UPS Backup watts/VA needed?

[pavel]

I need a battery back-ups for my new build. I had an old APC - that (I believe) died. I no longer have it. It was an 850VA unit - I'm not sure that's enough this time.

When I completed the 'system build' on pcpartpicker - it estimated 518w. I'll be using my 4K TV for the display - apparently, that's another 100 watts? So, would a 1000VA/600 watts not be enough? Those are the ones I've been looking at - assuming I wouldn't ever get to the 500 watts with this system? But, apparently, the Nvidia RTX 30x0 series spikes occasionally - so I should account for that, too? But, I should provide the parts to get a good idea of what I need?:
* 12700K
* Z690 motherboard
* 2x32gb DDR4 3200mhz
* Corsair Rm850x PSU
* 5 x 140mm fans (estimated)
* 2 x M.2 1Tb nvme pcie ssds

Apparently, this uses 518 watts. The 4K TV apparently consumes 100 watts or so?

 

[Darunion]

Idle wattage is lower, you only need it to be able to weather a short power drop or to give you the time to shutdown/auto shutdown (preferred).

 

[Zepher]

you want a bit of headroom, I'd opt for a 1300-1500va unit.
I use a pair of APC 1300's myself.

 

[pavel]

Idle wattage is lower, you only need it to be able to weather a short power drop or to give you the time to shutdown/auto shutdown (preferred).

you want a bit of headroom, I'd opt for a 1300-1500va unit.
I use a pair of APC 1300's myself.

Darunion , okay, but then what wattage of UPS Backup is sufficient for my hardware?

zeher, the problem with that - is they are expensive* (notice the *) - if I want a pure sine wave unit - the 1500VA ones are over $200 - well over.
I can find refurbished 1500VA units under $200 - but, they will be the simulated/step variety - so, again, we're at the debate again - is that okay to use for a modern pc build (with PFC PSU)?

 

[Darunion]

https://www.apc.com/shop/us/en/tools/ups_selector/

Alternatively you can use their tool to find what you want

Myself for your setup i wouldnt use anything less than 1500VA, even so you are looking at minutes of runtime at full load. Beyond that you need backup power generation.

Also bear in mind you need to replace the batteries every few years as well. They have short life spans.

 

[Zepher]

Darunion , okay, but then what wattage of UPS Backup is sufficient for my hardware?

zeher, the problem with that - is they are expensive* (notice the *) - if I want a pure sine wave unit - the 1500VA ones are over $200 - well over.
I can find refurbished 1500VA units under $200 - but, they will be the simulated/step variety - so, again, we're at the debate again - is that okay to use for a modern pc build (with PFC PSU)?

I've been using the simulated sine wave on my machines for years now with no issues. I have used a variety of EVGA and Corsair PSU's.
I have 4 UPS's I run, this one, https://www.amazon.com/APC-Battery-...0&qid=1650913652&sprefix=br1300,aps,70&sr=8-1
a pair of the 1300 models and a Cyberpower 1500va.

 

[arnemetis]

Just get a 1500va and stop thinking about it. If you run care minimum and the system is spiking from a CPU or GPU load, it will straight turn off. You don't need pure sinewave, no one does. It's a lie the ups companies pay to get more money. The reason it sometimes matters, is the pure sinewave models also switch over a bit faster. If your psu is crap (has undersized caps) the system will shut down instead of switching over to battery power. A lot of active pfc power supplies are crap and used bottom of the barrel components.

The gf's PC has a Corsair rm850, which is a slight downgrade from your rm850x, you have better caps. Her PC has a 5800x, a 3090 Fe, and an msi 3060 ti. While mining (using like 550w at the ups including screen) I pulled the plug and everything kept going. The ups is an apc back-ups xs 1500m, a stepped sinewave model like all my others. I usually get cyberpower but this one was in sale for her PC.

 

[pavel]

These are all around $200 or so. I found an Eaton 1500w - supposedly it's pure sine wave - even though I wasn't looking for that. Are they any good? With taxes/shipping - it's in the same ball park as the APC and Cyberpower. I guess any of these are good. I was planning on buying batteries for something else - and now I need another $200 - ugh. :-/

Thanks for the replies, guys.

 

[arnemetis]

These are all around $200 or so. I found an Eaton 1500w - supposedly it's pure sine wave - even though I wasn't looking for that. Are they any good? With taxes/shipping - it's in the same ball park as the APC and Cyberpower. I guess any of these are good. I was planning on buying batteries for something else - and now I need another $200 - ugh. :-/

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Dunno about Eaton, that's usually server grade stuff so you're dealing with 240v or perhaps super loud fans, have a link?

Here you go, $149 before tax and free shipping, APC 1500 like my gf's pc has https://www.newegg.com/apc-bx1500m-5-x-nema-5-15r-5-x-nema-5-15r/p/42-301-561?Item=42-301-561

 

[pavel]

Dunno about Eaton, that's usually server grade stuff so you're dealing with 240v or perhaps super loud fans, have a link?

Here you go, $149 before tax and free shipping, APC 1500 like my gf's pc has https://www.newegg.com/apc-bx1500m-5-x-nema-5-15r-5-x-nema-5-15r/p/42-301-561?Item=42-301-561

This one:
https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/skuPage.5S1500LCD.specifications.html
https://www.newegg.ca/eaton-5s1500l...on ups&cm_re=eaton_ups-_-42-302-728-_-Product

I have to buy from a Canadian vendor - I found refurbished units so the price would be half that.
That same APC is sold by them - same price. The only negative I see is the shipping is really expensive. Still a bit cheaper than newegg or amazon, though.

 

[arnemetis]

This one:
https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/skuPage.5S1500LCD.specifications.html
https://www.newegg.ca/eaton-5s1500l...on ups&cm_re=eaton_ups-_-42-302-728-_-Product

I have to buy from a Canadian vendor - I found refurbished units so the price would be half that.
That same APC is sold by them - same price. The only negative I see is the shipping is really expensive. Still a bit cheaper than newegg or amazon, though.

I can't speak to Canada prices, but that Eaton unit looks fine. Be aware that a refurbished unit may have batteries that are near their end of life, you need to replace them every three to five years, so that might bite you. Check out what replacement batteries will run you on that unit, I know for apc and cyberpower there are a lot of options.