UPS?

GoogalyMoogaly

GoogalyMoogaly

GoogalyMoogaly

Soldato
Joined
29 Aug 2010
Posts
8,609
Location
Cornwall
Can anyone recommend a decent and reasonably cheap UPS?

I'm looking to buy some new kit and was thinking one of these might be handy.

Are they worth it or should I just get a decent surge protector?

Thanks.
 
Depends what you're doing with the PC really. Would be overkill for general office / gaming needs. If it's a server or a workstation then it could be a good idea.
 
Back in my home country every house has a UPS, not sure which one though. They last for days after power outage :)
 
I'd like to keep it under £100 if I could.

It'll only be a gaming PC, but I'm hoping the hardware will be...

SB-e i7 3930K
Asus Rampage IV Extreme
16GB Corsair Vengence
2 x 4GB KFA2 680s
Asus Xonar D2X
2 x Crucial M4s
2 x Samsung F3s
Blu-Ray
DVD-RW
Corsair AX1200

So I was just wanting something to offer a little added protection against surges, spikes, etc.
Also, if it gives me a minute or 2 to shut down cleanly in the event of a power outage that'd ben ice too. I always worry about being in the middle of a BIOS or Firmware update.
 
GoogalyMoogaly said:
So I was just wanting something to offer a little added protection against surges, spikes, etc.
Click to expand...
View its spec numbers. The relay that connects your computer directly to AC power points does not even claim to do protection.

Or you could view its spec numbers. Any recommendation with numbers is best called bogus. What are protection numbers for the UPS you were considering?

A UPS has one function. To provide temporary and 'dirty' power during a blackout. Power so 'dirty' that is can even harm some electric motors or power strip protectors. Due to superior protection already inside every computer, that 'dirty' power is also called ideal power.

So, and with numbers. What do you want to protect? A UPS is temporary and 'dirtiest' power during a blackout. To save unsaved data. To recommend it for hardware protection means others who never post even one spec number. Recommendations best labeled rubbish. A useful recommendation will even cite a manufacturer's spec number.
 
I've never needed a UPS for my computer before. I can't remember the last time the electricity went out, but I do remember some power dips recently, thanks to the bad weather.
 
deadite66 said:
westrom you get what you pay for, you can get pure sine wave UPS if you're willing to pay extra.
Click to expand...
Why would anyone pay £600 plus for a pure sine wave UPS? "Due to superior protection already inside every computer, that 'dirty' power is also called ideal power."
 
GoogalyMoogaly said:
I'd like to keep it under £100 if I could.

It'll only be a gaming PC, but I'm hoping the hardware will be...

SB-e i7 3930K
Asus Rampage IV Extreme
16GB Corsair Vengence
2 x 4GB KFA2 680s
Asus Xonar D2X
2 x Crucial M4s
2 x Samsung F3s
Blu-Ray
DVD-RW
Corsair AX1200

So I was just wanting something to offer a little added protection against surges, spikes, etc.
Also, if it gives me a minute or 2 to shut down cleanly in the event of a power outage that'd ben ice too. I always worry about being in the middle of a BIOS or Firmware update.
Click to expand...

You have a 1200 watt PS but no mention of a gfx card? That can be the biggest power user in the system.

I have a home server running from a 700VA UPS. It has 7 hard drives, an Athlon quad cpu and not much else, the UPS runs at about 30% capacity. Mine was bought second hand. The original set of batteries were dead, and the replacements only lasted about 2 years.

A modern UPS has a USB port for connection to your PC so if power fails the OS can do a controlled shut-down. Useful for a Server that runs without any user present, but overkill really for a workstation.

If you live out in the wilds with overhead power lines, frequent power cuts can be a problem. In a city they are really very rare events, and not something I would worry about.

Do you really update the bios that often?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom