and it worked perfectly fine with the two stepped approximation UPS I have used it with.

If approximation UPS posed a significant compatibility issue with typical business and consumer electronic equipment, they wouldn't be so common even beyond the $200 price point.

 

[mikeyinstant]

What do you think? Had any experience with Active PFC PSU with none pure sine wave UPS? Thanks

All three of my LCDs have APFC and my PC as well. Never had any issues with any of them using "stepped approximation" UPS.

I have a first-gen Antec EarthWatt PSU in my PC, the ones made by Delta which allegedly had issues with approximation UPS, and it worked perfectly fine with the two stepped approximation UPS I have used it with.

If approximation UPS posed a significant compatibility issue with typical business and consumer electronic equipment, they wouldn't be so common even beyond the $200 price point.

Thanks for your help with this one. Really great. I have been so unsure if the normal consumer UPS´will do the job because the price is cut in half or more where i can get them from here in Colombia.