UPS Help

[Eddyyz]

Hey guys, 

Not sure if this is in the correct sub-section (please can a mod move the post to the correct sub-section if it isn't).

I am looking at buying a UPS but have no idea where to start looking or what to look for exactly. I live in an area where we have power cuts, so the UPS is here to prevent these power cuts from damaging my hardware as well as to give me a few minutes to save my work.

The two main features I am looking for is a quality UPS that will last me about 15 minutes. 

In the URL below is a local store that I can order the UPS from, please could some one recommend me a UPS, I don't mind going slightly overkill as I don't want to have to get another UPS in the future.
http://www.rebeltech.co.za/192-ups

My PC Specs
MSI X79A-GD65 (8D)
16GB ~ RAM
780Ti SLI
Corsair H110
i7 3930k
2 x SSD's // 3 x 7200RPM HDD's
3 x 1080p monitors
AX1200i PSU

Cheers 
eddyyz

[Icefire555]

Hey guys, 

Not sure if this is in the correct sub-section (please can a mod move the post to the correct sub-section if it isn't).

I am looking at buying a UPS but have no idea where to start looking or what to look for exactly. I live in an area where we have power cuts, so the UPS is here to prevent these power cuts from damaging my hardware as well as to give me a few minutes to save my work.

The two main features I am looking for is a quality UPS that will last me about 15 minutes. 

In the URL below is a local store that I can order the UPS from, please could some one recommend me a UPS, I don't mind going slightly overkill as I don't want to have to get another UPS in the future.

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/192-ups

My PC Specs

MSI X79A-GD65 (8D)

16GB ~ RAM

780Ti SLI

Corsair H110

i7 3930k

2 x SSD's // 3 x 7200RPM HDD's

3 x 1080p monitors

AX1200i PSU

Cheers 

eddyyz

The total stored power in a UPS is measured in VA.

Each battery also has a max output in watts that it can put out [safely]. 

For a computer that uses 400 watts you may want a battery with 1200+ VAs. (Did not calculate your power, just a very very rough estimate.)

Also there are active and passive UPSs.

Passive constantly run on battery and charge the battery at the same time.

Active power on when the power is cut to the unit. However there is a tiny amount of time where your computer will not be getting any power. During this time your power supply will have to have enough charge in it left to keep the system going. (Your PSU is huge so that is not an issue)

Also, I suggest only using your main monitor on battery backup. the more on the battery the less time you will have.

 

Cheap but solid UPS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102048

[Eddyyz]

The total stored power in a UPS is measured in VA.

Each battery also has a max output in watts that it can put out [safely]. 

For a computer that uses 400 watts you may want a battery with 1200+ VAs. (Did not calculate your power, just a very very rough estimate.)

Also there are active and passive UPSs.

Passive constantly run on battery and charge the battery at the same time.

Active power on when the power is cut to the unit. However there is a tiny amount of time where your computer will not be getting any power. During this time your power supply will have to have enough charge in it left to keep the system going. (Your PSU is huge so that is not an issue)

Also, I suggest only using your main monitor on battery backup. the more on the battery the less time you will have.

 

Cheap but solid UPS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102048

Cool thanks for the info! 

Having done a PSU calculator thingy - the minimum wattage it recommends is 700watts, this is for the recommended PSU so does this translate into a UPS that I should be looking for?

Passive - Sounds better although, would this wear out the batteries overtime seeing as I will constantly be using them?

Active - This does sound better. I think an active UPS would be the road to take.

I've been told that having more batteries in the UPS is better as it would put less load on a single battery. Is this true?

Unfortunately I cannot order from newegg it has to be from either stores below, if possible could you link me to a specific UPS that you would recommend?

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/192-ups

http://www.wootware.co.za/computer-hardware/ups-power-protection/ups.html

Thanks for your help!

[Icefire555]

Cool thanks for the info! 

Having done a PSU calculator thingy - the minimum wattage it recommends is 700watts, this is for the recommended PSU so does this translate into a UPS that I should be looking for?

Passive - Sounds better although, would this wear out the batteries overtime seeing as I will constantly be using them?

Active - This does sound better. I think an active UPS would be the road to take.

I've been told that having more batteries in the UPS is better as it would put less load on a single battery. Is this true?

Unfortunately I cannot order from newegg it has to be from either stores below, if possible could you link me to a specific UPS that you would recommend?

http://www.rebeltech.co.za/192-ups

http://www.wootware.co.za/computer-hardware/ups-power-protection/ups.html

Thanks for your help!

Passive is better. But batteries die and have to be replaced often. (Its much more for valuable servers that cannot have downtime)

Mine suggests 669 Watts. Although using a KillAWatt monitor it actually uses like 350 normally under load.

Also never daisy-chain UPS batteries. its dangerous. Using multiple that are NOT connected UPS to UPS is fine. and works well for extra power. But UPS to UPS can be a huge danger (Something about sine wave power output interference.. or something).

If you want a UPS with multiple batteries. They are made and designed to be able to use multiple batteries on one base unit. 

For example UPS -> monitors and UPS2 -> Computer would work great. 

Also I don't know what that currency is... so I really don't know what is a good price or not.

Just try to get the most VA to money. And look for trusted brands online (I think APC is good, and CyberPower). 

[Eddyyz]

Passive is better. But batteries die and have to be replaced often. (Its much more for valuable servers that cannot have downtime)

Mine suggests 669 Watts. Although using a KillAWatt monitor it actually uses like 350 normally under load.

Also never daisy-chain UPS batteries. its dangerous. Using multiple that are NOT connected UPS to UPS is fine. and works well for extra power. But UPS to UPS can be a huge danger (Something about sine wave power output interference.. or something).

If you want a UPS with multiple batteries. They are made and designed to be able to use multiple batteries on one base unit. 

For example UPS -> monitors and UPS2 -> Computer would work great. 

Also I don't know what that currency is... so I really don't know what is a good price or not.

Just try to get the most VA to money. And look for trusted brands online (I think APC is good, and CyberPower). 

So you would suggest an Active UPS over a Passive UPS for my situation/hardware?

For the PSU calculator, I added in some other parts that I didn't mention originally (fans, fan controller etc) so that's why there is a slight difference. 

I've got a few opinions from other forums and they say that due to me having quite high end parts I will need quite a monster of a UPS to power it all. 

So having looked that the local website (URL below) is a UPS that I have found, what are your thoughts on this?

http://www.wootware.co.za/apc-smc1500i-smart-ups-c-1500va-900w-ups.html

My currency is Rands (ZAR - South Africa) so basically to convert it into US dollars you divide the price by 11.11. 

So the UPS above costs roughly $550.00