PC Peripherals Surge protector or UPS?

tufel

tufel

Explorer
going to buy a new pc for my dad's office.

configuration:
e5400
gigabyte g41
dvd-rw
320gb
zebby 450 psu.

no plans to upgrade.

now my question is will a surge protector do for the voltage spikes or during power cuts.Or shud go forward with a UPS.HE doen't mind the computer crashing at all but wat he wants to stay away from is the any of the parts frying.can someone help me out with this?:huh:

p.s. the area where his office is located is prone to a lot of power cuts.
 
Always had a bad experience with UPS: I've had two fried motherboards (p3, am754) due to microtek ups. A friend smoked his Tagan BZ600W with an APC 500. Another friend also fried his motherboard with a UPS. As a result, I shifted to a voltage stabilizer (one used for AC), and then shifted to just a good PSU w/o extra stabilizer or UPS.

Moreover, I've seen many people having issues with APC UPS. Even more so when it is connected to an Active PFC power supply unit.

Would recommend a surge protector only.
 
why not both...I have a APC 650 (with auto shutdown) and plugged in the Belkin surge protector in it and am using it...when you think of it it gives you doub le protection..also just a power surge can never protect you like the ups can...from power cuts??

what is your budget btw since I dont think anyone would rule out the whole productline of UPS items in favor of surge protectors...

where do you live??are there power cuts?

MnVn
 
sato1986 said:
Always had a bad experience with UPS: I've had two fried motherboards (p3, am754) due to microtek ups. A friend smoked his Tagan BZ600W with an APC 500. Another friend also fried his motherboard with a UPS. As a result, I shifted to a voltage stabilizer (one used for AC), and then shifted to just a good PSU w/o extra stabilizer or UPS.

Moreover, I've seen many people having issues with APC UPS. Even more so when it is connected to an Active PFC power supply unit.

Would recommend a surge protector only.
Click to expand...

This is quite strange as APC is one of the most reputed UPS manufacturers. I had used a normal APC UPS with TX850 but what I heard is a humming sound from PSU, but no damages at all then shifted to full sine wave APC UPS. didn't face any problem after that and my system is up 24x7.

As far as OP's PC is concerned it is fine if he buys a 650 W UPS from APC/Numeric if there is voltage fluctuation or electricity problem else go for a surge protector.
 
Dude, i don't know who has been advising you all this while but if you have frequent power cuts then a UPS is an absolute must. The PC shutting off abruptly regularly will definitely affect it's longevity.
 
tufel said:
will a surge protector work well for frequent power cuts?
Click to expand...
Surge protector will not provide any back up if electricity goes off which will adversely affect your PC components especially HDD.
Also surge protectors can prevent high voltage surge but can't help if there is a voltage drop.

As Fahrenheit already pointed out the fact that UPS is must for locations with frequent power cuts,so decide wisely.
 
APC UPS +1 for frequent power cut or voltage problem. I too using APC 500 from March 2010 no issue so far, & APC 600 from last 1 month without any issue, but as sato1986 said I don't know whether my both PC has PSU with PFC or not.

1pc with Powersafe Gold 400w & other is generic cheap PSU.
 
1.then y do people use surge protectors if ups does the trick.as i said earlier i dont mind the pc crashing!
2.i have also heard that surge protectors and ups shud never be used together.am i right?
 
tufel said:
1.then y do people use surge protectors if ups does the trick.as i said earlier i dont mind the pc crashing!
Click to expand...

may be cause it comes FREE with PC or people not ready to spend more than 1k as they think UPS & SPIKE works same :( frequent PC crashing may harm your system over all (slow poison), first thing to get affect with frequent crashing is HDD.

2.i have also heard that surge protectors and ups shud never be used together.am i right?
Click to expand...

UPS itself have surge protection too & simultaneous use of both 100% harm your system.
 
surge protects r for places where there is no electricity problem like USA

UPS is must in india due to voltage fluctuations,electricity cuts. u can face electricity cuts in one of best living cities in india.
 
Back
Top