Looking for a UPS

[raccoonone]

I've heard that Belkin and APC make good UPSs, any suggestions for particular models? I'm looking for something that will run the computer in my sig long enough for me to shut down (10min should be plenty). I checked the power usage and between the monitor and the computer it draws around 250W. I'm hoping to spend around $100, but my budget is fairly flexible (I'll just have to put off a new graphics card if I spend much more).

[RollingThunder]

I've heard that Belkin and APC make good UPSs, any suggestions for particular models? I'm looking for something that will run the computer in my sig long enough for me to shut down (10min should be plenty). I checked the power usage and between the monitor and the computer it draws around 250W. I'm hoping to spend around $100, but my budget is fairly flexible (I'll just have to put off a new graphics card if I spend much more).

Raccoon,

The APC 650 or 750 series, I'm not sure which models (ER,R, BB?) they are now, are about 390-450 watts and work just fine with an LCD monitor plugged in if you want.. If you are on cable, check the connections ihey have. You can set the software to shut you down at your choice of time after a power outage.

[muddocktor]

If you have access to a Sam's Club store, check out their offerings. I've bought an APC 1250 va unit a couple years ago for around $125 and I bought an APC of around 1500-1600 va last year for around $150-165 (can't give you model numbers on them because I'm presently at work on the rig). Both have plenty enough reserve to run 2 computers plus a lcd monitor for 10-15 minutes.

[raccoonone]

Thanks for the help! I've been reading about UPSs and am wondering about Stand-by vs. Line-interactive. The BE750BB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101002) looks like it would serve my purposes, and it comes to about $100 shipped. But I see that it's a Stand-by UPS, and according to Wikipedia Line-interactive is better. Is it worthwhile to spend an extra $50 on something like the BR900 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101138) which is Line-interactive, and probably a little higher quality since it's in APC's High-performance line.

The other thing I noticed is that both of those UPSs say that the output is "stepped sinewave" or "step approximated sinewave." Wikipedia says that computers can be damaged by UPSs that don't produce a "true sinewave." Should I worry about this?

*edit* How about CyberPower, yay or ney? I see that Newegg has a sale on the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102048&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL010108&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL010108-_-UPS-_-E6C-_-42102048). The reviews look good, and it's Line-interactive. It says "simulated sinewave" though, is that better or worse than "stepped sinewave"?

[RollingThunder]

Thanks for the help! I've been reading about UPSs and am wondering about Stand-by vs. Line-interactive. The BE750BB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101002) looks like it would serve my purposes, and it comes to about $100 shipped. But I see that it's a Stand-by UPS, and according to Wikipedia Line-interactive is better. Is it worthwhile to spend an extra $50 on something like the BR900 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101138) which is Line-interactive, and probably a little higher quality since it's in APC's High-performance line.

The other thing I noticed is that both of those UPSs say that the output is "stepped sinewave" or "step approximated sinewave." Wikipedia says that computers can be damaged by UPSs that don't produce a "true sinewave." Should I worry about this?

*edit* How about CyberPower, yay or ney? I see that Newegg has a sale on the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102048&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL010108&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL010108-_-UPS-_-E6C-_-42102048). The reviews look good, and it's Line-interactive. It says "simulated sinewave" though, is that better or worse than "stepped sinewave"?

I'd stay with APC, they are a proven commodity. As for the technical "sinewave" stuff, I don't know. I just plug 'em in, setup the software and let it go at that. Maybe Doc knows this better.

If APC says it's for a computer, I believe them! :)

Muddocktor has a point with a bigger unit if you need it. I have two computers about 10 feet apart, can't move them closer and couldn't use a bigger unit for both, so I have two smaller units. Get all you can within your budget like the 750.

[Xaotic]

Definitely APC. I have more than a couple of rackmounts and the single bad battery from the factory was overnighted to me.

Interactive or Online UPS offer filtering and line stabilization. This is far better than standby UPS. Other. than APC, I'd use Liebert, but it's not on my budget.

Unless there are mechanical components involved, it's always going to be a simulated sinewave. How close to true will be determined by the engineering design and quality of components.

[raccoonone]

Alright, I'll stick with APC then. Looks like I'll have to move up to the $150-$200 range to get Line-Interactive. Oh well, I guess a new graphics card can wait 'til summer. I've learned not to skimp on power supplies after burning out several cheap-o PSUs.

If anyone can explain this sinewave stuff to me that would be great! Otherwise I'll probably order either the BR900 or the BR1200. Both are Line-Interactive, and "stepped sinewave"

*edit* sorry, some how I missed Xaotic's post.

[raccoonone]

If I connect two computers to the same UPS, how would I get them to both shutdown during a power outage? I was just looking at the connections, and there's only one USB data connection coming out of all the UPSs I've looked at.

[muddocktor]

AFAIK, you can only actually control 1 computer with the software. But the UPS will shut itself off before the battery goes totally flat, which would give the second computer a hard shutdown but you wouldn't have to worry about a low voltage situation at least. I've seen brownouts corrupt data and even fry equipment and the UPS will protect the second computer from that situation. It will either feed it full power or no power at all.

What I do if we have a power outage situation that looks like it will last is just manually shut down all my machines