Re: OT: New PC!
 

If you go to a site like NewEgg, they will tell you the VA rating, and the wattage it is designed for. I have an APC BE725BB, which is a 725VA, 450W UPS (I have a 450W PSU). It came with a little monitor utility that lets you set timers when on the backup, so you can have your computer automatically shut down after some time, or hibernate.

Plus, you can use it for general purpose stuff. During the big blackout in LA this fall, I took it down to the lobby, and plugged the radio we have down there into it to figure out what happened (some dude from PG&E cut a wire he wasn't supposed to, and the entire basin got its power cut).

Re: OT: New PC!
 

Ouch. Wish I had that much cash lying around to spend on upgrading my system!

Re: OT: New PC!
 

Wish I had that much cash lying around! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: OT: New PC!
 

The improved audio quality is well worth the €30, I think.

Re: OT: New PC!
 

According to references I have, a 'volt-ampere' is one volt at one amp, and so equivalent to one watt. Therefore, the VA rating should be exactly the same as the wattage it can support. I wonder what they are really describing if they don't rate the VA and watts as the same?

Re: OT: New PC!
 

Well, this one CyberPower Office Tower 750VA UPS Line Interactive RS-232 seems to be the most affordable UPS that could handle my 680W PSU. I don't know much about CyberPower, does anyone know what sort of name they have?

Re: OT: New PC!
 

From bottom of:

http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/electricity.asp

The "VA" rating is not what you need to be so concerned with, but rather the direct wattage rating. VA is more concerned with charge capacity (in a roundabout way), whereas W measure is maximum instantaneous power draw from the battery. Of course, higher VA means longer operation after power loss. VA vs. W ratings are used in this way very commonly for electric devices.

Cyber Power's site lists all the information for their UPSes, unlike that store site AZ linked to.

Re: OT: New PC!
 

Ouch...

http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/S...NQYF_R0_EN.pdf

It looks like the actual wattage is closer to 60 percent of the VA. That means my 850 VA UPS is only 'adequate' for my load, and AgentZero is in fact going to need a 1000 VA or larger UPS!

Re: OT: New PC!
 

Good grief. A 1000VA UPS starts at close to eur400. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the whole VA-Watts thing is basically a matter of how long the unit can last in the event of power loss, right? Or does it affect something else as well?
In the seven years I've been living in Dublin, there's only been one blackout I know of, but it was localized and didn't affect me. So I'm not too worries about blackouts, so much as power surges and the like. Given that, I'm wondering if I'd be better off buying just a surge protector, since the likliehood of a blackout is very low.

Re: OT: New PC!
 

Surge protector should provide you the hardware protection that you need, but you will of course not have the power backup. Not a large issue in my opinion, especially since the UPS is so expensive. Go with the surge protector.