I have an APC Back-UPS Pro 1000, which has done me very well for years. Both a surge protector and a battery, so I have power even if electricity goes out. Problem is that at a max of 670W, I cannot power my new monster gaming rig.

I am trying to save money right now and am hoping not to drop $500 or so on a UPS that can power 1000W, which is what I'd need.

So, I'm thinking about just getting a good surge protector to plug my rig into (I have everything else plugged into my APC UPS). Thing is, if the electricity goes out, as sometimes happens during storms, I'm worried that sudden power down could harm my rig. And garden variety inexpenisve surge protectors seem useless- I've had some components and a monitor get fried about 10 years ago during a storm, even though my computer and monitor were both plugged into a surge protector.

So, two questions:

1) Should I just take the hit and buy a pricey UPS? After spending $2500 on my rig, not protecting it from getting zapped or otherwise messed up due to electricity loss or spikes is downright dumb. Mind you, I don't need to continue working of gaming if the electricity goes out- I just want time enough to shut the rig down normally instead of having it shut off suddenly.

2) If a UPS isn't necessary for what I describe above, what are the best surge protectors on the market (assuming they're considerably less than $500).

Thanks folks.

I was using APC for years. Replaced the battery once. The second time the battery died of old age, I got an up to date UPS.

I've been using this 810W (1350VA) Cyberpower for a couple years. Interfaces with my computer via USB and has a neat readout of how much power I'm using and how many minutes I have when the power goes out.

My system below is "good size". Cyberpower tells me how much power is being used with a neat Windows 7 gadget -- and a more detailed interface. Right now, I'm using 437W including my 3 monitors (which are also plugged into the UPS) -- have 8 minutes run time if the power goes out. Because it delivers 1350VA, I believe I'm good for a couple minutes no matter what -- allowing for a calm shutdown.

Cyberpower 1350 $130 Delivered

They make bigger ones.

P.S. For fun -- a screen capture of the Utility and the Gadget




P.P.S.

FWIW, someone might be interested in what PSU I use with my UPS. I updated my System info below to show a switch from my XFX 650W PSU to an OCZ 850W PSU. Switched because I got a very good price and I can always use the 650W for another build (build multiple computers per year) -- not because 650 wasn't enough. I made the switch a while back but forgot to update info below.

Would you think that will be enough to protect a 1200W PSU?

Get a UPS. I don't have that beefy of a system, so my APC XS-1300 UPS is only rated for 780W and 1300VA. However, my watt usage with my 700W PSU'd system and with 3 LCD monitors rarely goes over 530W. My UPS has a LCD readout for load watts and volts.

My advice would be to take the hit and get a good UPS.

1. UPS's have better surge protection than the garden variety surge protectors you find on the market.

2. More important IMO, with a UPS having a battery system, it can 'support' the voltage level being supplied to your computer, etc. during a brownout condition of the power from the power company. That's *really* a big deal.

Power (watts) = Voltage (volts) x Current (amps)

If your computer draws 1000 Watts, that's 8.33 amps at the nominal 120 volts AC provided by the power company. During a brownout condition, let's say the voltage level drops to 60 volts AC... you computer will draw 16.67 amps. Your quality power supply can probably handle that for some time, but why put that wear and tear on it?

Would you bungee jump with a bargain bin rope?

Get the UPS. Its better for you equipment, and you are not going to get a $2500 surprise if something happens to your powerline.
Only the PCs I don't care about in my house, are NOT plugged into a UPS. (I have 4 of them in the house, one on the Cable Modem and Vonage phones...)

Like Allen, I used APC for *years*, but they just did not seem to keep up so my choice these days is also CyberPower.

This one is on my beef gaming rig and also on my entertainment center - under $200 -
CyberPower 1500 Pure Sine Wave UPS


I strongly recommend a UPS over a surge protector.

WC

My PSU is 1200W, but I really doubt my rig will draw that much power. I bought more PSU than I needed for future proofing in case I ever went with 2, or even 3, power hungry GPU cards. I don't know how much power my rig uses at peak b/c my monitor is broken (distorted picture, making it difficult to read onscreen text)so I've hardly used my computer. New monitor arrived today though.

