Back-ups alarm sounds when playing a PC video game

[RH143]

Recently purchased an APC Battery Back-UPS for my computer.  Model BE600M1 rated 600 VA / 330 Watts.

Runs fine with green light when computer is on.  However when I launch certain video games the light turns amber and the UPS makes noise.

My suspicion is the GPU is adding load and exceeding the capacity of the UPS.  Can anyone comment if this is normal?

[Teken]

Install APC Power Chute Software (PCSS) on the target computer and connect the two together and launch the application.

Run the same conditions and scenario until the problem appears. Report back the error code / fault in the event logs.

You may follow this APC FAQ to retrieve the logs to share them here:

https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA159672/

Questions Ask . . . 👍

[JamesOConnor]

Yes, this is completely normal for an overloaded unit, and your suspicion is spot on. It is highly likely your UPS is undersized for the equipment you have plugged into the battery-backed outlets.

The BE600M1 only supports a maximum of 330 Watts. When you launch a video game, your GPU ramps up and pulls significantly more power than it does at idle (peak demand). This instantly exceeds that 330W limit, triggering the amber light and the overload alarm.

To fix this, you need a UPS sized for your peak demand rather than your average load. Here is how to estimate it:

• Check the Wattage rating on your PC's power supply (most gaming PCs are 500+ Watts).

• Find the Wattage of your monitor and any other peripherals plugged into the battery side.

• Add those together.

That total is the safe Wattage capacity you should look for in a replacement UPS.