UPS devices aren’t mandatory but can save you from a lot of trouble. This is especially noticeable in the cases when you work with critical data or run a business, where every data loss or work delay costs a lot of money. In these situations, UPS utilities become more of a necessity than a choice and present an equally important piece of hardware as PCs or servers themselves.

Unfortunately, finding the best UPS for your needs doesn’t necessarily present a straightforward process, and it usually demands a little bit of researching and involvement, which can be a real hassle, especially if you are not familiar with the subject, or don’t want to be bothered with it. Luckily, that doesn’t have to represent too much of an obstacle for you to enjoy in every of the UPS benefits – all that you need to do to overcome it is to carefully read the following lines.

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How to Choose the Best UPS

UPS utilities, like other hardware, have their own, more or less important characteristics that make them useful and worth buying or, on the other hand, worth passing. Therefore, in order to get the best UPS device possible, have the following aspects in mind:

Runtime

Longer runtime means that you will have more time at your disposal to do the appropriate actions before your computer stays without “juice”. Therefore, depending on the device type and behavior, you should decide on a proper UPS utility. For regular PCs, two minutes or even one is enough time to save all your data and turn off the device, while, for instance, servers demand much longer shut-down periods, not to mention that many of them are not even allowed to be turned off – in productions lines, for instance.

Maximum Wattage

Higher supported wattage means that you will be able to connect either a larger number of the devices to the UPS or one or two more power-hungry ones. Have in mind that mainstream PCs usually have a power supply of around 500W of strength, while the power supply for gaming PCs, depending on the configuration, can go well above 1000W. More importantly, if you, for instance, have a PC with a 600W PSU, it would be a wise decision to go for the uninterruptible power supply with at least that amount of supported power.

Warranty

Warranty is always an important aspect of every product that you buy. Nevertheless, since the nature of the UPS devices makes them even more vulnerable, it is highly recommended to take this aspect rather seriously and choose the devices with the longest possible warranty period.

Outlets

More outlets mean that you will be able to connect more devices – of course, if the supported wattage allows that. Also, have in mind that not all outlets are made equal and that some of them offer only surge protection, while others also offer a battery backup. For that reason, pay closer attention and find the best combination.

7 Best UPS

APC Smart-UPS with SmartConnect (SMT1500C)

A Premium Quality UPS, Designed for the Most Demanding Users

Protecting all your IT equipment is very hard, especially considering power issues. Luckily, with the help of devices such as APC Smart-UPS with SmartConnect (SMT1500C), everything is much easier. This, at the first glance expensive, device has tremendous potential: it has a maximum wattage of 1000W and output voltage of 1500VA, and comes with a great set of features that turn this utility into one of the best surge protector and battery backup devices available.

Very efficient, with eight NEMA 5-15R surge-protected outlets, along with Automatic Voltage Regulation and smart battery management (responsible for the battery longevity and performance maximization), SMT1500C is the device ideal for network safeguarding (protection of servers, routers, switches, etc.).

Its features also include an intuitive LCD interface, power-saving Green mode, and even SmartSlot for the use of a network management card, which altogether makes a very nice package of highly useful utilities.

SMT1500C comes with a three-year warranty and decent, but not great PowerChute management software. More importantly, it offers up to 301 minutes of use at 50W, while at 800W you have eight minutes before it shuts down, which is more than enough time for you to save all the data and safely turn off the device.

In other words, everything you can expect from the best UPS device is there.

Pros:

• Great load capacity and maximum wattage
• Feature-rich
• Professional quality

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not that great software

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CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System

A Great Mainstream UPS Solution

If you have a solid PC at your home and need a reliable UPS protection for it, CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS System might be exactly what you have been looking for.

This very solid utility offers numerous features such as Automatic Voltage Regulation, Data Line Protection and EMI/RFI Filters (that prevent radio and electromagnetic interferences). Also, it comes supplied with 10 NEMA 5-15R Outlets, five of which have surge protection and battery backup, and the other five only feature surge protection, LCD Diagnostic Display, USB Charge Ports and a lot more. More importantly, its load capacity is 1000VA, while the wattage goes up to the decent 600W.

Other than PC safeguarding, CP1000PFCLCD is also highly useful for protection of network equipment, servers, telecommunication systems and other devices with Active PFC or conventional power supplies. It offers quiet performance and has nine minutes of runtime at the half load, while that time is limited to only three minutes at a full load, which isn’t great but is still good enough for safe shutdown of your PC.

Overall, if you are looking for a device that offers a good value for the money, with a nice warranty time (three years), CP1000PFCLCD is definitely one of the best UPS battery backup options you can find.

Pros:

• 10 outlets
• Quiet
• Good value for the money

Cons:

• When the battery dies, UPS stops powering the AC outlets

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Tripp Lite 1500VA 900W UPS (SMART1500LCDT)

A Decent Surge-Protect Unit for Gamers

Tripp Lite 1500VA 900W UPS (SMART1500LCDT) is one of those devices that will do a quality job at a fair price. Although its durability is rather questionable, since there are a lot of customer claims that it lasts just slightly over its three-year warranty period, this utility still has a lot to offer.

Yes, have in mind that you will probably have to buy another device after its warranty expires, but also take into account all of its benefits, such as nice 1500VA load capacity or 900W of supported power. Along with that, SMART1500LCDT offers Intelligent Battery Management, USB port, Automatic Voltage Regulation, Green Mode for reduced power consumption, easy-to-operate LCD interface, 10 surge-protected outlets, five of which also offer battery backup and much more.

