What size UPS do I need?

**BOB IROC** · February 4th, 2010, 01:00 PM

I have looked but really cannot find anything that can help me decide on what size UPS I need for my new computer I am gonna build. I was hoping to find some sort of configurator that could help me so I thought I would ask you all.

Here is my parts list and I think the Power Supply Draw is the most important (I would think)

Antec 850W PSU
AMD Phenom X4 965 125W Processor
The rest of the computer is pretty much standard with 8GB ram and will have 3 - 4 hard drives in there. I have 2 19" LCDs and a printer, Router, DSL Modem I would like to protect too from an outage. Let me know if you think you need more than that.

I think a 450 - 600VA UPS will do and I currently have a 300VA one but it is like 9 years old and the battery is shot so I figure I should replace it. This PSU is about 400W more than my old one and think the computer will have more of a power draw. I liked the automatic shutdown of the computer feature so I definitely want that again and probably would stick to APC or Tripplite as my first choices. I do not want to get one that too small but I do not want to spend a whole lot of money on a bigger one than I need.

Thanks in advance.

**Matridom** · February 4th, 2010, 01:10 PM

my recommendation would be to take the guess work out of it. IF you have a UPS that can connect to the PC via usb, could you not just look at powerchute and see what the current draw is then purchase an appropriate UPS?

**BOB IROC** · February 4th, 2010, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Matridom

my recommendation would be to take the guess work out of it. IF you have a UPS that can connect to the PC via usb, could you not just look at powerchute and see what the current draw is then purchase an appropriate UPS?

Well I have not built the PC yet or even ordered the parts so I was hoping to get it all at the same time. I guess I can see if I can install the APC software on my new computer after I build it and see the information it puts out on the power consumption. Then run out and buy one retail but online they are much cheaper and I hate running a computer with no UPS because I leave mine on all the time.

**CCT** · February 4th, 2010, 04:19 PM

What does the APC calculator say?

http://www.apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=13&subid=5

**BOB IROC** · February 4th, 2010, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by CCT

What does the APC calculator say?

http://www.apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=13&subid=5

Nifty...must have missed that when I was browsing APC's site. Thanks. I punched in the closest specs I could and it recommended a 600 - 750VA Model. Thanks again.

**CCT** · February 4th, 2010, 04:44 PM

For what it's worth - I have my computer with 2xWD 10K raptors and a 256 MB (no extra power connection) nVidia card and a single cd/dvd, my monitor (22" LCD), 4 sticks 512 MB DDR, onboard ethernet and my router all on mine at 189 watts.

It's the cold boot/spinup energy that makes psu's so intolerant. SO, don't ever boot up with JUST the UPS unless you get a BIG ONE!

My advice anyway.

**CeeBee** · February 4th, 2010, 05:33 PM

I'd go for a 900VA min. Yes 600VA may do it, but you want to have more than 2 minutes to shut down (unless you decide to hybernate on power loss).
Plus a 900VA unit has bigger batteries that will last longer (even when their capacity drops to 50% they will be able to hold the load).
Don't forget, a 600VA unit will only provide some 350W max...

**BOB IROC** · February 5th, 2010, 06:22 PM

Decided to go with a APC 750VA model. Most only gave a couple minutes of battery time when on a full load but I do utilize the shutdown software as my computer is always on. I appreciate all the advice as I like to protect my equipment and I attribute the fact that I do this to why I have very little trouble with my computer's hardware. I also recommend a UPS to anyone that has a computer. Unstable power and random power loss can and usually does lead to early deaths of computers or at least the internal components.

I chose the 750VA because it was only slightly more than a 600VA model but the 900VA models I saw were a tad bit too expensive and I think are bigger than I need to be honest.

**slgrieb** · February 6th, 2010, 12:17 PM

UPS pricing currently seems on the high side, while at the same time, I think manufacturer recommendations for power are too low. Personally, I'd choose a 900 or even a 1200VA unit for your system. Virtually all systems seem to run for less time than the manufacturer's projections.

**BOB IROC** · February 7th, 2010, 02:32 PM

Well I ended up going with an APC model BX1300G which is a 1300VA/780W Model. Bestbuy online at it on sale for $144 and using Bing Cashback I got another 20% off of that and since it wasn't an online only price I picked it up in store right after I purchased it. So in total I got it for about $116 and the retail price was $169

Thanks again for all the help and advice.