Do you want to protect your gaming setup from interruptions and stay connected during a power outage? Well, the APC Back-UPS Pro for Gaming might be the answer for you!
Gaming has come a long way from our parents’ generation where an ice cream and some arcade games were the highlight of a Friday evening. Gaming is now serious, gaming gear is expensive, and the stakes are higher than ever with a growing number of people making money by streaming games or even gaming competitively. Regardless of your level, no one wants to be thrown out of a game or have their record affected by a power outage.
This is where a UPS comes in. A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is a device that provides backup power to electronic devices. This could be when the main power source fails completely or even if it’s experiencing interruptions. Having a UPS is not just essential for keeping your devices running and preventing interruptions, but also in order to protect your devices from being damaged, by a surge or brownout, or due to not having enough time to shut down correctly. One of the other key benefits of a UPS system is the preservation of data which can easily be lost during an outage. Game data is of course important, but other data should also be considered. If you stream or record gameplay for example, the last thing you want is the entire session being lost because you couldn’t save it correctly.
APC, a flagship brand of Schneider Electric, makes UPS systems, and they even cater specifically to the gaming market with their ‘Back-UPS Pro for Gaming’ model, keeping you protected, connected, and in the game. APC has got console and PC gamers sorted, with protection from up to seven different types of power interruptions. The Back-UPS Pro for Gaming, linked below in both the white and black colourway, has a 1320W/2200VA power capacity, which will be more than enough for high-end PC gaming setups and flagship gaming consoles. How long you’ll have to finish up your game varies depending on usage, but APC has provided estimates. With a router (15W) connected to the UPS as well, APC estimates a PS5 (380W) will get about 11 minutes of runtime, while a gaming laptop (275W) could get 20 minutes of runtime.
Design and functionality
The units are sleek and look right at home in a gaming setup, accentuated by 12 customisable RGB LEDs which offer form and function. You can customise them to match your gaming setup and make the UPS fit your gamer aesthetic. The RGB lights are also colour coordinated for when you do start using the backup power, with specific colours indicating approximate battery level, so you know how much gaming time you have left. Alongside that, there’s a ‘reactor circle’, which provides a more accurate reading on the remaining battery. The reactor circle is tilted at 160 degrees, ensuring you can see it from almost any angle. Another thoughtful feature is the rear LEDs, which not only add to the gaming aesthetic, but also ensure you have no issues trying to plug devices into the rear of the unit, during late-night gaming sessions, or when you’re gaming in the dark because your lights don’t work! When a power anomaly does arise, the UPS notifies you immediately, via pulsing lights. This is great because while you might think it’s easy to tell when you have a power outage, other power issues are not as easy to recognise, so the Back-UPS Pro helps by alerting you. The APC Back-UPS Pro for Gaming has 6 power outlets, 2 USB-A ports, and a USB-C port too. This means you can charge phones and other devices that charge through a USB port, alongside your main setup.
Premium features for maximum protection
Not all UPS systems are made equal. What makes the Back-UPS Pro for Gaming a step above, is the inclusion of premium features like pure sine wave power. Most of the time, when your power is working properly and connected to the grid, the electricity being delivered typically comes in a pure sine wave pattern. Pure sine wave means the power flows smoothly and regularly, in a cyclic pattern. This is best for any electrical device but is especially important for high-end devices like gaming consoles and powerful PCs. Once the power goes out, the Back-UPS Pro for Gaming will continue to provide your devices with clean and consistent pure sine wave power, even while running on its own battery. If you want to learn more about pure sine wave power, check out the video from APC below which shows how it all works.
On the other hand, low-quality UPS systems may use modified sine waves or even square waves. While a modified sine wave can be fine for devices that aren’t as sensitive as your high-end gaming setup, they typically have a higher chance of being irregular and even, in some cases, damaging electronics due to power distortion. Square waves are even more likely to cause issues with sensitive equipment.
High-end devices, such as those used for gaming, are engineered to work best with clean and stable power. When the power supply isn’t up to par, you could experience crashes, freezes, and even damage to internal hardware. If you’re looking for a UPS to run powerful PCs, gaming systems, and other high-end devices, you must go for a good quality UPS, like the Back-UPS Pro for Gaming, for the added safety of its reliable power supply.
Alongside pure sine wave power, the Back-UPS Pro for Gaming has automatic voltage regulation (AVR). When you’re connected to the grid, AVR corrects fluctuations that may occur in the input voltage and provides an output voltage that remains within safe operating limits. AVR ensures that your devices don’t get impacted negatively by power interruptions like power surges or brownouts. This is very important because such interruptions can seriously damage your electronic devices.
With both pure sine wave and AVR, you not only get better protection immediately but can also rest assured knowing that you’re maximising the life span of any electronics connected to your UPS. Alongside safety, pure sinewave allows your gaming setup to run cooler and more efficiently while on backup power, ensuring you don’t experience any overheating.
If you’re gaming online, be sure to ensure your router/modem is also plugged into the UPS, or you’ll be left with a working gaming setup that has no internet connection. In saying this, be careful not to plug in unnecessary devices, as the more devices you have using power, the less gaming time you get from the UPS.
So, now that we’ve explored the Back-UPS Pro for Gaming in-depth, let’s review some of the key features…
- APC Back-UPS Pro for Gaming offers protection from up to seven different types of power interruptions.
- You can keep gaming when the power goes out and prevent the loss of game data/progress.
- Back-UPS Pro also makes sure your setup isn’t at risk of being damaged by power anomalies, like surges or brownouts.
- With a 1320W/2200VA capacity, you’ll get enough time to finish your game, even on the most power-hungry gaming setups.
- The Back-UPS Pro will continue providing clean and consistent pure sine wave power when the power goes out and it’s running on its own battery.
- Automatic voltage regulation in the Back-UPS Pro ensures output voltage remains within safe operating limits, even when input voltage fluctuates.
- The gaming-orientated design means the UPS will fit right into your gaming setup, with functional RGB and a sleek design.
The Back-UPS Pro for Gaming is a must-have for those with high-end gaming setups who want to stay both protected and connected. Don’t risk damage and invest in the highest-quality protection which will only add to your gaming setup’s aesthetic with its gamer-focused design and features. Not a gamer? You and your setup could still benefit from a UPS. Check out the wide range of UPS models from APC, available now at PB Tech!
