Surge protector or UPS for gaming PC?

Power strips are notoriously problematic and unreliable. A high quality unit that actually provides any useful protection is rather expensive. I've yet to see a sub-thirty dollar surge protector offer any actual protection from a real voltage surge or brown out.

Here is one of my favorite quotes on this subject.

Buy a good one, but understand expensive does not equal good.

"Monster" brand are the low end junk that are sold for a premium price. Look for what us professionals use. Tripplite is one of my go to absolute favorites as they have a price to quality mix that is exceptional. The Belkin brand is junk as far as I am concerned as they focus on how it looks and not how it works. APC is also another one that I will trust , but they mostly cater to data centers and Corporate.

Lastly, if you really care about your electronics, get a Whole house surge suppressor installed in your electrical panel. Only a few hundred bucks and it protects everything including the overpriced LED lightbulbs that is all the rage nowdays.

Click to expand...

This would be a good option.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2F81VN9759&cm_re=tripp_lite-_-82-750-087-_-Product


This would be an even better one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812120524&cm_re=tripp_lite-_-12-120-524-_-Product


Having a UPS on the other isn't essential, but it can't hurt either. This unit provides both surge protection and 45 minutes of backup power in the even of a power loss.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842111342&cm_re=tripp_lite-_-42-111-342-_-Product

Actually it does, it lets you get the system shut down correctly so you don't stand the chance of your OS experiencing a failure or corruption. Not such a big deal if you regularly keep your files and folders backed up to another location, but if you don't, and have to reinstall the OS because something decides to act stupid, bad day. Also, if you happen to be in the middle of working on something and it craps out, you'll lose your work rather than being afforded the opportunity to save whatever you're working on and shut down properly.

That being said, 99% of computer users DON'T use a UPS, and aside from the occasional need to reinstall the OS, if you're unlucky, it's not a big deal. The surge protector on the other hand IS a big deal, or can be.

Both provide similar surge protection benefits so in that regard one isn't really more beneficial than the other aside from the fact that the UPS, depending on model and brand, might be a bit higher quality and protect against higher level surges than a surge only protector. You can get very high end versions of both though so it's really a matter of how much you feel you can budget for this investment regardless of which way you go.

First, power loss does not damage hardware and does not harm the OS. If a sudden power loss causes OS damage, then the computer was defective when purchased.

Second, an honest recommendation includes relevant specification number. Destructive surges are hundreds of thousands of joules. How many joules does a UPS claim to absorb? Hundreds. Appliances consume hundred joules surges. Converts that transient into rock stable and low voltages to power semiconductors. Hunderd joules surges are near zero and irrelevant.

But most *know* by ignoring numbers. Many recommend a UPS to do what is already done better inside every computer. Many are easily manipulated by advertising rather than learn what is relevant.

Power strips typically absorb more joules. More hundreds or maybe thousands of joules. That is still near zero protection. But again, is it called a surge protector. That 'word association' proves it does 100% protection? Read the manufacturer's specifications.

A completely different solution that typically costs tens of times less money actually does this protection. This completely different solution exists in any facility that cannot have damage. One can earth a 'whole house' protector to protect everything - the computer, modem, furnace, kitchen and bathroom GFCIs, clocks, TV, CFL bulbs, etc. Because protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules are harmlessly absorbed.

Once that surge is invited inside a house, then it will hunt for and find destructive paths to earth via houshold appliances. Nothing can block that hunt. Magic plug-in devices will somehow block or absorb that surge? Of course not.

Solution was to always connect that surge to earth BEFORE it can enter a building. Then direct lightning strikes occur without damage. A surge (lightning is one example) connected to earth BEFORE entering a building does not go hunting inside. Lightning is maybe 20,000 amps. So a 'whole house' protector is at least 50,000 amps. Because no protector should fail even with a direct lightning strike. The effective protector always makes a low impedance (ie 'less than 3 meter') connection to single point earth ground. Then a surge remains irrelevant and outside.

Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate. That is single point earth ground. Then a surge is not inside hunting for earth destructively via the dishwasher, door bell, smoke detectors, or that computer. This solution costs about $1 per protected appliance. Best solution is also the least expensive. And mostly unknown to many who therefore recommend a UPS or power board protector to do what even the manufacturers does not claim it will do. Read spec numbers.

I will have to check this brand out. I'm also looking to get a surge protector to protect a new build. Hopefully more people can chime in on this subject.