Its battery backup runtimes are solid and allow for 90 minutes of work for an entry-level device, while at 450W of load that time reduces to 10 minutes, and only two minutes or so at full load, which is enough for you to save the game and run.

In other words, even though it isn’t perfect and probably isn’t the best UPS for your gaming PC, SMART1500LCDT is still worth the attention and presents a good overall option, but definitely not the best that you can find.

Pros:

• Good performance
• Fair price

Cons:

• Not that great quality control
• Software demands for update

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AmazonBasics Standby UPS 600VA 360W Surge Protector Battery Backup

Rather Basic Surge Protection Utility

For everyone looking for cheap surge protection of their hardware, AmazonBasics Standby UPS 600VA 360W Surge Protector Battery Backup is a great option. Although it supports only 360W of power, this utility is good enough for a battery backup of an entry-level PC and its supported hardware (printer, scanner, etc.).

It is equipped with eight NEMA 5-15R surge-protected outlets, four of which also offer a battery backup and useful NEMA 5-15P certified five-foot cord. For its management, it is the best to download its software (that reminds of an APC one and generally doesn’t bring anything revolutionary, but still does the job).

AmazonBasics Standby UPS 600VA 360W runtimes are rather modest, and at full load, you will have only a minute or two to save your files and turn off the device. In other words, this device is made with the intention to be as cheap as possible and as a result, there are only the basic features and the same performance.

Nevertheless, if you want the best uninterruptible power supply at a small price, this is the one to go for. It won’t leave you speechless with the quality of performance, but will surely do the job, which is the most important for the device of this price.

Pros:

• Compact
• Cheap
• Nice value for the money

Cons:

• Only a one-year warranty
• Outlets are too close to each other

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CyberPower AVRG750U AVR UPS System

An Affordable UPS, Ideal for a Not-Too-Power-Hungry Home and Office PCs

If you own a mainstream PC without surge protection and you are afraid that sudden power breakdown might destroy all of your precious data, CyberPower AVRG750U AVR UPS System might be the right deal for you. It is affordable, feature rich, with a nice capacity, and more importantly, good performance.

This UPS supports for the maximum wattage of 450W and has a load capacity of up to 750VA. Also, it offers Automatic Voltage Regulation, EMI/RFI filters, USB connectivity and a lot more. It has a great capacity and comes with the rather impressive 12 NEMA 5-15 surge-protected outlets, six of which also offer battery protection, and three RJ-11 connectors for the protection of the phones.

CyberPower AVRG750U AVR UPS System can be mounted both vertically and horizontally and it allows for quiet work. Its performance, on the other hand, is standard, with a runtime of 15 minutes under 140W load and an only minute or two under full one.

Altogether, this device certainly isn’t the best UPS you can find; nevertheless, if you want a good ratio of price, features and performance, CyberPower AVRG750U AVR UPS System is a great buy.

Pros:

• Can be positioned vertically and horizontally
• Quiet performance
• Great capacity
• Feature rich

Cons:

• Not that great customer service

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APC UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector (BE600M1)

A Decent UPS with a Nice Balance of Price and Performance

APC UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector (BE600M1) is another UPS device that offers a good combination of price, reliability and features, allowing users not to be worried about sudden power losses, possible hardware failures and data corruption.

The device itself doesn’t bring any premium features; nevertheless, it comes supplied with all that is needed for quality work. There are seven NEMA 5-15R outlets, five of which also offer a battery backup. Also, it features a USB charging port, load capacity is 600VA, supported wattage 330W – all in all, just decent characteristics and features.

BE600M1 has a runtime of 23 minutes at 100W and will work for three minutes at a full load. It has a decent three-year warranty and comes in a compact size, but is a bit larger than the competition. More importantly, this UPS is energy-efficient and offers a simple use that also includes easy issue debugging.

All in all, if you are looking for the best UPS for a gaming PC or something similar, this device is surely not for you. On the other hand, if you want a modest, but efficient device, BE600M1 will bring a smile to your face.

Pros:

• Energy efficient
• Easy issue debugging
• Affordable

Cons:

• Larger than the competition

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bXterra 850VA UPS BM850AVRLCD

The Cadillac of UPS

Everything’s smart nowadays, including the bXterra 850VA UPS, which makes for an intelligent (seriously) UPS battery backup with LCD in a mini-tower form factor. For a little bit less than one hundred smackers you’ll get smarts-augmented AVR, 10 outlets, surge protection, and an easily replaceable battery, everything designed to keep your gear safe from voltage spikes and power surges.

Unlike other UPS gear, this particular model looks pretty cool, as bXterra’s designers seem to work overtime; the point being, this device can be easily mistaken for a high tech component in one’s home entertainment system, hence if you’re a fashion-conscious geek who’s trying to improve both the longevity and the performance of his gaming paraphernalia, just go for this sharp-looking UPS made by bXterra and you’ll never look back to boring APCs.

Pros:

• awesome design
• built like an Abrams tank
• easy to set up, plug and play job
• the LCD looks great and comes with useful features (input voltage, wire fault etc.)
• enough 3-prong plugs on the back panel

Cons:

• none really

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Conclusion

This guide is made with the intention to help you with your search for the best UPS device. If it helped you with that, its goal is more than fulfilled.