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Best UPS choice for a 2008 Mac Pro?

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pitabox987

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 1, 2014
44
0
Armidale, NSW
Hi, can anyone give me advice on selecting an appropriate UPS for an old mid 2008 Mac Pro?

My setup is as follows if it is of any use.

Processor: 2 x 2.8Ghz
RAM: 4GB (will be adding more soon)
Storage: 5.5TB
VRAM: 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5770 running two 27" LED monitors
OS: Mac OS X 10.6.8
Peripherals: keyboard, mouse, scanner.

I'm not really sure on the type or model of UPS to select, I've heard good things about APC and Dell being compatible with OS X UPS monitor. — I've also heard that Mac OS X will best recognise pure sine wave UPSs.

Currently I have a damaged Belkin unit, with incompatible software and a blown fuse.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
I've had good success with the Cyberpower 1000PFC for the last year. It's a 1,000V/600W unit. I had read about the Macs more sensitive power supply and pure sine waves, so I bought this one to replace my aging APC battery backup. It was originally for my new iMac (little overkill) but has held up fine for my 12-core Mac Pro after switching. Max load gets up to around 60-70% of power handling.

Automatically recognized by OSX as a UPS when connected via USB. My favorite feature, besides all the meters you can cycle thru on the front display, is that the display goes to sleep after a short time and you see nothing, just black with a soft white backlight to the power button. Not as big a deal now that I have an office space, but when I was living in an efficiency apartment, it was nice to get rid of light pollution where I slept.
 
Either the CyberPower model mentioned above or the APC SMT1000 model will do what you need and give a reasonable runtime.

I don't know if the 2008 MPs need Pure Sine Wave output in a UPS - it might be worth checking before you buy.
 
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pitabox987 said:
Hi, can anyone give me advice on selecting an appropriate UPS for an old mid 2008 Mac Pro?

My setup is as follows if it is of any use.

Processor: 2 x 2.8Ghz
RAM: 4GB (will be adding more soon)
Storage: 5.5TB
VRAM: 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5770 running two 27" LED monitors
OS: Mac OS X 10.6.8
Peripherals: keyboard, mouse, scanner.

I'm not really sure on the type or model of UPS to select, I've heard good things about APC and Dell being compatible with OS X UPS monitor. — I've also heard that Mac OS X will best recognise pure sine wave UPSs.

Currently I have a damaged Belkin unit, with incompatible software and a blown fuse.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

i have the same machine and have run it since 2008. the first UPS i got was an APC model. i may be able to find the info--want to say it was a smart-UPS ~1200. it was underpowered and caused problems due to higher power draw when it would start up or wake from sleep.

mind you i was using 2 ACDs (23") at the same time.

the model i have been using successfully for years is the APC smart-UPS 1500.
 
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Thanks for the replies, I'll take a look at the ups models mentioned, I do remember looking at a an APC model online yesterday, though it retailed at close to $1,500... Ouch!

The Belkin model I own cost a few hundred dollar when I bought it about five years ago, then again I guess I got what I payed for since It's due for replacement...

-

I've not used CyberPower UPSs before so I'll take a look.

I'll leave this thread open until I find a suitable model. ;)
 
pitabox987 said:
Thanks for the replies, I'll take a look at the ups models mentioned, I do remember looking at a an APC model online yesterday, though it retailed at close to $1,500... Ouch!

The Belkin model I own cost a few hundred dollar when I bought it about five years ago, then again I guess I got what I payed for since It's due for replacement...

-

I've not used CyberPower UPSs before so I'll take a look.

I'll leave this thread open until I find a suitable model. ;)
Click to expand...

Hi Pitabox. I am using an APC RS BR 1500VA and still working fine.
HERE is the model.

Though some would recommend a pure sine wave smart UPS. An APC tech guy recommended the APC SUA 1500VA which has a capacity of 980watts that matches the 980 watts of the Mac Pro's power supply. Though the machine may only be consuming less than 980 watts. Price is higher.

http://www.amazon.com/APC-SMART-UPS...1388830402&sr=1-3&keywords=apc+smart+ups+1500

There was an old thread sometime in 2009 about UPS for Mac Pros and I recall sine wave was being recommended.
 
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Yea, the CyberPower was the only advertised pure sine wave UPS, that wasn't ridiculously priced as I recall. I just checked during a 3D render yesterday, and with my 2 X5670s under full multithreaded load, it was drawing 450W (including my Cinema Display).
 
