| CyberPower UPS Battery Backup for PCs |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Power | |||||||
| Written by Olin Coles | |||||||
| Tuesday, 02 March 2010 | |||||||
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CyberPower Intelligent UPS ConclusionUnlike many of the other projects here at Benchmark Reviews, this article focused on the CyberPower Intelligent-LCD series of UPS battery backup solutions. The added LCD feedback is rather informative: input voltage level, output voltage level, automatic voltage regulator, remaining battery capacity, estimated on-battery runtime, device total load level, output frequency, on battery alert, overload warning, fault condition notice, and silent mode display. For the casual PC user that only wants to keep from losing work during a power out condition, this could seem like information overload... but even the average personal computer user benefits from knowing how much time remains before it's lights out.
Of all the electronic devices we use these days, only a few require constant power to avoid losing data while others are required support equipment. When we group the various CyberPower Intelligent-UPS battery backup devices, we give them generic light/standard/heavy-demand labels that don't define exactly what fits inside the description. For reference, light-demand devices would include cordless telephones, Internet modems and routers, multimedia speaker systems, and clocks. Consumer electronic devices such as DVD/BD players, A/V receivers, monitors, netbook/laptop computers and basic desktop systems fit under the description of standard demand devices and should all work extremely well with the CP825AVRLCD and CP1000AVRLCD UPS products we've tested. Heavy-demand devices include enthusiast computer systems, home theater systems, HDTVs, security surveilance DVRs, and game consoles; all of which will enjoy several minutes of on-battery run time with the CP1500AVRLCD model.
Charted above you will find the entire CyberPower Intelligent-LCD series of UPS battery backup products with the best available online price (before shipping) as of March 2010. Looking over the prices you'll notice that many of these products cost the same but offer better power output... which is why it's important to shop around. Based on our tests, the best UPS of the bunch also offers the best value, which explains why the CP1500AVRLCD earned our Editor's Choice award back in 2007 (and might receive it again in 2010). The "tower" design and black appearance of the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD is probably the most appealing on the UPS market. CyberPower has tried other colors such as white and charcoal, but the black tower design fits best. While the plastic encased battery construction is more than rugged enough for indoor use, I am not so sure you want the LCD display resting under a desk where people are prone to kicking or driving a chair into it. In terms of performance and functionality, the results speak for themselves. The CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD lasted much longer than several other 1500VA-rated UPS devices, and did so with plenty of extra features at a less expensive price. You aren't going to find a longer lasting 1500VA UPS, and you certainly won't find many that offer a portion of these features while still being affordable. I found the diagnostic LCD display to be a real asset. Not only could I now see exactly how much drain my equipment was creating, but I could see precisely what kind of load was taxing the UPS batteries and an estimation of remaining on-battery life. Like the LCD the power button is also backlit, and unlike the LED display which turns itself off after a few seconds the power button makes a dim great nightlight. Benchmark Reviews is quite proud to recommend the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD for personal computer and home theater equipment use. The CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD UPS provides consistent AVR power with a Crystal-Blue LCD diagnostic display and GreenPower UPS technology. Since the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD offers the longest on-battery lifetime we've recorded, it's easy to recommend this battery backup to our visitors. Add to this the long list diagnostic LCD display features, a three-year warranty, $500,000 equipment guarantee, and you'll be surprised to learn that the very best products can still be purchased for less than you would think. The 900-watt CP1500AVRLCD battery backup is available for $150 online or $179.99 shipped from NewEgg. Alternatively, the 600W CP1000AVRLCD can be purchased for $100 to support smaller support devices. Pros:
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