Introduction
The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming represents a specialized entrant in the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) market. Designed specifically for gamers, this UPS aims to address the unique power protection needs of gaming setups, ensuring uninterrupted gameplay during power fluctuations or outages. With its blend of functionality and gaming-oriented aesthetics, the APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming promises to be more than just a power backup – it’s positioned as an integral part of a gamer’s arsenal.
What’s in the box
The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming comes well-equipped out of the box. Apart from the unit, the review unit that was sent to us also came with a German and a UK power cable, ensuring broad regional compatibility. A plug adapter is also included, further enhancing its versatility. There’s also a safety guide, but oddly, no user manual.
Design and Build Quality
The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming makes a strong impression with its modern design that caters specifically to gaming aesthetics. The centerpiece of which is what they call the Reactor Circle, which is tilted at 160° for ensuring optimal visibility of the LCD from various angles providing easy access to crucial information about remaining charge and load capacity at a glance.
The unit’s functional lighting goes beyond mere aesthetics. It uses pulsing lights to alert users to power anomalies such as surges, dips, and even wiring faults, adding a layer of visual communication to its core functionality. The dedicated display offers more detailed information, showing battery capacity and load percentage, with each bar representing 20% of the load capacity.
Despite its compact footprint, the UPS is surprisingly heavy, which may be a testament to its robust build quality but can make it a pain to move around. The front panel houses three buttons for intuitive control of the display, power, and sound alerts.
There are two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port conveniently located at the front as well, for device charging.
The rear panel is equally well-designed, offering six sockets – four providing both power delivery and surge protection, and two offering surge protection only. There’s even a dedicated LAN port for use in software installation and configuration, allowing users to fine-tune their UPS settings.
One of the standout features is the inclusion of customizable RGB LEDs for enhancing your gaming setup’s aesthetics and providing functional indications of remaining power during outages through color coding.
The rear LED adds further utility by illuminating the sockets and synchronizing with the Reactor Circle, creating an ambient glow that complements the gaming environment.
Performance
To gauge the performance of the APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming, it was tested with my personal gaming setup. The test rig consisted of a desktop PC powered by a Ryzen 7 3700X processor, an RTX 3080 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 700W power supply unit. I’m using one monitor at 1440p resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate. Other connected devices included a wireless mouse, a wired keyboard, a card reader, and a USB hub.
The use of sine wave power output is particularly noteworthy, as it’s crucial for sensitive gaming equipment. This technology helps maximize the lifespan of connected devices and ensures stable backup power, potentially preventing damage from power fluctuations.
The estimated runtime of around 10 minutes for a Desktop PC with one monitor turned out to be modest, as the PC was able to run for around 30 to 40 minutes on backup power alone. Mind you though, I was only doing basic tasks including document editing, watching YouTube videos, and web browsing.
It’s important to note that actual runtime will vary based on the specific devices connected, the game being played, and the graphics load. Users with high-power gaming setups should be aware that runtime under full load may be limited, but it does deliver on a primary function of allowing for safe shutdown.
Controls/Extra Features
The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming shines in its array of controls and extra features, offering extensive customization options that cater to the preferences of discerning gamers.
The PowerChute Software, installable via the supplied network cable, provides comprehensive control and monitoring capabilities. This software allows users to configure settings, monitor power consumption, and set up automated actions in case of power events, like shutting down the system at a certain threshold.
The UPS offers remarkable flexibility in its visual customization. Users can adjust the brightness of the Reactor Circle, change its display mode between static, breathing, or animated options, and alter the color of the LEDs. This level of customization ensures that the UPS can seamlessly blend with any gaming setup’s aesthetic.
The LCD illumination can be set to always-on or activate only when a button is pressed, conserving energy when not needed. The Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) function compensates for voltage fluctuations, ensuring a stable power supply even in areas with inconsistent grid power.
These granular controls allow users to tailor the UPS’s operation and appearance to their exact preferences.
Verdict
The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming represents a significant step forward in UPS design for gaming applications. It successfully combines robust power protection with gamer-centric features and aesthetics, creating a product that’s as much a part of a gaming setup as it is a utility device.
It boasts a thoughtful design, which includes the informative Reactor Circle, customizable RGB lighting, and an array of useful ports. The use of sine wave power output and Automatic Voltage Regulation showcases a commitment to protecting high-end gaming equipment, while the addition of dedicated software to give a user advanced control and monitoring adds another layer of functionality that power users will appreciate.
However, the APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming comes with a premium price tag of PHP 25,500, which may be a significant investment for many gamers. While its specialized features and gaming-oriented design justify a higher price point compared to standard UPS units, potential buyers should carefully consider their needs and budget.
Depending on what you’re doing with your PC, a relatively short runtime for high-power gaming setups might be a concern for some users, particularly those in areas with frequent, prolonged power outages. However, it’s important to remember what a UPS’ primary function is – To provide enough time for safe shutdown and to bridge short power interruptions, which this unit accomplishes successfully.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
