CyberPower UPS

[imported_mystik]

I'm thinking about getting a CyberPower UPS for my system. I need one that will work with an active PFC power supply. Right now I have a 700w OCZ StealthXStream PSU, but next year I will probably be building a new system. I was considering this CyberPower 1500VA/900W UPS.

http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups-systems/intelligent-lcd-ups/CP1500PFCLCD.html

I can get it for $195 shipped. My only concern is that it won't be powerful enough for my next system. Does anyone know if that UPS could handle a 30-inch LCD, a Dell 3007WFP-HC if it matters, and let's say a system running a HX1000 PSU?

I read that an APC Smart-UPS 1500VA UPS should work with a system that even has a 1200AX for a minute or two at full use. So this CyberPower UPS should be okay then, correct?

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842102048

 

[imported_mystik]

That's not the same version. The version that ends with PFCLCD is the one that is supposed to be active PFC compatible.

 

[TemjinGold]

How long do you need the thing up for? It's not how powerful your PSU that matters, it's how much juice your system pulls. As an example, my system (according to my UPS) pulls a max of 260 watts from the wall (40 of which is my HDTV used as a monitor) when I game and I have an HX520. Figure in 80% efficiency on the 220 that is the system and my components only need 176 watts. The UPS, however, only needs to handle the 260 and not the 520. Unless you plan on seriously loading up the HX1000 (Tri-SLI 580s?), you don't need the UPS to handle 1000 watts.

 

[imported_mystik]

I only need a couple of minutes. Just enough time to shut the machine down. I'll probably be building a new system in the later part of 2011. I figure the most I'll have in it is two GTX580s or the equivalent Kepler part of that and a 4 or 6 core processor. It depends on the whether Intel has released their new CPU socket and the price of 6 core processors and next generation video cards at the time.

Realistically if I went the SLI route it would probably be with the card that is a step down from the highest model at the time. Two GTX670s instead of one GTX680 for example, if that's what they're called. Again, that depends on the price and performance and whether they have been released or not.

 

[TemjinGold]

In that case, even MY unit would do. I got mine at newegg for $125.

 

[imported_mystik]

OfficeDepot had the APC BX1500G for $99.99 which is what got me looking for a UPS in the first place. I noticed it didn't have EMI/RFI noise reduction, but it does have AVR. I'm not whether that would matter, but I have the older Z-5500 revision that makes a popping sound when lights on the same circuit are switched on or off.

My current surge protector is supposed to have EMI/RFI noise reduction, but it doesn't do anything to help with the popping. I'm not sure whether a UPS would help either, but it's not a major issue.

The reason I didn't buy the APC UPS from Office Depot is because I read that it doesn't work well with active PFC power supplies. CyberPower's active PFC compatible UPSes were cheaper than APC's Smart-UPS series. I could pick up a refurbished APC Smart-UPS off of eBay, but I won't be able to get anything that has a 3-year warranty like the CyberPower UPS.

I'd be willing to spend up to around $300, but in the event of a power failure I probably would only need a few minutes of run-time. Just enough for me to finish and save anything I'm doing and cleanly shut the computer down should be okay.

Edit: Unless anyone can recommend something better, I'll likely be picking up the CP1500PFCLCD for $192 shipped tomorrow after work.

 

[Modelworks]

O

Edit: Unless anyone can recommend something better, I'll likely be picking up the CP1500PFCLCD for $192 shipped tomorrow after work.

http://www.refurbups.com/APC-SUA1000-Smart-UPS-1000
Much better unit for about $175 shipped.
True sine wave (other is adaptive),AVR, 12Amp batteries (other is 8.5Amp), external battery option for longer run time.

don't be scared off by refurbished UPS. Most of the refurbs are off corporate leases where they were well maintained, contain new batteries and a warranty. The one above sells new for $550 .
http://www.amazon.com/APC-SUA1000-Sm.../dp/B00006BBK6

 

[weovpac]

I bought a APC sua1000 from:
http://www.upsforless.com/apcsua1000ref.aspx

It's $10 more, but their warranty is better. I have not received the unit yet, so can't comment on astetics, etc.

 

[imported_mystik]

I also found an APC SUA1500X413 open box for a little more, $254.70 shipped, that supposedly carries a "Full manufacturer warranty". I checked into it and it's actually only a 1 year warranty. They had the SUA1000US model as well. That was also open box, but it was $261.81 shipped.

Is there much of a difference between the SUA and SMT models other than the front control panel and higher efficiency green power? The only other difference I noticed was the SMT models carry a 3 year warranty excluding battery with a 2 year battery warranty while the SUA models carry a 2 year warranty for everything.

Edit: The APC SMT1500 open box was $375.79 shipped and the APC SMT1000 open box was $311.39 shipped. Any of these would come with a 1 year warranty.

 

[MarkGinger]

I also found an APC SUA1500X413 open box for a little more, $254.70 shipped, that supposedly carries a "Full manufacturer warranty". I checked into it and it's actually only a 1 year warranty. They had the SUA1000US model as well. That was also open box, but it was $261.81 shipped.

