Who makes a good surge protector??

I am looking for a new surge protector that i can buy at a store like office max or best buy.  Any idea's? 

Edited by Ramdurand - 18 Jun 2009 at 8:47pm

Okay i was looking at them at best buy and they have watts on them.  How many watts is enough?  It doesn't go by how many watts your PSU is does it?

He asked for a surge protector not a backup battery.

I can't suggest anything, I was wondering the same thing myself. I looked at the backups but I think I would rather go with a regular surge protector. 

I've been using Monster Power HTS1600...8-outlet, powerCenter with clean Power Stage 2...no complaints.  Got it @ TheNerds.net for $216.49 (w/tax/shipping) last Sept. probably less now.  Doesn't have "battery" backup...but, with power conditioning/stabilization it is suppose to benefit your monitor as well. 

Originally posted by EdH63 Actually its probably better than most other options.  This will regulate the unstable 120v coming out of the wall and feed your rig only what it needs in the draw.  That's probably the best feature on power monitors like these.  Your components never receive anymore than what's required.  I watch the front of my Panamax and the 120v fluctuates within about 4v all the time.  When a power spike hits it, it shuts down all banks and sequentially boots them back up one at at time.  The machines are designed for any type of hardware.  I remember when I hooked it for the first time to my home theater, the sound quality brightened up quite noticeably.  If for no other reason, get one for your home theater. I know you know this,HM, I'm just going through this for others that may not know.

I hear ya on the price.  Merely a suggestion and an option.  If you can find a cheap one, go for it.  I know this is still out of the price range you've stated, but something to consider.  These components are well worth there price simply because they work.  And, they will replace your equipment if it gets fried due to failure.  My attitude is this, I vest a considerable amount of money into hardware that performs to the standards that I've chosen to live with.  There is no question in my mind whether or not I will want the best power supplies and conditioners to assure that the equipment performs according to my standard.  You spend that money for performance and quality, so have the components that will enhance and secure your investment.  My outlook on  that is that they go hand in hand... no options.

It's much like buying a brand new 50" HDMI 1080P flat screen TV for the den.  Why would I want a cheap surge protector and component cabling?  If I'm going to buy a product that potentially gives me the best sound and picture reproduction, why then would I diminish my purchase, and the experience I'm about to embark upon while watching it, by hooking it up with cabling and power supplies that would contradict the whole concept of this awesome technology.  Before I purchase, I'm going to make sure I'm thinking of all the ancillary things that orbit that purchase that will make my experinece with that purchase as good as it gets.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_299M5100PM/Panamax-MAX-5100-PM.html?search=Panamax+VENDORID299&searchdisplay=Panamax


Edited by EdH63 - 19 Jun 2009 at 12:10pm

HOLD UP guys it really depends on what hes doing if u just wanna shut down your computer you dont need all that. if u wanna run it through a strom or a power outtage or something thats diffrerent  we have a battery back up APC and its 550 watts and runs more than just the desktop. ITshould be more like this

Edited by inferno23 - 19 Jun 2009 at 1:21pm

y a 900 if he just want to shut down a 550 should give him enough power to shut down and wont cost as much. also im a big best buy fan and i worked at office depot and i know both are extremely high priced. I buy for BB all the time b/c of the selection and im a rewardzone member, but i think itd be cheeper to go somewhere else, id go to walmart 1st

Originally posted by inferno23 HOLD UP guys it really depends on what hes doing if u just wanna shut down your computer you dont need all that. if u wanna run it through a strom or a power outtage or something thats diffrerent  we have a battery back up APC and its 550 watts and runs more than just the desktop. ITshould be more like this   low watts........... to safely turn your computer off after power out/ surge   high watt ........... to run it through a storm   ask business ppl they get those high watts cuz during a power out they will still have apps and such on a computer to finish ,but for me and you all we need is low watts. a low watt probably wont cost no more than 120 and thats at office depot [their always overpriced (i know i worked there)]. I agree with the others yes u should go with a battery back up vs a surge protector the back up will do it better and give u a couple of min power. its just the question of are u gonna try and play through the storm or or u just wanting to safely put your computer off, int the end the high watts usually not worth it i think a 1500 or 1200 watt at office depot was extrmemly heavy and cost about 300$ and that doesnt include the price of the battery wen it goes dead. A standard surge protector wont do that its will still likely fry all your components

This isn't necessarily the point.  If you discern this, looking at what the underlying current is and not just the surface view, then you will understand that one, there are people, like me (and maybe him), that leave their system on 24/7 and at any given time could run the risk of the unannounced power outage.  Two, there are pieces of equipment that run in standby and that equipment is at risk also.  Nevertheless, it is simply my opinion, and others, that may or may not persuade the OP to purchase a piece of hardware like this.  If he deems it necessary then he will do what it takes to secure the purchase.  My intent here is not to guess what his needs are in this category, rather offer options that he could place within the veritable smorgasbord of answers and suggestions, including yours. 


Edited by EdH63 - 19 Jun 2009 at 2:05pm

Originally posted by inferno23 that point is noted but that % of ppl is prob small when u talk about gaming computers prob around 15%. Dunno about u but id never leave a 3k cpu on all day. especially since it will draw alot of power. so thats what i suggested. ALso i never said what he should get but i did say it depeends on weather or not u want it to run during the storm or if u just want it to turn it off. he did say just to turn it off ( its still shouldnt take that long unless ure not even in the house which would be a potential danger risk if your computers still runnnig and ure 15 miles away)

I really couldn't quantify that percentage either low, nor high because I don't know.  I'd kinda like to know how you quantify 15%.  I personally couldn't even begin to give a percentage to quantify that number of people in the (US, world, universe)?  I'm sorry to analyze this to the hilt, I just have a hard time understanding folks that paint broad strokes when making their points. 

Lots of folks leave their 3k, 4k, 5k... computers on.  It's a matter if you think you're going to suffer more wear and tear on your rig turning it off and on as opposed to just leaving it on.  There was a discussion on this awhile back, I believe, before you came on board here in these forums.  I personally believe that there is more wear and tear on a computer by booting it up and down on a regular basis, but that's just my opinion. 

My last rig stayed on for 5 years 24/7 and never missed a beat, so the assumption that wear and tear is worse by leaving it on vs. booting it up and down every day is going to be very hard to quantify.  I can tell you from my experience that it didn't seem to shorten the life span of my rig considering the hours I got out of it and the expected average life expectancy of a system.

I know you never said that you are saying what he should get, I don't believe I alluded to that at least, rather I've based my observations on my opinions.  And the amount of power a PC draws leaving it on all day is minimal based on actuarial data.


Edited by EdH63 - 19 Jun 2009 at 4:28pm

Gah! A Cyberpower made battery .. get it away! get it away!

Is Cyberpower bad?  Let me know so I don't get one.

Thats a good question Harleyman lol.  It says Power conditioner with SMP+  Technology.  Here is the link if you want to look at it.  Seems like it will work fine for me.  http://www.furmansound.com/product.php?id=PST-8

Yup.

Originally posted by satsunada Gah! A Cyberpower made battery .. get it away! get it away!

 

hopefully u dont mind me asking but what in the world kinda computer u have that needs a 3,000 watts back up??? i doubt the supercomputer has one of those. U might as well buy a back up power generator for your house