Tech Talk => Hardware, Tweaking & Networking => Power Supplies => Topic started by: Redfish on April 30, 2009, 11:23:12 AM
Title: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Redfish on April 30, 2009, 11:23:12 AM
Ok, not I know there are peeps here with beefy systems.
My question is how do you know what VA rating to look for in a UPS to ensure enough juice gets to your system on demand?
For instance if you want to get a 650WATT PSU what is the VA you look for in a UPS? 900VA? 1000VA?? :ko:
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: W1nTry on April 30, 2009, 11:38:29 AM
Rule of thumb... bigger is always better XD.... you could have a 650W PSU and still not require a 4KVA UPS. It depends on the system draw. Also you have to factor in how many devices are feeding off the UPS. So you have Tower, Monitor maybe speakers (don't know why but i'm just saying), printer, etc). You also have to factor in UP time once the UPS kicks in (aka power goes). Take for instance I have my tower which has a 750W PSU I would consider my system mid range and I prolly draw no more than about 300Ws give or take. Then I have my Display connected (32" HD LCD) and that's about it. I have a 1200VA (I believe) UPS and when power goes I have about 5 minutes or more. Remember a UPS is not intended to keep you going until the power is restored (unless you're in the service provider environment which you're NOT). It's intended for you to wrap up what you're doing, save and properly shut down. Also to clean up the supply of power especially if you are in a area prone to brown outs or low voltage (the silent killer of hardware).
I said bigger the better as the larger it is, the more devices it will be able to power and the longer it will be able to do so. Keep in mind that a UPS has a shelf life meaning the battery will need replacing in as little as 2-3 years, 5 if you're lucky. And again the bigger it is the more money the battery will cost to replace. Just some stuff to consider meng.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Redfish on April 30, 2009, 11:44:19 AM
Ok kool. Yea I know it's just to have enough time to prevent a Ohhh Sh!T MAN!! moment lol.
So say my setup is a 750W PSU and only other things to be plugged into it is a 19 inch lcd monitor and some logitech X530 speakers, a 750VA UPS would do?
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Arcmanov on April 30, 2009, 11:56:03 AM
For a system with 700W PSU and up, with monitor and maybe speakers and communication equipment (router, hub, wi-fi), I'd say a 1000VA minimum would be the safest.
The APC ones are the best. They have software monitoring via USB, which will shut down your system very nicely after a set time on battery, or when the battery reaches a certain percentage.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: W1nTry on April 30, 2009, 11:57:36 AM
I would suggest NOT putting your speakers on it. Unnecessary. Most UPS systems have Voltage Regulated ONLY ports. Meaning no back up power. I suggest plugging in the speakers, printers, etc to the regulated ports and the Tower and LCD into the UPS ports. And yeah a 750VA should do. But why not go with a 1200VA XD?
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Crixx_Creww on April 30, 2009, 11:58:00 AM
like he said, it would depend on your power usage, check how much power yu use on load and on average then factor in the constant load of your monitor and you have a good idea what to look for.
Load would be different depending on what you have in your rig.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: W1nTry on April 30, 2009, 12:01:29 PM
I recommend Liebert as well. APC is very visible, but i've heard some of my peers say it's rubbish and they are some ppl that need CLEAN power for the equipment they use.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Berzerk on April 30, 2009, 12:01:53 PM
hoo dang
im using a 750w psu with an apc 550 w va.....hmmm that could explain some tings...
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Redfish on April 30, 2009, 12:04:09 PM
Hmmm ok. Yeah I only have the tower and monitor plugged in to the UPS backup battery plugs my bad for not explaning that.
Only other thing to plug in are the speakers on the normal surge protector plug and there is currently a free plug on my little crappy UPS.
I don't have to plug in a router or anything else into it, that's in another room in the house. So it would just have tower and monitor on the battery backup and the speakers to plug in on the normal surge protection and nothing else.
Why I don't go 1000VA or 1200VA?? cause I watching the funds meng, plus I am pretty sure there is nothing else I'll have to plug into it.
The tower would only have 1 dvd drive and at max 2 hard drives. So I should be good with a 750VA right?
Thanks for the input so far fellas but what about the FORZA brand of UPS??
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: W1nTry on April 30, 2009, 12:11:02 PM
Thanks for the input so far fellas but what about the FORZA brand of UPS??
That's a really good racing simulations on Xbox.... wait...we talking UPS here O_o..... never heard of em... and yeah 750VA should suffice.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Redfish on April 30, 2009, 12:14:34 PM
^lol ass, kool think I will get one of those then
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Kraeoss on April 30, 2009, 12:15:06 PM
ermm google is a friend who we constantly over look too eh... and just as viable as any of us lol.... http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine (http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine) psu calculator for power draw
*one day google will become skynet?*
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Redfish on April 30, 2009, 12:17:52 PM
*plays terminator music* :glasses9:
I'll be back, lunchtime in work :P
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: TriniXaeno on April 30, 2009, 09:44:27 PM
nice find kraeoss. A user will have to be a PC expert to use that tool though but nice find all the same.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Philosophical45 on April 30, 2009, 10:13:27 PM
i use a 1200va APC. i have a 750watt power supply but my system on average only uses around 250-300watts, during folding at least. I get around 20minutes of up time once current goes. Only things i have connected to the back up honestly is the monitor, tower and i believe the routers. But as the others said, just find one that suits your power usage, i would choose apc over forza though....
