Is it okay to run a high-end gaming PC off a Smart-UPS?

[Parthu1708]

The PC I just built has a Corsair HX1000i PSU and it doesn't like being fed the 'step-approximated sine wave' outputted by my Back-UPS BR1500G-IN. There's a constant crackling/buzzing coming from the PSU whenever the UPS goes on battery mode. The Corsair support rep advised to get a Pure Sine wave UPS but also said that if the PSU only runs for a few minutes on my current UPS before I shut it down after an outage, the buzzing shouldn't be a big deal.

However, I don't want to take the risk of damaging the PSU's circuitry as it's obviously trying too hard to compensate for the stepped sine wave.

APC's chat support pointed me toward the Smart-UPS SUA1500I-IND when I said I wanted a line-interactive pure sine wave unit, but this one is listed as a Network & Server unit. Are there any issues with using these units with a home Gaming PC? Any quirks or procedures I should be aware of or can I use it just like I use my current Back-UPS model?

Also, can I hook up this Smart-UPS unit to my PC via cable (RJ45 on UPS end & USB on computer end) to use it with PowerChute like I can with the Back-UPS?

[Teken · Accepted solution]

You can use PCPE, PCSS, PCNS software if so configured with the correct cable and NMC.

By default you’ll connect this UPS with the supplied USB cable to a computer system running PCPE software. If you had the Network Management Card (NMC) you could connect the UPS to your network via RJ45 Ethernet cable to your LAN.

You may consider the following NMC if desired: AP9630, AP9631, AP9635, these are end of life NMC 2 but offer the best value. The latest generation is the AP9640, AP9641 NMC 3 which is active and fully supported by APC.

The cable you have now is a RJ50 and NOT a RJ45 Ethernet connector and is wired completely differently and cannot be used with this specific UPS model. 

The included serial cable is a APC proprietary cable. Do not throw it away or lose it! It can be used to connect to the unit to update firmware, communicate, etc.

You can not use both USB & Serial communications at the same time.

Let me know if you have more questions. If not and this resolved your query please mark this answer as a solution so it may help the next person asking the same. 👍

[Parthu1708]

Thanks for the information!

So I guess there's no issue with using the Smart-UPS SUA1500I-IND for a high-end gaming PC?

[Teken]

Nope . . . 👍