What’s the Best UPS for a Powerful PC with a 1200W Power Supply?

Don't forget to consider your internet gear, like modems and routers! But if you're only planning to connect your desktop to the new UPS, that's fine. Just make sure to use a separate, less powerful UPS for the other devices.

You might want to grab a watt meter; they're pretty cheap, usually under $20. They help determine the power consumption of your peripherals. With a watt meter, you can decide what should be on battery backup. For instance, I keep my tower and monitor on the battery, but I don't have my speakers hooked up to it. It's also helpful to see how your devices draw power differently, like watching how refresh rates affect your display's power consumption!

I would recommend getting a 1500VA UPS. For most computer equipment, the type of waveform (pure or simulated sine wave) doesn't matter too much unless you're using high-end audio equipment. It's a good idea to think of the battery like a phone battery; it won't drain constantly. Generally, your computer draws around 150-200 watts when idle, but under heavy load like gaming, it can pull a lot more. A 1500VA UPS typically gives you about 10 minutes of runtime at high loads, which is often enough to shut down safely.

Just keep in mind that the 1500VA is mostly about battery capacity. If you're using a high-power CPU like the AMD 9950X3D, you might be nearing 900-1000 watts during intense gaming. A UPS like the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD, which has 1500VA and 1000 watts, should handle your desktop fine for safe shutdowns. I suggest dedicating this new UPS to just your PC, as your current setup seems to be overloaded.