In general, an uninterruptible power supply (USP) is essentially a big backup battery that springs into action when your power source goes out. These come in different and various shapes and sizes and options –– from tiny unit ones to as large as whole-house units. In this article, we will be taking a closer look at UPS for desktops that can suffice and keep your desktop PC running when the house power goes down.
Which USP Should I Choose?
Best Overall: APC Back-UPS Pro 1500
This USP can provide you with a sufficient amount of power that allows you to quickly save whatever you were doing on your computer and even shut down your computer properly. Although the APC model comes with ten plugs, only five are battery backups, whilst the other five are surge protected. Regardless, it has a battery backup power of 1500VS/865W and a simulated Sine Wave –– more than enough power to run and cover most setups. This would also be one of the most reliable options to choose from. Though the unit does not take up a lot of space, it is rather ‘tall’ and resembles a computer tower.
Best Budget: APC Back-UPS 425VA
This is one of the best affordable purchases for UPS. The APC Back-UPS is designed in a way that helps to keep some low-power devices online even when the power goes out. Whilst it might not be able to keep your PC running, it can help you to stay connected when you need to be. The APC Back-UPS is powered with four battery backup plugs and two with surge protection, as well as a battery backup power of 425A/225W. It is also rather small, allowing you to place it on your table if you are keen on doing so. It does not come with an LCD screen, which can be a bummer, but it’s still a good choice if you only have a few small devices that need to be powered. It does, however, have a low power output as such.
Home Usage: Tripp Lite AVR750U UPS Battery Backup
This is one of the more affordable options and is best suited for daily use. Powered with six battery backup plugs and six with surge protection, it has a backup power of 750va/450W. Although it has a smaller battery, the Tripp Lite UPS will still allow you ample time to save and shut down your computer properly. However, one disadvantage of this would be the amount of space it takes up –– so if your house is pretty cramped already, you might want to give this a pass.
Easy To Use: CyberPower EC850LCD
Unlike the other types of UPS, the CyperPower UPS has three outlets (out of its twelve) shut down their output once it determines the device that is plugged in either in standby or vampire mode. By doing so, it helps you to save some cash. Pretty sweet, huh? The CyberPower UPS contains a total of six battery backups plugs, three surge-protected, and three Eco, as well as a battery backup power of 850VA/510W. Not to worry, it still can provide you with enough power to save and shut your computer down properly.
Best Suited For Businesses: APC UPS 2200VA Smart-UPS With SmartConnect.
Enter in the latest APC UPS with SmartConnect. Because of its big and beefy nature, not many regular home computers would require this UPS –– unless you run a small office or a small server. This unit also allows you to use it remotely, meaning that it does not need to be close to you. There is a total of eight battery backup plugs with surge protection, and two just surge protected, with a battery backup power of 2200VA/1980W. Plus, we’re not kidding when we mean big, by the way. This UPS is 100 pounds and can cost almost up to $1,000.
Best Functionality: CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
This is one of the preferred units as it contains features that people look out for in a UPS. For example, it is vertically oriented which means that it does not take up much space. It also contains a tiled LCD screen that ups to 22 degrees, thus making it much easier to read from the floor as well. It also shows you a bunch of useful information such as wattage and remaining runtime. On a normal day, the CyberPower has a runtime of 100W which allows you to get eighty-three minutes of times if you do have a power outage.
This unit has 12 plugs at the back –– six as battery backup plugs and the others with only surge protection –– and comes with a battery backup power of 1500VA/1000W. It also comes with a few USB-A and USB-C plugs which allow you to charge your mobile phones and tablets as well. Although this UPS can be slightly pricier, it is a solid unit for mid-sized computer systems.
Gamer’s Galore: APC Gaming UPS
Nothing screams ‘I’m a gamer!’ more than having a UPS with a battery backup of 1500VA / 900W worth of power and built-in RBG lighting. The APC Gaming UPS has ten total plugs –– with five as battery backup and the other five as surge protection. On a mid-range gaming PC and LCD monitor, the APC UPS only takes about 14 percent of the capacity, which lasted a total of 40 minutes (inclusive of 30 minutes of gaming). This gives you ample time to shut down and save your game accordingly.
The APC also has special software built into it that allows it to automatically power shut down your computer if there is a power loss. If you’re a professional gamer, the last thing you want is a power trip to mess up your match.
Most Portable: APC Back-UPS 600VA BE600M1 Battery
Whether you’re working from home, in a dormitory, or anywhere where space is limited, choosing APC’s battery is exactly what you need. It has a total of five plugs of which five with battery backup and surge protection, and two that are only surge-protected, as well as a battery backup power of 600VA/330W. The APC UPS is compact-sized, which is an important consideration to have, especially if you don’t work with clutter often. This UPS is designed to sit on your table, which gives you easy access to all your plugs. It also comes with a USB-A port for mobile device charging. However, we hope to see USB-C port soon.
Best For Networking: CyberPower CP800AVR
Whilst most UPS do a good job in keeping a computer alive and working, for those who rely on laptops, keeping the network up is equally as important –– and this is where the CyberPower CP800AVR comes in. These come with a total of eight plugs –– four with battery backup, and another four that have surge protection –– as well a battery backup power of 800VA/450W. It provides equally-spaced outlets so that you’re able to plug devices in with larger plugs, such as routers and modems. Lastly, automatic voltage regulations help to aid small power fluctuations without having to use the full battery power; this helps to save on the power consumption and overall battery health.
Conclusion
Before purchasing a UPS, one of the most important factors is to consider whether it is compatible with the power supply and your different devices. You’ll also want to look out for UPS that is sufficient enough to start or shut down a standby power source. Depending on your needs, ensure that the on-battery runtime is enough –– be it for a few minutes or hours. Furthermore, find a UPS that has sufficient USB ports to charge your devices -– some may accommodate as many as 10 devices, whilst others only have enough for two. Lastly, if you’re going to travel frequently, make sure that your UPS device is portable enough to fit in a bag easily.
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