Web Development·12,108 discussions

A gaming PC’s UPS

Tags: Hardware, Software, Windows

I want to buy and link my PC to a UPS unit because I don’t want power outages to damage its hardware. Maybe you could give me a recommendation for one (I prefer a cheap one) or tell me which specifications I should pay attention to? I have no understanding about UPS, after all. I just know that a 1500VA unit will suffice for me.

Topic

Re: power outage

In reply to A gaming PC’s UPS

The main reason for a UPS for a PC was to protect the hard drive. But a modern PC that doesn’t have a HDD, but only an SSD, doesn’t need a UPS. Like your expensive smart Smart TV and game console don’t need it.

It might even be cheaper to replace a HDD used for data storage by an SSD of equal size than to buy a UPS. And it certainly saves electricity, so it saves money in the long run also.

A 1500 W device will power your PC for 5 hours if it uses 300 W. That should be more than enough to properly shut it down in case of a power failure.

UPS

In reply to A gaming PC’s UPS

So are Watts what you gotta look at when getting an UPS for a rig? I’ve seen ones talking varying amps and such.

Re: Watt

In reply to UPS

Watt (power consumed) is equal to Volt times Ampere. So if your electricity is 110V (US), then 1 A = 110 W. But if you’re in Europe, it’s 230 V so 1 A = 230 W, so 110 W is less than 0,5 A.

The higher the voltage, the less amperes (electrons moving along the line) you need to give the same power.

Power is always specified in W. If you use 1000 W for 1 hour, you pay for 1000 Watthour = 1 kWh. That’s 25 to 40 cents in Europe for consumers, depending on the contract they have.

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