UPS - what's the deal?

[colonelciller]

what are the compelling reasons to get a UPS for a home desktop/workstation?

is it just about power failures and the chance to save open documents?

does a good UPS provide benefits to someone who isn't too concerned with losing a few open documents due to a power failure?

 

[Sleepingforest]

Primarily, yes, a UPS protects from power failure and allows you to save a few documents. However, many have built in secondary features like protecting the computer from brownouts and surges, so it also helps to protect your hardware (in some cases).

 

[kleinkinstein]

If you really need to ask, you don't need one. Move on.

 

[Mixolydian]

Some UPSes make the power "cleaner" going to your devices. It also corrects voltage fluctuations like brownouts.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you really need to ask, you don't need one. Move on.

Aw, have a little heart.

Sleepingforest is dead on the money: they can be useful as both power filters/surge protectors, as well as a battery backup. An average UPS will generally be a better-than-average surge protector. And brownouts/drops aren't uncommon in rural areas, or even older subdivisions. (Never be the last house in line if you can help it.)

Besides giving desktop computers a chance to save open files and shut down normally, another common use is keeping internet infrastructure (like routers, modems, and WiFi base stations) running so you can continue to use battery-powered devices like smartphones and laptops. (Which can in turn be charged from a car using small 12vDC inverter.)

If I were more of a prepper and less of a schmuck, I'd probably have one.

 

[Enigma102083]

As others have said, primarily to allow for graceful shutdown in the even of power loss. But power conditioning and regulation is a pretty solid extra feature as well.

 

[easylee23]

Yeah, the power conditioning is spot on.