So, the Cyberpower UPS at the below link is 1125W. Even though this is 75W below my PSU's max capacity, is it likely that I am good using this UPS because it still provides more power than my rig is likely to use, even at peak gaming?

I wouldn't be plugging anything else into this Cyberpower UPS b/c I still have the APC one for all my other peripherals.

Thanks.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102120

PS- this reply at hardocp seems to address my question about whether or not I must match my UPS max to my PSU max:

"You dont need to match your computer power supply draw to your UPS draw. It wont actually draw 1000w at the wall, and if it does (it doesnt, lol), you should have a 2000w+ supply in the PC instead.

The idea is to avoid surges and annoying brownouts, and giving you enough time to shutdown if there is a major outage. I get a ton of brownouts in Miami, especially during the summer. You dont need to spend a ton, just something like this or this. I run my PC (in my sig), cable modem and wireless router off of one and nothing goes down in a brownout. It all draws ~300w at the plug when gaming. Those cyberpowers are pretty nice - they have an LCD that shows power draw all the time, and can shut down other plugs when a primary one draws below a certain threshold (like when you sleep your PC, it can turn off power to the monitor and speaker plugs).

I would figure out how many plugs you need to battery backup (pc, monitor, modem, router) and how many you just want to surge protect but dont mind losing in a brownout, match it to a model with the right number of plugs. Another nice thing about those, if the power input from the wall varies too much from standard voltage, it switches to battery until the draw evens out again, which usually lasts a few seconds."

FWIW, my system running Windows 7 desktop was around 420 to 440 with 3 monitors on. Today, I had occasion to switch off two monitors -- only running one monitor. That's giving me 220 with zero activity to 290 range with a couple desktop applications running. As noted in other posts, the computer itself draws about 620W maximum with the both the OC CPU at 100 percent and two OC GPU at 100 percent -- usually much less in a game. BTW, the PSU puts out LESS than what it draws in -- so I'm operating well within the capability of a 650W output PSU. (Cyberpower UPS)

I wonder why my APC Back-UPS Pro 1000 (685W) gets overloaded when only my rig, doing nothing more than idling in Windows, is plugged into it.

I ordered these, so I should be good to go:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00439KIF6/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
Conntek 1F515520 1-Foot 15-Amp to 20-Amp Power Adapter Cord NEMA 5-15P to 5-15/20R 1F515520


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007OF0ZO/ref=oh_o01_s01_i00_details
Cyberpower PP2200SW UPS - 2200VA/1500W PureSine AVR Boost/Buck 8-Outlet RJ11/RJ45 Tower EMI/RFI USB

I only run my System and Screen from my UPS, everything else is surge only,

so if the power goes out, i have time to save and safely shutdown.

Full load on my PC is 80% load on the UPS which is like 600watt.

FWIW, this thread got me looking at my UPS situation. I had only one in the house for my system. My wife's system had surge protection but no UPS. Her system might be more "mission critical" than mine these days. The ability to keep running another few minutes and get out a key email could be valuable to her.

So, I bought another Cyberpower. This time a CP1500PFCLCD. Its up and running on my system. Interestingly, it indicates about 35W higher idle power than the other unit -- don't know which is right. Always wondered how accurate cheap power meters were.

My wife gets my older Cyberpower 1350AVR (with only one HD5770 GPU and one monitor, her system draws much less power than mine).

That's the way to do an upgrade!
"My wife *really* needs new hardware so I'll give her mine and ..."



peppergomez, me thinks you will like your choice.

WC

i ordered a new one for my new pc and my brother is getting the hand me down,

Yes, that's normally how I sleep at night after splurging on my new stuff -- I give the old stuff to a family member

BTW, my wife's system (my "old" Phenom II X6 1090T at stock clock, HD5770, single 23" monitor) draws under 140W at idle (about 300W less than mine). She gets 38 minutes of backup from her "hand-me-down" UPS versus 9 minutes for me with my "new" UPS.

Thanks. I will when I can plug it into the wall. Got a converter plug in transit to me.

Its not just a surge that is the problem. Dips in power can screw-up a system too. Nobody should have a nice computer without a line-conditioning UPS. Those toy power strips aren't going to do the job.