That's not correct, at all. You've no idea how many machines I've repaired, or helped with here on threads at Tom's, that had nothing else happen to them than a power loss, and were working perfectly fine prior to the loss of power, than had unbootable systems upon the return of power. How you can even say that is extremely surprising to me since clearly you are at least somewhat of an intelligent individual and have some knowledge of power. We've had this disagreement before though.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2285054/ups-connected-surge-protector.html

So I'm not getting into that again. Suffice to say that Tripp Lite is one of the most respected names in the industy, unlike Belkin and Monster, and that their numbers DO support the protections they claim to provide.

Tripp Lite also warrants connected devices and to my knowledge, they are not known for shucking responsibility when it comes to honoring that warranty.

http://www.tripplite.com/support/insurance-policy

Tripp Lite, Leviton and Eaton are all well respected and have connected device no quibble warranties. The difference between theirs and companies like Belkin, who have similar warranties, is that you'll have to use the warranty if a significant surge or strike occurs with the Belkin product, while you may not with the others.

Your best defence is a whole house surge protector installed at the breaker panel.

Well after reading the some reviews on Newegg and what I've seen on here it looks like Tripp Lite will be getting my money to protect my computer.

And it figures about Monster. I wish I would have known about them sooner, my dad uses one of their surge protectors for his big screen tv.

I've already bought a particular surge protector, might be APC, I can't remember what I got though. I will have to look at it when I get home. I do need two though so it looks like I will be getting the Tripp Lite one for the second.

Ok, good luck to you.

1) A straight power strip has numerous advantages. For example, it will not create fires. Fire is but one problem with undersized strip protectors.

2) Most critically important feature of each strip (with or without protector parts) is its 15 amp circuit breaker..

3) Unlike others, we designed electronic hardware. If surge damage occurred, that path was always traced. Any parts damaged or overstressed were replaced. (Damaged parts almost never have a visual indication of damage.) Conclusions were submitted to design reviews. In one case, power strip protectors bypassed protection in a computer. It made damage easier to that computer and others via the network cable. Adjacent protector created a path that bypassed robust protection inside a PSU. Damage that could not happen if one 'whole house' protector was properly earthed. A 'whole house' protector is essential for a power strip to do anything useful.

An IEEE Standard defines properly earthed 'whole house' protection as 99.5% to 99.9% of the protection. IOW a power strip provides maybe an additional 0.2% protection. And does not claim to protect from the type of surge that typically does damage. IOW a power strip only supplements a 'whole house' protector. Without a 'whole house' solution, that power strip does little useful protection..

4) Well understood even 100 years ago; each layer of protection is defined by its earth ground; not by a protector. The many times less expensive 'whole house' solution is a 'secondary' protection layer. An informed homeowner also inspects his 'primary' protection layer. A picture demonstrates what to inspect:.
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

These well proven engineering facts define why telcos do not waste money on a Tripplite or Monster. A telco CO suffers about 100 surges with each thunderstorm without damage. Every incoming wire connects directly to earth (the best protection) or makes that earth ground connection via a protector (next best protection). How often is your town without phone service for four days after each thunderstorm? Never? Because every telco facility only uses 'whole house' solutions AND, most important, has better earth grounds. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground ... that the Tripplite, APC, Belkin, and Monster do not connect to and will not discuss. Why then would anyone recommend them?

5) Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate. Always. Many eyes will glaze over so as to avoid these numbers. How many joules does a Tripplite absorb? We designed electronics that suffer even direct lighting strikes without damage. Therefore we never use the more expensive Monster, Belkin, APC, or Tripplite – that are electrically similar. None have the always essential earth ground connection. None will discuss a damning question: where do hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate?

Learn of your 'primary' and 'secondary' protection layers. Learn that a Tripplite is electrically similar to a Monster, APC, or Belkin, Learn why your least expensive solution is also the best one. Because even a Tripplite needs that protection. Remember why fires happen (that APC recently admitted to).. Also be concerned that a Tripplite is recommended by soundbytes - few to no facts that say it does protection - and without spec numbers.

One final point. If like most, you will ignore this. Most only believe a sound byte. Numbers and facts based in reality take many more paragraphs. So most eyes only glaze over. I predict you will ignore what is well pvoen science. Instead only believe what subjective advertising recommends. That is what most of us do.

Noooo, I bought a Monster surge protector months ago. I guess I was too burned out from researching all of my computer components that I forgot about reading up on this component as well. Oh well, hopefully it does its job well. I ordered a Tripp Lite for my computer though.