Is there much of a difference between the SUA and SMT models other than the front control panel and higher efficiency green power? The only other difference I noticed was the SMT models carry a 3 year warranty excluding battery with a 2 year battery warranty while the SUA models carry a 2 year warranty for everything.

Edit: The APC SMT1500 open box was $375.79 shipped and the APC SMT1000 open box was $311.39 shipped. Any of these would come with a 1 year warranty.

Both the SUA1000 and the SMT1000 are better units than the Cyberpower units mentioned here. The SUA's are industrial data center units, they're work horses. We use new SMT1500's in our server room, but on all the machines we use refurbished SUA1000's. They output a sine wave, have the Smart-UPS features and come with a full one year replacement warranty.

 

[imported_mystik]

Okay, thanks for the information. I'll likely pick up one of those units within the next couple of weeks. Just one final question, is it okay to use an AC Y-Splitter cable to add an extra outlet?

I'm asking because I found a TrippLite SU1500XL, which is a dual conversion UPS, for $268 shipped, but it only has 6 outlets. That's pretty cheap for a dual conversion UPS that works well, but supposedly it has cosmetic flaws such as dents and missing screws.

 

[MarkGinger]

Okay, thanks for the information. I'll likely pick up one of those units within the next couple of weeks. Just one final question, is it okay to use an AC Y-Splitter cable to add an extra outlet?

I'm asking because I found a TrippLite SU1500XL, which is a dual conversion UPS, for $268 shipped, but it only has 6 outlets. That's pretty cheap for a dual conversion UPS that works well, but supposedly it has cosmetic flaws such as dents and missing screws.

Sure, as long as you don't put too much of a load to pop the circuit breaker, you'll be ok.


Cosmetic flaws is cool, missing screws is scary!

 

[imported_mystik]

It's missing two out of eight screws on the battery cover. An online UPS would be nice to have though.

I've had bad luck with hardware recently. The PSU on my desktop PC died the end of May. At the end of June both the video card and motherboard died on the same PC. Recently I had issues with static from my sound card and thought that was dying as well, but it seems to be fixed now.

I may have had the same problems, but a UPS, especially an online one, would provide cleaner power. I wouldn't mind spending a little bit extra if it helped not having failing hardware as often. :\

 

[weovpac]

Received my APC SUA1000 from upsforless.com today. Came well packaged, had to wipe it down to remove some old glue residue in a couple of areas. Has a couple of minor scuff marks. Came with the battery almost fully charged. It does have a slight buzz/hum sound coming from it, but have read that this normal. I'm happy with this purchase, for the price it is hard to beat; much better than a consumer UPS.

 

[Emulex]

actually i had a 750 that hummed - i got an rma on it. the cheaper (Smaller) units have this problem. the sua2200's and up don't have the problem. google it. its cheaper components.

cyberpower makes the cheapest pure-sine models for midrange (1000~ range) new. it's called their pure sine

 

[Emulex]

you should really use the USB with apcupsd - assuming you have a *nix/win32 server thats realiable it's actually FAR better than the network management module imo.

plus there are ghetto scripts for VMA management server to shutdown hosts and storage sanely.

 

[imported_mystik]

I know it's overkill, but I picked up a new APC SURTA1500XL for a really good price. $430.33 shipped, the next cheapest was $790 shipped. It's never been used, but has been tested to fully charge and guaranteed to not be DOA. I wasn't looking to spend much more than $300, but I couldn't pass up a great deal on an online UPS.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[weovpac]

Received my APC SUA1000 from upsforless.com today. It does have a slight buzz/hum sound coming from it, but have read that this normal.

Just wanted to report that the slight buzz/hum sound is gone now. Don't know what caused that. But could be an issue with my power here, since it is not good.

 

[Emulex]

remember the majority cost is the battery. don't buy old stock.

every year you lose 33% runtime. 3 years and that SUA1000 will be down to minute(s).

i get the XL models and plug in these 4-car battery modules (286lb) which extend the 40minute (40% load) to 400 minutes. pretty wicked

 

[imported_mystik]

Got my APC SURTA1500XL today. This thing is a beast. Windows reported 47 minutes of battery life remaining while idle at the desktop with an 87% charge. There is a slight hum or buzzing type sound coming from the unit, but it's under my desk and I can barely make it out over my computer fans.

The plastic on the front display panel, a piece that is about 3.5" x 3.5" x 1.5", is cracked as seen in the following pictures. I was concerned about that because a couple of the tabs that hold it onto the front of the unit are broken as well. Also, on the bottom of the unit, the piece the holds the battery cover in place has a damaged rivet on one end. I was able to repair this.

http://imgur.com/4w8sm.jpg
http://imgur.com/l8aEA.jpg
http://imgur.com/DyOco.jpg

I contacted the seller and he will be sending a new faceplate and some spare screws. It must have been damaged in shipping. Other than those minor issues, it works great!