question about surge protection.

[Lost0ne33]

Hi guys I was wondering if I really need a uninterrupted power supply or surge protector, which would be best. What do you guys and gals use? Is it really needed or I'm I taking a risk? I have a cheapy surge protector but the green indicator is very dim, does this mean the protector is damaged. If so is possible that it got damaged by a surge.

Also is there a simple way to check if my pc has been damaged, I have no problems at all even at start up (no blue screen of death). I have a CORSAIR 1050W PRO SERIES™ HX1050-80 PLUS® GOLD MODULAR, Does it have a built in surge protector?

Hope I make sense, really tired

 

[Lost0ne33]

would the Belkin AV Isolator Home Cinema Surge Protector be any good or is it only for home cinemas, sure its the same thing right?

 

[ubuysa]

Surge protectors and uninterruptible power supplies are two different animals.

A surge protector simply removes voltage spikes from the 240v mains supply to your computer. They are strongly recommended for perople in rural areas because of the danger of lightning strikes causing voltage surges in power lines. People in cities tend not to suffer this problem quite as much but a surge protector is often a good idea, especially since they are relatively cheap. As with everything, if you're going to buy one it's worth buying a good one. All surge protectors do the same job, whether labelled for a home cinema system or a computer.

Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are battery-backed power supplies that are designed to hold the power supply up to your computer when the mains supply fails. Their purpose is to allow data to be saved and an orderly shutdown to be completed, they usually don't allow you to keep working (not for long anyway). UPS devices are expensive and the price goes up with the length of time you want the power to your computer to stay on. They are only needed in those locations where the power supply is prone to sudden failure, that rarely happens in the UK so they're not usually needed.

 

[[email protected]]

Also is there a simple way to check if my pc has been damaged,

Normal is for a defective power supply to boot and run a computer. Then, as the defect gets worse with age, the computer intermittently crashed.

A multimeter can identify the defect today. A tool so simple and inexpensive as to sell even in Maplin for 7 pounds. Use one to measure six wires between a PSU and motherboard. Those numbers, when the supply is under maximum load of the system, can identify defects and future failures.

Some damage (called overstress) is not measurable. But better techs use the meter to find defective PSUs BEFORE its warranty expires. These numbers can also identify undersized PSUs that still boot a computer. And other problems.