Power consumption and UPSs

Question

Level 1

8 points

Power consumption and UPSs

I'm trying to figure out what kind of UPS I need for my soon to arrive (2009) 2.93 8 core Mac Pro. Apple's support page seems to suggest that (for the 2.26 8 core, at least) it maxes out at 309 W? Or I guess that's not counting HDDs, but... why do I always hear numbers like 800 or 900 W when it comes do this issue? To be honest, even if I spent 500$+ on a UPS I'm still not sure that it would be okay for me to run 2 displays, monitors (speakers), a sub, etc... on the same UPS.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2836

Part of the reason I'm asking is that I'm not sure it's in my budget to invest in a single UPS for everything, since I NEED my UPS to be dead silent, which only increases the cost. I'm figuring out what it would cost me to get a UPS dedicated to my Mac Pro and nothing else, and then run other equipment off of a different one.

Thanks!

Mid 2008 Macbook Pro 2.4G, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 5, 2010 9:45 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 5, 2010 10:16 AM in response to Ravich

why do I always hear numbers like 800 or 900 W when it comes do this issue?

The 309W is for the configuration shown in the Knowledge Base article. If you add memory, hard drives, PCIe cards, etc. the power requirements will increase. I have a 2007 Mac Pro (8-core, 3.0 GHz) with 16 GB of memory, 4 internal hard drives, 2 optical drives, ATI Radeon 4870 video card, RocketRaid 2314 eSATA card and a Blackmagic Intensity Pro card. When I get all 8-cores going I can easily get to 600W of power usage as shown on my UPS. I also have a 30 inch Apple Cinema Display (110W) on the UPS which is included in the 600W figure.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Sep 5, 2010 10:20 AM in response to Ravich

Go to the APC web site (www.apc.com) and you will find documents and tools to help pick the right UPS for your system. You can also do some Google searches for places that sell used and/or refurbished UPSes. Many of us with Mac Pro systems are using somewhat older models of the APC RS1500 which is sufficient to handle my 2006 Mac Pro with two video cards (ATI 3879 and Nvidia 7300) plus four hard drives and two opticals installed. It also powers my monitor (LCD) any number of bus-powered Firewire drives, an additional laptop, scanner, cable modem, AEBS, telephone, chargers for the iPad, and cell phone. Doesn't max it out even nearly. I bought it refurbished at what was a pretty decent price compared to what the new (not the same model any more) model costs. It's huge and heavy.

I found a model with the USB port that connects to your computer so you can control settings through the Energy Saver preferences (no software needed.)

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Sep 5, 2010 10:53 AM in response to Ravich

APC RS1500VA 865W - you will be fine. $200

If you need a 2nd UPS you can get something smaller. But that is safe and will get you started. You don't have to have $600 SMART APC UPS.

I'll find the link(s) we kicked this to death last week and on MacRumors.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Sep 5, 2010 11:05 AM in response to Kappy

Here's the link to the two APC UPSes.

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Answer 5

Ravich Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 5, 2010 4:38 PM in response to Kappy

That links me to the APC UPS selector.

Over the last several days I've found several options that have been recommended, so I'm down to these options:

http://excessups.com/smartups-1500-sua1500-p-38.html - 250$

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspecindex.cfm?basesku=BR1500LCD - 250$

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspecindex.cfm?basesku=BX1500G ~ 180$

I'm mostly wondering what the main difference is between the second and third options, since I cant really see anything. I have read that I shouldnt buy refurbished UPSs. Why is this?

The Hatter: I tried looking for your recommendation and the closest thing I found was http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspecindex.cfm?basesku=br1500i, which is way more expensive than 200$.

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Answer 6

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Sep 5, 2010 5:08 PM in response to Ravich

Amazon and Newegg

http://www.amazon.com/APC-BACK-UPS-BR1500LCD-1500VA-System/dp/B000NDA5E0/

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?&t=1004739

APC has RS vs XS in their knowledge base.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2556767

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Sep 5, 2010 6:22 PM in response to Ravich

Any one of the three are good choices. Differences will mainly be how current they are. Not sure the RS1500VA is a current model but it's the one I have.

I bought mine as a refurb and it's worked perfectly. I see nothing inherently bad about refurbished units if they come with a good battery.

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Answer 8

Ravich Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 6, 2010 12:23 PM in response to Kappy

"There are basically 2 differences between the Back-UPS RS and the Back-UPS XS models besides their names.

1. The Back-UPS RS models have both 1-line 2-wire phone/fax/modem data-line protection and 10/100base-T ethernet protection, where as the Back-UPS XS models only has 1-line 2-wire phone/fax/modem protection.

2. The Back-UPS RS models have both Boost* and Trim** as features of Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), where as the Back-UPS XS only has Boost. When the input voltage increases above the high transfer point of a Back-UPS XS model it will only go to battery.

*AVR Boost: The UPS is compensating for a low utility voltage. While the UPS can run in this mode indefinitely without any negative impact on the UPS, the circuit should be checked by a qualified electrician if the utility voltage is consistently low.

**AVR Trim: The UPS is compensating for a high utility voltage. While the UPS can run in this mode indefinitely without any negative impact on the UPS, the circuit should be checked by a qualified electrician if the utility voltage is consistently high."

So... what exactly do either of those mean?

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Answer 9

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Sep 6, 2010 12:55 PM in response to Ravich

If you are asking about boost and trim they are features for compensating for either low or high line voltage, respectively. The RS models do both while the XS model only provides trim (high voltage compensation.) You can check your line voltage with an AC volt meter. If the line voltage is normally high, then you would only need the trim feature. Personally, I would go for the RS model over the XS.

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Answer 10

ryan42

Level 3

859 points

Sep 6, 2010 5:00 PM in response to Ravich

If you're going to get an APC UPS, you MUST get a Smart UPS product if you plan on using sleep mode. I have the largest Back UPS model made, and it just doesn't work.

If the UPS doesn't provide sine-wave power, when the power goes out, the UPS will wake the Mac up to shut it down. The UPS will not be able to support the power draw the instant the Mac wakes up, and will drop the power to the Mac, go into overload mode, and beep at you continuously until you manually shut it off.

If you leave the Mac awake all the time you'll be fine, but if you plan on allowing it to sleep, you must have sine-wave power to wake (or for that matter, power on) the Mac Pro.

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Answer 11

Ravich Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 6, 2010 7:43 PM in response to ryan42

sigh why is it so hard to find out massively important pointers like these?

In simpler terms, what does that mean? For example, I am away and my MP is sleeping, power goes out. I dont return for hours. What happens?

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Answer 12

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Sep 7, 2010 6:33 AM in response to Ravich

You should have just taken my advice and gotten the APC RS1500VA or even CyberPower. The is no NEED to have to buy higher level. Leave that for the very extreme network server or high end audio.

It shuts down, and I wouldn't want it to auto restart after power outage, possible corruption, but Energy Saver lets you.

My RS1500VA has an external add on battery pack to run 75 minutes.

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Answer 13

Ravich Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 7, 2010 10:28 AM in response to The hatter

While your advice is appreciated and helpful, I cant exactly adopt your own confidence in your knowledge. I need to take into account everything else I hear as well.

I'm still wondering about what ryan42 said, and it would be very helpful if someone could explain whether that is true and why it does or doesnt matter.

I'll get the APC RS 1500VA when I know I can leave my Mac Pro in sleep mode and not worry about it.

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