Need power UPS recommendations.

Nexblitzer · May 3, 2023

I need some brand/model specific UPS protection recommendations for using a couple of computer monitors, that sort of thing. Specific features I should be aware of also when considering buying a UPS would also be good to know. (Idk if there any super niche thing that would be good to have)
A musts though; Has to have multiple Power outputs in the AU plug form factor *or be adaptable if possible without to much additional cost*

Other then that. Not sure what else I would/need to have. Considering I'll be buying two, one for high wattage C usage and the other for monitors and shit. That's about it.

baronvonsatchel · May 3, 2023

Unless the PC and monitors are in different rooms Linus-style, just get one bigger UPS for your whole setup. Splitting it up is a waste of money and desk space. Any UPS you buy will also have "surge only" ports you can connect less important devices to, so they won't hog battery power that could be used for the PC.

In the US the respectable brands I know of are APC, Eaton, and CyberPower. Not sure if any of those are available in Aus, but stay away from Scamazon brands with nonsense names and no customer support network. Also make sure it has a USB port to inform your computer when the battery is low and shut down automatically, even when you're not around. I've only seen very small, low powered ones without this feature, but it's something to double check.

When picking a model, UPS are sold by a VA number which is higher than the actual maximum wattage they can put out, I guess because "big number better" to our monkey brains. Figure out how much power your setup will take in a worst case scenario (for a back of the envelope calculation, take the wattage of your PSU). Add another 200-300 watts for peripherals, and to have a bit of a safety margin. Then multiply THAT number by 1.5X, and shop for a UPS with a VA rating at least that much.

For example:

Spoiler

My whole setup pulls about 600W while gaming, add 200W for safety and multiply by 1.5 to get 1200VA. That's right in between the 900 and 1500VA options that were available at my local computer store, so I went with the bigger one to be extra safe. If the power dies while gaming, I get 15ish minutes to find a stopping point. If my PC is idle it's more like 45.