Surge protector do i need one?

mohbana · Post by **mohbana** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:10 am

Hi guys,

i am going to be running the follwoing

Corsair VX 450W ATX PSU
Dell E228WFP 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor
and 5.1 surround headset in there

(Â£7.04)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =UP-005-BE

Matija · Post by **Matija** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:54 am

1) No, you don't.

Equipment dies when grounding is faulty, not because one doesn't have a surge protector. TVs (if you have a roof antenna) are in danger, though.

2) Yes, you do.

Your average surge protector is usually of a higher build quality than an el cheapo extension cord imported from China for Â£0.1 a piece.

3) You need a UPS.

Traciatim · Post by **Traciatim** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:29 am

I second Matija's #3. Just get a descent (Not $29.99) UPS. You'll be glad you did when you're doing something and the power sags and your PC doesn't switch off. Get one with Voltage regulation from a respectable source (That's read: Not Walmart).

Like insurance or seat belts a good UPS is just a waste until the exact moment you need it, and then suddenly you'll think 'Holy crap I'm glad that was there'.

johnniecache7 · Post by **johnniecache7** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 12:00 pm

This always confuses me why someone would drop $1000.00 into system then plugin the system into the wall socket or $5.00 Wal-Mart surger protector. No, you do not need one but if you prefer not frying your $1000.00 investment you do. I my self use UPS it is worth investing in.

_MarcoM_ · Post by **_MarcoM_** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 2:38 pm

Interesting post. In your opinion is it necessary to use an expensive pure sine-wave UPS?

jwickers · Post by **jwickers** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:34 pm

Do as you think, but personnaly i am getting an APC Smart UPS for my new PC.
What's 200 bucks for safety when you already put 2000 in sensitive electronic. That's not including the pain in getting data lose or time lost rebuilding a Raid array because of a power failure.

_MarcoM_ · Post by **_MarcoM_** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:59 am

jwickers wrote:Do as you think, but personnaly i am getting an APC Smart UPS for my new PC.
What's 200 bucks for safety when you already put 2000 in sensitive electronic. That's not including the pain in getting data lose or time lost rebuilding a Raid array because of a power failure.

I agree, better to buy a decent ups, especially here, in Italy

Would you please post a link of your UPS on apc website? Just curiosity, i need a suggestion/idea to what to buy.

cb95014 · Post by **cb95014** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:58 am

http://tinyurl.com/8y564

In Italy: http://tinyurl.com/59xdf

There are lots of good UPS choices, but I have two of these. Fry's was selling them for $135.

Tall & skinny (minimal floor space, & you don't need the extra 'stabilizers') with sufficient capacity to run the computer & two big flat panels. Similar ones are available in black.

If this is not enough juice, they sell add-on power packs to double the run-time.

_MarcoM_ · Post by **_MarcoM_** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:57 am

Nice toy, eheheh

Does it have a fan? Is it quiet enough? I heard about problems with UPS with stepped sinewave and PSU with Active PFC... i have a Zalman 600W psu, hope it can run with it

cb95014 · Post by **cb95014** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:06 pm

Does it have a fan? Is it quiet enough? I heard about problems with UPS with stepped sinewave and PSU with Active PFC...

Yes, it has a fan, but that only runs when the power cuts out. Usually I don't worry about fan noise at that point.

Otherwise it is completely silent.

I have tried it with three different Seasonic (/Corsair) and two different Antec supplies. No problems.

This thing is complete overkill, but the price was right.

merlyn · Post by **merlyn** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:26 pm

That looks quite decent. I've got one of these

Picked up a reconditioned one from ebay for Â£130. saved my bacon twice so far

Matija · Post by **Matija** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:22 pm

I have a simple APC Back-UPS CS 500. http://www.apc.com/resource/include/tec ... _watts=200

Enough for me

jwickers · Post by **jwickers** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:40 pm

merlyn wrote:That looks quite decent. I've got one of these

Picked up a reconditioned one from ebay for Â£130. saved my bacon twice so far

will get the same, but SUA1000 not 1500. That's overkill