The BR 1500 will be a stepped sine wave. I don't know if earlier (2008) MPs require a Pure Sine Wave or whether they can chew the rougher signals from a Stepped Sine Wave UPS. You would be advised to ask Apple before buying as the cheap remodels will be Stepped.

CyberPower is cheaper than APC but you need to make sure that both UPS models would be equivalent and also the warranties and batteries are similar before making a decision.
 
I use a CyberPower 1500, works like a champ and a good price. My neighborhood is old and we have occasional power blips. Hasn't failed me yet.
 
The APC ones are long term investments, tend to outlast the batteries, and are generally worth repairing when needed.

So a $499 Smart UPS 1500 from frys will likely still be with you in 10 years.

A $150 UPS will likely get tossed when it needs new batteries.

The APC unit you'd replace the batteries and keep it around.

---

With that, you can generally find used APC units with new batteries being offered for $250 and a 1 year warranty.
 
Sun Baked said:
The APC ones are long term investments, tend to outlast the batteries, and are generally worth repairing when needed.

So a $499 Smart UPS 1500 from frys will likely still be with you in 10 years.

A $150 UPS will likely get tossed when it needs new batteries.

The APC unit you'd replace the batteries and keep it around.

---

With that, you can generally find used APC units with new batteries being offered for $250 and a 1 year warranty.
Click to expand...

I purchased three of my UPSs from ebay.
1. With batteries and a 90 day warranty or so
2, 3. No batteries but warranty on the unit ( I purchased the batteries separately).

Note: Not all batteries are the same. Some are better than others.

This is my setup:
UPS1:
modem, router, switch, gaming PC tower and monitor

UPS2:
Mac tower and monitor (1 of 2)

UPS3: spare

Next steps:
Install powerchute software to do graceful shutdown
Install management cards into units
 
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Another vote for Cyberpower. I have 1300 and 1500 and both have performed flawlessly under brownouts and blackouts, on Mac Pro 1,1 and 5,1 fairly loaded with RAM and disks.

Others may be as good. I'm only reporting that I'm very pleased with mine.
 
The APC 1500Va models last forever, and when they do need a re-cell most use standard Yuasa NP-7-12 batteries. Rather heavier and larger than the Cyberpower though but sure the APC brick has a cleaner output. The old serial only models can be got for peanuts but those with the USB port also are the ones to go for and are still cheap as chips.
 
I have used this APC domestic unit for 5 years now, still going strong.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/APC-BE700G-UK-Interface-Power-Saving-Back-UPS/dp/B002RXED6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390492437&sr=8-1&keywords=APC+UPS £67 in the UK.

On power cut it drives my monitor, Mac Pro 3,1 and router for about 30 mins.
I added my Hackintosh to the drain also, so I will have much shorter run time with both on.

This one is the upmarket version:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/APC-Smart-750VA-230V-Approval/dp/B000RJ0FFE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1390492740&sr=8-7&keywords=APC+UPS £215
 
Last edited:
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Thanks, been thinking about one of these for a while and with my nMP coming to this has given me a nice reminder. Just ordered the UPC :)
 
pitabox987 said:
Hi, can anyone give me advice on selecting an appropriate UPS for an old mid 2008 Mac Pro?

My setup is as follows if it is of any use.

Processor: 2 x 2.8Ghz
RAM: 4GB (will be adding more soon)
Storage: 5.5TB
VRAM: 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5770 running two 27" LED monitors
OS: Mac OS X 10.6.8
Peripherals: keyboard, mouse, scanner.

I'm not really sure on the type or model of UPS to select, I've heard good things about APC and Dell being compatible with OS X UPS monitor. — I've also heard that Mac OS X will best recognise pure sine wave UPSs.

Currently I have a damaged Belkin unit, with incompatible software and a blown fuse.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

There's also Tripp Lite, which I haven't heard mentioned above, but I've had a good experience with my APC SU2200 Smart-Ups unit; the batteries lasted me almost ten years, but the (generic) replacement batteries aren't doing so well. Apparently keeping the unit in a cool location, extends the life of those batteries.

Such a unit is more than you'll need, strictly speaking, but will also allow you to hook up more peripherals, and give you significantly longer run time. It does however require a 20Amp circuit, so unless you're electrically inclined, that's an added expense.

There's something else you may want to consider: One of the reasons I bought it, rather than a unit with a lower rating, was that I also have home electronics hooked up to it, as well as our pilot light-less (electronic ignition) hot water tank. (They save you gas, but no electricity=no hot water.)

Whatever you decide to buy, I do recommend a pure sinewave unit due to the very sensitive electronics in computers; it could possibly save you from corrupted data.
 
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