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: unforgiven on April 30, 2009, 10:47:39 PM
just askin something here what about the brand powercom? was planning on gettin one 1000VA http://www.powercom-usa.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID=17 (http://www.powercom-usa.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID=17)
any advice?
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: rassmatic on April 30, 2009, 10:51:38 PM
well i use an 850Watt PSU on 1000VA Forza UPS. I get about 30mins max of uptime during power outages. I have everything connected to it (Monitor, printer, speakers, router, etc). no problems with Forza. guess people just rather APC because of the brand. like ppl who say "go Nvidia, screw ATi". :lol:
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: W1nTry on April 30, 2009, 10:53:43 PM
I have a 1200VA Tripplite never really checked to see how long it would hold out for... I should...
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Arcmanov on May 01, 2009, 12:12:02 AM
The APC ones are superior because they use a good ol USB interface to communicate with the PC, and the monitoring software is second to none. Its also easier to get replacement batteries for em when they finally stop charging.
All other brands you see out there are S#!TTY by comparison.
Yeah, I said it..S#!TTY!!!
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: W1nTry on May 01, 2009, 01:10:33 AM
All other brands you see out there are S#!TTY by comparison.
Yeah, I said it..S#!TTY!!!
BLASPHEMY!!! Liebert FTMFW!
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Redfish on May 01, 2009, 11:07:10 AM
^Allyuh calm down nah lol, yes I know the APC brand, my bro has one that is going on at least 4yrs or more strong.
Well my options will be APC/FORZA 750VA or rather which one is cheaper in that class :P
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Arcmanov on June 24, 2009, 12:44:47 PM
My Powercom UPS battery finally died, so yuh boy just got himself a spanking new APC Back-UPS RS BR1200 (http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR1200). An absolute beauty of a UPS...well, in terms of performance that is. :)
Of particlar interest to me is the 'Current Status' screen. It actually shows current power usage in Watts, which for my main rig is a surprisingly 'low' 312W at idle. When in game, or running a benchmark, I've seen the power usage jump to about 600W. Not sure of the max. Can't really get to see it unless I alt-tab out of the game quickly before it changes.
I can now literally 'set it and forget it', and not have to worry if power goes in my absence. The UPs is a bit pricey, but it would have actually cost more to buy/ship myself because of its weight.
Is it worth it? HELL yes. The peace-of-mind cannot be quantified.
and ye be warned, i sayeth unto thee, provoke not the wrathful hammer of the thunder god T&Tec! Least ye suffer fault of the wiring and ye castle falls as the flames of lightening sounds it horns!
TO HELMS DEEP...Bitches...
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Netizen1 on June 24, 2009, 10:35:52 PM
What version of the software is that? Mine doh have no "Load on Battery Backup" ish...
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Arcmanov on June 24, 2009, 11:20:53 PM
Its version 2.2 for Vista only. You will have to download the latest version for your OS. I tested it by pulling the main plug from the wall. The app promptly started a timer, and sure enough, as it hit 3 mins, the computer was shut down nice and smooth.
Thank you APC. :notworthy:
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Spazosaurus on June 24, 2009, 11:23:41 PM
Only 3 minutes dred? Like I need a generator. I want something that could push rig, modem and router for at least a 20 minutes. Have you tried letting the ups run as long as it possibly can with monitor and everything on to see how long it will actually last?
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Arcmanov on June 24, 2009, 11:29:06 PM
Oh it'll power all that for 16 mins total, but I set it to shut down the PC if the power outage duration exceeds 3 mins. That way it can conserve battery power for successive outages. It takes about 15 hrs to fully recharge from zero. When power goes, I don't want to be on the PC anyway, but I have plenty time to save/quit/shutdown.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Spazosaurus on June 24, 2009, 11:33:47 PM
Not bad...and how much for it?
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Netizen1 on June 24, 2009, 11:48:23 PM
I running the same version of PowerChute (2.2 Vista)
I guess it's more info based on the model specifically. I've got the 650 ES
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: Spazosaurus on June 25, 2009, 12:02:20 AM
Good lord. I can't justify the cost of ones like that br1200 for just a few minutes up time which will be even less for me because of my monitor. The line conditioner/active pfc psu combo, for me, is and has been a winning one for years.
I've been through more than my share of ups's (APC included) for me to stay away from them all (except perhaps for a server class ups) for a long time to come. The last one I had (APC 550va) died so completely that even while plugged in, anything plugged in to THAT would not work. It was completely dead a few days after 12 months.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: TriniXaeno on June 25, 2009, 03:11:38 PM
hmm, I wonder how much a personal generator costs nowadays?
keep a lil gallon a diesel @ home for an 8 hour of power in case T&TEC playing up.
Title: Re: Matching a Power hungry PSU with the right UPS
Post by: daltontom7782 on March 25, 2012, 02:24:41 PM
For a program with 700W PSU and additionally up, alongside supervise not to mention maybe speakers then communication hardware (router, hub, wi-fi), I'd state a 1000VA minimal could well be the safest. The APC ones are really the greatest. They currently have software monitoring via USB, that will shut down a body truly nicely soon after a set time on battery, and / or whenever the actual power reaches a certain percentage.