UPS: 750VA enough for my setup?

[ArmchairAthlete]

Updates are in posts below, system drawing 170-200 watts with 30min battery time on the APC BX900R.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16842101002

The price on these things really seems to spike if you go higher.

My setup isn't too crazy. 450W PSU powering an A7N8X Mobo, two HDDs, two optical drives, 6800GT video card... that's about it. Also my 19" LCD would be nice to plug in if I could.

I don't think I can really safely test it with a voltmeter, don't really want to.

 

[JustaGeek]

More than enough...

But you might be able to buy it cheaper locally... CompUSA, Office Depot, Staples, perhaps with a Mail-in rebate...

 

[JustaGeek]

Check these out...

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd...+ups&searchSection=All

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete
UPS: 750VA enough for my setup?

What do you want the UPS to do for you... run during total outage... keep incoming power "clean"... protect during voltage surge?

One reason the Back-UPS ES line is cheaper is that it doesn't feature "Automatic Voltage Regulation" (AVR).
It's more or less a dumb power brick. :roll:

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete
UPS: 750VA enough for my setup?

What do you want the UPS to do for you... run during total outage... keep incoming power "clean"... protect during voltage surge?

One reason the Back-UPS ES line is cheaper is that it doesn't feature "Automatic Voltage Regulation" (AVR).
It's more or less a dumb power brick. :roll:

The power service at my house has a tendency to "flicker" causing my desktop(/webserver/svn server/etc) to turn off without any UPS. Basically, all utilities in Atlanta are pretty crappy.

I'm less concerned with being able to use it during any real outage, I've only had one of those happen in the couple years I've been here. 10 mins to close out of whatever I'm doing is probably fine. I have my laptop to go for longer.

 

[JustaGeek]

Get this one from Circuit City - I have a similar one from the same XS series, and it has the AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator)

Not much more expensive than your Newegg idea, and a much better unit overall.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...uctDetail.do#prodspecs

Good luck!

 

[dclive]

I have a Belkin 1500 VA unit (830W) powering the following:
- Quad-core 2.4 ghz CPU with 2 500GB drives, nVidia 6200, eSATA card, a few USB gizmos
- External 4 x 500GB drive enclosure
- AMD XP 2.3 ghz MCE2005 box with 2 PCI tuners, 1 USB tuner, 1 x 300GB, 1 x 500GB HDD, ATI 800XT PE
- 20" Dell LCD screen

It spikes at about 55% usage load when I have the quad core box busy... otherwise it's around 40-45% load. It runs for around 10-15 minutes if I unplug things. It was $70 or so after rebate with a recent deal from Fry's.

 

[BattleRattle]

The Ultra ones at Tiger Direct are awesome... I got the 1500va for a steal... been performing awesomely through several situations

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Update: got the APC BX900R. The software with it claims I'm pulling a bit under 170 Watts idle, 190s when I push my CPU to 100%. So I've got plenty of room to spare. Also says I have just under 30 mins on the battery.

Only the computer and LCD described in my original post are attached to the battery outlets.

I really wonder if my prior lack of a UPS and use of just a simple power strip combined with the power dips that happen every couple weeks at my house ended up being the cause of some killed hardware (mobo, video card) in the past.

Going to try running on battery only in a bit.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete
I really wonder if my prior lack of a UPS and use of just a simple power strip combined with the power dips that happen every couple weeks at my house ended up being the cause of some killed hardware (mobo, video card) in the past.

Going to try running on battery only in a bit.

Absolutely!

No computer should be running without a UPS unit, preferably with the AVR. Yours has the AVR, so you should be safe.

To the battery outlets you can still connect your router, modem, external Hard Drives, cordless telephone etc. but NOT the printers, scanners, faxes, and even (I believe) the speakers.

These should be connected to the Surge Protected outlets only.

BTW, you should be using the PowerChute 2.0 with XP, and they have the new one for Vista. Just register on their website, and you'll be able to download the latest version.

And run the Manual Test from within the Power Chute at least once a month. My battery went bad after 1.5 years, and APC sent me a free replacement (another reson to register!)

Good luck!

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

The router is in another room so unfortunately I can't connect it. During the power dips that have occurred the router typically comes back just fine on its own though.

Yea, the printer and speakers are hooked into the "surge protection only" outlets. I don't need them draining the battery even faster if there's a blackout.

It's PowerChute 2.0. Although, I kind of need the USB port and don't really want more stuff running in the background. The UPS will do its job without the software for the power dips that happen, although in a blackout I suppose having the software initiate a proper shutdown would be nice.

I ran the manual test. And then I ran the "pull the plug" test, both did fine. Cool gadget to have.

EDIT:

http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~g...ages/ups_load_idle.png

 

[JustaGeek]

Great!

For gaming, I just go to the Task Manager and "end" all the unnecessary tasks, including the Power Chute "apcsystray.exe". (you can only end the USER tasks except explorer.exe and taskmgr.exe. DO NOT end the SYSTEM, LOCAL or NETWORK tasks!)

Just make the links to the executable files in the Program Files directory - create a "shortcut", and then quickly re-enable the disabled tasks by clicking on the shortcuts.

I place them on the desktop for quick access, and that includes apcsystray, WinPatrol, SpySweeper etc.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Thanks for the help.

Hmm, I suppose killing some of those background processes would speed up games... probably only slightly.

It'd be too much work for me to do it manually even clicking shortcuts like you described. I'd probably make a little script or app that did it and that could easily have background apps added/removed. Although if I didn't need one of those background tasks to run while I game I may as well have the task not running during normal use.

 

[JustaGeek]

The script or an app is a great idea.

And killing these processes might not speed up games too much, but might reduce "stuttering" in games where a steady flow is important, like my NHL 08.

Good luck!