Active PFC PSU + Stepped/Simulated Sine Wave UPS

Hello,

I've been looking to choose a PSU and UPS for a GTX 295 + Core i7 system, and came to the conclusion a Corsair HX-620W will suffice.

However I've read that this PSU has Active PFC and it'll require a UPS to be Pure Sine Wave, else it'll fry both PSU and UPS.

I have pratically no knowledge on electric stuff so I have no idea what to do here and if it really matters or not that the UPS is pure sine wave.

I currently have a simulated sine wave CyberPower OP-1000E 1000VA UPS on a 500W system and it works fine. However I doubt the PSU I am using is PFC, as it's quite old.

There's a UPS of 1500VA similar to my UPS by the same brand, which would be the one I'd get for the new system, but it's also simulated sine wave, so I'm not sure it'd be the best choice.

I really have no knowledge on this stuff, so I can't really tell by myself what matters and doesn't, so if anyone knows I'd be grateful to get some opinions..

Thanks!

I'm using the Cyberpower 1500AVR with an Active PFC power supply with no problems and it's been running happy for a year now if thats any help for you.

After reading through a couple threads, one of the Beard guys surmised that it's long-term use of stepped on an Active PFC PSU that would be a problem. E.g. going onto battery a few times, during the storm season, isn't a big deal. I think if you're expecting to using the PSU on battery for extended periods though, I'd rather use a sine wave.

This is why I wouldn't spend any money on the BackUPS line, and instead would save for the SmartUPS line (which has sine wave output). Hopefully you haven't already bought a UPS yet though. I'd buy a refurb too, unless your wallet to be hurting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stoner133

I'm using the Cyberpower 1500AVR with an Active PFC power supply with no problems and it's been running happy for a year now if thats any help for you.

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+1 I have the same backup and been running it for about as long as you have on Active PFC PSU's without issue.

Thanks guys that was a big help to me :up:.

I think I'll look for the Cyberpower 1500AVR then. The APC ones are too expensive for me.. and I don't plan in having to rely on the UPS for extended periods. It's more for surge protection when storms hit or the power gets cut.

By the way in the future when perhaps a 1000W+ PSU will be needed, is it enough to have a 1500VA UPS? I'd guess since the 1500VA UPS are 900W it wouldn't be enough, but if the system only uses near 1000W at peak, then on idle I'd guess it'd be more than enough, am I correct?

If not those 1000W+ UPS (from APC) are so expensive, I hope that when the time comes they drop those prices :eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pedrovsk

Thanks guys that was a big help to me :up:.

I think I'll look for the Cyberpower 1500AVR then. The APC ones are too expensive for me.. and I don't plan in having to rely on the UPS for extended periods. It's more for surge protection when storms hit or the power gets cut.

By the way in the future when perhaps a 1000W+ PSU will be needed, is it enough to have a 1500VA UPS? I'd guess since the 1500VA UPS are 900W it wouldn't be enough, but if the system only uses near 1000W at peak, then on idle I'd guess it'd be more than enough, am I correct?

If not those 1000W+ UPS (from APC) are so expensive, I hope that when the time comes they drop those prices :eek:

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yea..at idle it doesn't matter if you have a 5,000 watt PSU..your still going to be pulling 200ish watts overall. I think my system pulls about 220 watts @idle of 121V with my 24" monitor.

System in sig pulls 330w absolutely totally loaded, with the receiver going.

Web browse with receiver off around 200w.

When I first got my GeForce 295 (upgrade from a 4870X2), I was running 3DMark and I got a popup that I had less than 5 minutes runtime on my UPS :) That's with an APC Back-UPS RS 1500. So it's not just the wattage capability, the runtime is a challenge with these high-end systems. The great thing about the APC RS 1500 is that it allows you to add a second outboard battery unit (that looks very much like the original UPS but is just a battery).

BTW my idle draw is 432w measured by the UPS software with the system in my SIG. 614w under Prime95 Blend. Can't tell how much it is under graphics load since I can't access the UPS software while running a game.

With the second battery attached, I have about 27 minutes runtime under load, 52 minutes at idle.

Oh, naturally my audio system is NOT plugged into the UPS, just the computer, monitor and 7-port USB hub.

Idle at 432w? I know you have a 30" LCD vs my 24", 2 extra HDD's and a 295 vs my 8800GT, but how is it using so much? Is your watercooling setup on the UPS as well?

Actually 458w with my usual USB stuff plugged in (iPhone charging, etc.)

Differences from your system:

- GeForce 295 vs. 8800GT (at least 35w more)
- 95w for my 30" Cinema Display vs. 45w for your BenQ
- 15K HDDs @ 12.7w vs. normal 7200 rpm @ about 8w each
- Water cooling pump (24w @ 12v)
- 6 DIMMs vs. 4
- PCI-E NIC
- More fans
- 7 port Belkin USB hub

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pedrovsk

Hello,

I've been looking to choose a PSU and UPS for a GTX 295 + Core i7 system, and came to the conclusion a Corsair HX-620W will suffice.

However I've read that this PSU has Active PFC and it'll require a UPS to be Pure Sine Wave, else it'll fry both PSU and UPS.

I have pratically no knowledge on electric stuff so I have no idea what to do here and if it really matters or not that the UPS is pure sine wave.

I currently have a simulated sine wave CyberPower OP-1000E 1000VA UPS on a 500W system and it works fine. However I doubt the PSU I am using is PFC, as it's quite old.

There's a UPS of 1500VA similar to my UPS by the same brand, which would be the one I'd get for the new system, but it's also simulated sine wave, so I'm not sure it'd be the best choice.

I really have no knowledge on this stuff, so I can't really tell by myself what matters and doesn't, so if anyone knows I'd be grateful to get some opinions..

Thanks!

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Unless you plan on running on battery power for extended peroids of time (hours at a time),
you won't have any problems.

If you want a true sine wave UPS,
the APC Smart Back Up purchased "refurbed" with new batteries offers an affordable method.

The Corsair 620W is an excellent PSU.

Good Gaming,
Dave :up:

Dont forget some battery backup units are "constant" on.

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Originally Posted by STEvil

Dont forget some battery backup units are "constant" on.

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True, but all of those, TBK, are true sine wave and his CyberPower OP-1000E is only a stand-by unit. :up: