• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

UPS or Surge Protector Advice

S

Sphere

2[H]4U
2FA
Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
2,389
Hello everyone,

I'm thinking it's about time to invest in one or the other. My budget is sitting around $50, and I know that's not much, but I'd like to have the piece of mind that I'm doing something other than plugging directly into the wall outlet(yes, I do have a surge protector).

Since funds are somewhat limited, I'm sure a UPS is out of the question, so I'd like your opinions on a good surge protector for the cash I have to play with.

Thank you,

Sphere
 
The only way you might get a decent UPS with $50 is on Ebay, but even then, shipping cost will bring you over that unless it's something you pick up locally. I recommend you save up for a Liebert GXT2 on Ebay. You can find them for ~$100 on there sometimes.
 
I pick up used APC Smart-UPS's for a couple bucks a peice, spend $50 on a new battery pack and I have a $750 UPS that only costs $55 :)
 
Thanks everyone for the input, and espically for the links.

I'll let you know what I get.

Sphere
 
Spectre/Wee,

According to my math, there is no way on gods green earth either of those products will power my rig and a 19" monitor if the power went off. If I'm wrong, I'll stand and be corrected.

Sphere
 
I would think you wouldn't be gaming if it was raining/T-storming outside. If anything, power-outages happen when you are at desktop, i.e. idle (papers/presentations/programming)

In that case, your power requirements are far lower.

Secondly...your LCD is nowhere near as important as your data. LCDs are replaceable. Data is not.
 
Sphere said:
Spectre/Wee,

According to my math, there is no way on gods green earth either of those products will power my rig and a 19" monitor if the power went off. If I'm wrong, I'll stand and be corrected.

Sphere
Click to expand...

At 50 dollars you aren't going to get a a UPS of any quality that will let you run a system for a ny extended period of time and really on the dektop level that isn't the point. The point is to protect the system and to give you time to shut down.
 
Spectre,

You are correct that I won't get anything for a ups for $50, that's why I put in my initial post that I'm looking at a decent surge protector.I think I purchased one that should do the trick. If not, let me know that as well, I can always send it back.

Sphere
 
Sphere said:
Spectre,

You are correct that I won't get anything for a ups for $50, that's why I put in my initial post that I'm looking at a decent surge protector.I think I purchased one that should do the trick. If not, let me know that as well, I can always send it back.

Sphere
Click to expand...

If you just want a surge protector you want a non-mov based one:

http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1028255881&postcount=4

The itme I linked would have gotten you a UPS with AVR which would have done you better than the one picked even if just for power conditioning. During the course you kind of moved the goal posts by going to something that will hopefully give you up time at the expense of good clean power regulation.
 
Cheap UPS's are great for smoothign out brief flickers. I bought a cheap one withotu knowing it could not support my system under load, but it is still very useful for server backup, and can support my system idle for 5 sih minutes. If you run you computer 24/7, invest in one, you will not regret it.
 
Cancelled that order. I'm trying to understand and get this right. Even though I would be purchasing a ups that could not sustain my system with a power outage, it would still be much better for the line conditioning aspect. Now, just make sure it is equipped with AVR, that should be all I need correct?

Spectre, I am looking at that ups you have linked, if it's still there next paycheck, then that's the one I will get.

Also, what should I be looking for with the joule rating?

Sphere
 
Yes AVR is your primary concern when looking for a UPS. If the one I linked above isn't around when you get to it I can help you look for another unit.
 
AVR isn't your only concern. Consider the following from http://powerelectronics.com/mag/power_power_supply_system/index.html -- I haven't tested this, have only read about it, so take it with a grain of salt.

The switchmode supply within the host system consumes its current in high amplitude pulses, and as a result overloads the UPS, distorts its output and degrades in performance. This isn't the case if the SMPS has power factor correction (PFC); and in the United States most SMPS don't have PFC.

...

Manufacturers specify UPS capacity in volt-amperes, and set the UPS current limit with resistive loading. This affects the user in two ways: first, the actual power (in watts) that the online UPS can deliver is 75% to 80% of its VA rating. Second, the UPS cannot support a nonlinear load like a SMPS to full power capacity. In fact, it can support an SMPS only rated to 30% to 40% of its capacity. A 1kVA online UPS will only be suitable for backing up a system energized by a 300W to 400W (non-PFC) switchmode power supply. Attempts to draw higher power by the SMPS will severely distort the output of the UPS and may result in shutdown. Some UPSs support nonlinear loads to various degrees, but the above rule is safe to use as a guideline.
Click to expand...

In short, if you don't have a PSU with Power Factor Correction, you'll be putting a strain on the UPS unless you get one with adequate power (1kVA for 300-400W PSU as stated in the quote).
 
iJeff said:
AVR isn't your only concern. Consider the following from http://powerelectronics.com/mag/power_power_supply_system/index.html -- I haven't tested this, have only read about it, so take it with a grain of salt.



In short, if you don't have a PSU with Power Factor Correction, you'll be putting a strain on the UPS unless you get one with adequate power (1kVA for 300-400W PSU as stated in the quote).
Click to expand...

While true that active pfc is important for proper implementation of a UPS the power regulation provided by a UPS with AVR is more important when the primary goal is power regulation. But yes your point does have merit.
 
Interesting point, just checked to see if my psu had "pfc" and I couldn't find any literature saying it was.
 
Sphere said:
Interesting point, just checked to see if my psu had "pfc" and I couldn't find any literature saying it was.
Click to expand...

Most here in the states dont have it, its more common in europe so its probably unlikely yours has it. Mine dont, and I havent noticed any big loss in the backup time of my ups's.
 
Well, the time is here to have another crack at buying either a ups or surge protector....Spectre, I'm ready if you are.

Sphere
 
Sphere said:
Well, the time is here to have another crack at buying either a ups or surge protector....Spectre, I'm ready if you are.

Sphere
Click to expand...

OK are we still looking at around 50?
 
Sphere said:
Yes, $50 bones.
Click to expand...

Ok. So I spent last night looking around and I couldn't find any series mode surge protectors that would fit that budget (I was just assuming we were working with the same at the time). So for power conditioning I think your best bet is still going to be a UPS with AVR and the slight battery backup available with a UPS that will fit the budget is going to just be a bonus. That being said the Tripp Lite I linked earlier is still available. There are also the Opti-UPS ES550C which can usually be found around 50,Belkin F6C-550AVR for around there, powercom BLACK KNIGHT PRO BNT-800A. Most of those aren't going to be true sine wave but at the price point they are going to be very few if any that do produce a true sine. I think that TrippLite is still your best bet.
 
Thanks Spectre for hanging out with me on this one, appreciate it.

Sphere
 
This model works well with a very reasonable price: http://cgi.ebay.com/APC-Back-UPS-Pr...ryZ99265QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I just bought one and there are 3 left as of now. I use another one with a nF4 SLI system which contains an Opteron 146 @ 2800 MHz, 2 x Hitachi 80 gig drives Raid 0, 2 x 7800GT's, Antec SP2-500. With 410 watts of output power, it works problem free.

I do not use a UPS for backup and use them only for the AVR. Th APC Pro models have AVR. The 650 Pro replacement batteries are cheap too, about 20 bucks shipped on ebay.

Great UPS at a great price, get em before they're gone......

m :)
 
As an eBay Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
That is not a bad price (though that reconditioned unit isn't going to have manufatcurer support I don't believe) and comperable to the tripplite.....if you are comfortable with ebay.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top