Gaming PC+Projector/Sound system ... single UPS or UPS+Surge Protector?

[Cyber Akuma]

My cousin is building a gaming PC, and instead of a monitor, he is going to be connecting it to a projector and 7.1 sound system.

We are going to get a UPS for the PC no doubt, but I have no idea how much power a projector and sound system (especially one with some very high end subwoofers) would take, and if it would be best to use the UPS just for the PC and a Surge Protector for the projector/sound system, or a single UPS would be adequate for both.

Or should a surge protector just be used for the sound system and a UPS for the PC+Projector since without the projector you can't see anything even if the PC is still running? By my estimates, the PC should pull between 400-500 watts, and the projector is a BenQ W1070 (I think that's about 350 or so watts on normal usage).

It's only going to be the PC (And projector if on the UPS) that will be on battery power, the rest will just be surge protected, since it's not like you need sound to work to use the system on emergency power. The sound system will not be on battery backup.

Also, if a UPS is rated for say... 1000 watts, does that mean just for the battery backup portion, or all devices connected to it whether they are battery backed up or no can't exceed 1000 watts total?

 

[FnordMan]

Any wattage rating on a UPS is the rating the inverter can handle. aka: The sum total of wattage you can plug into the battery outlets. The surge protected outlets are effectively passthrough from the wall through the surge circuit.

As to putting what on where I wouldn't suggest putting the sound system on a UPS at all, the UPS won't like the kind of load those things draw. The projector is up to you but that'll drive up the cost of the UPS a LOT if you need one that's 1000 watts. (note: Watts != Volt Amps, DON'T just get a 1000VA unit and call it done, those can typically only handle ~500-600 Watts) With the UPS monitoring software installed the computer will be shut down whenever it's on battery too long.

 

[Cyber Akuma]

Ok, so the wattage rating only applies to the battery backed up ports then?

So then would it be ok to put the sound system on just the surge suppressed ports of the UPS, not the battery backed up ports? Or could there be some interference from the constant power draw of the receiver and/or subwoofers? (That's what a surge suppressor is supposed to prevent isn't it?) Should I just use a separate surge protector for the sound system?

 

[FnordMan]

Ok, so the wattage rating only applies to the battery backed up ports then?

So then would it be ok to put the sound system on just the surge suppressed ports of the UPS, not the battery backed up ports? Or could there be some interference from the constant power draw of the receiver and/or subwoofers? (That's what a surge suppressor is supposed to prevent isn't it?) Should I just use a separate surge protector for the sound system?

Yup, you'll be fine with the sound on the surge ports.