UPS

[BG4533]

I currently live in a dorm at Ohio State and in the past 1 year that I have lived here I have gone through 3 PSUs due to power problems in the dorm i believe. I have just purchased a new PSU and decided I needed an UPS to protect it and the rest of my system. At the minimum, the UPS must protect my computer with a 430W PSU and a 19" monitor. As all of the UPS should provide plenty of backup time, I care more about better power protection. For roughly the same price I can get these 3 UPS, which would fit my needs best? APC SmartUPS 900 or BackUPS 1250 or BackUPS Pro 1000.
What is the difference between the 3 different lines of UPS?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Brian

 

[Scarpozzi]

They're roughly the same. The SmartUPS always meant that there was a software App that sensed the UPS when it come on and it will automatically shut your system down if you're away. The key here is that they're active power supplies, meaning your PC is drawing its power from the PS continuously rather than it 'kicking on' when the power goes off.

I would highly recommend not buying a APC brand UPS though. They're more common, I know, but TrippLite is what we've switched to because battery replacement is much cheaper and overall service is a lot higher. Trust me....they're good...

 

[TheCorm]

I know they probably provide a certain amount of spike/surge protection but I thought a UPS was primarily for keeping power to a PC going giving time for a backup and a shutdown.

Wouldn't a straightforward surge/spike strip be better value for problems with spikes in the power supply?.....preferably one with a replaceable spike/surge component.

Can a UPS become damaged too just like a power supply from regular surges and spikes?

 

[Toxic]

I guess they can, but I would doubt that would happen as almost all of them have a fuse that will blow before that happens. The fuse would have to be replaced, but they are cheap.

 

[BG4533]

Has anyone else had any experience with Tripplite or Belkin UPS? How do they perform in relation to the APC ones?

 

[andrey]

Just in case you're interested, I have APC Back-UPS 280VA for sale. Although it is not 1000s W, for line conditioning and protecting your computer from power problems, that BackUPS should be perfect.

--Andrey

 

[amdskip]

I have an APC something or other. Works great but they aren't cheap.