choosing a ups

Sebastian1914 · June 17, 2022

Hello everyone,

I decided to buy a ups, but I cant find how much watts my pc is using. every calculator I found online is showing me drasticly diffrent numbers. I would be very thankfull if someone can tell me how many watts in a ups I need for my pc.

my specs are:

i7-6700k

gtx 1070

16gb ddr4

2 ssd+ 1 hdd hard drive

ToboRobot · June 17, 2022

You can look up the specs and estimate for each part, or you can use a tool to measure how much of a load your system draws.

The old brand I know of is p3 International Kill A Watt, but I am sure there are others that can tell you exactly how much your system is using.

IPD · June 17, 2022

You're overthinking it. What is the rating of your PSU? Assume 80% efficient, so multiply the rated output by 1.2--which gives you a rough SWAG about the total draw the PSU requires. Then add the power draw for all other peripherals not running off the PSU (monitors, etc).

Add 10% overhead to the total figure as a margin of error. That will give you the wattage you need. Keep in mind that UPS's are listed in VA--which is not the same.

https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/products/backup-power-ups-surge-it-power-distribution/backup-power-ups/va-versus-watts--eaton.html

GuiltySpark_ · June 17, 2022

I've found that for the vast majority of users looking for a simple UPS for a single gaming desktop that'll allow them a graceful shutdown period in the event of a power outage, a basic APC/Cyberpower 1350-1500VA unit is sufficient.

I like this CyberPower unit for $220.

https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500PFCLCD-Sinewave-Outlets-Mini-Tower/dp/B00429N19W/

The VA rating involves some math but you don't have to be perfect, having too much capacity isn't bad. Hell i've used my UPS to keep my phone and other electronics topped up over a weekend with no power last year.