APC intros increased-efficiency Back-UPS ES 750

It looks like APC is trying to make its uninterruptible power supplies a little less power-hungry, with its new Back-UPS ES 750 model promising both a boost in efficiency and a savings, however small, on your power bill. Among other things, the ES 750 (which apparently replaces the previous model of the same name) can automatically cut off power to unused peripherals when your computer's in sleep mode, which APC says should save you on average $40 a year on your power bill compared to competing models. Otherwise, you'll get all the features you'd expect in a model of its class, including ten power outlets (five of which have battery backup), and 450 watts of power which, depending on what you have plugged in, can give you up to 70 minutes of run time. Look for this one to set you back an even $100 when its released sometime in January.

[jtc970 @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:23PM]

70 UPS Minutes = 10 consumer minutes

[Mark @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:28PM]

10 minutes if you round up!

[KM @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:47PM]

Wait, Am I counting right? I only see FOUR outlets that are on Battery Backup...

[Geoff @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:14PM]

The ones that are boxed in with the white lines aren't the battery backed-up ones.

[bun @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:00PM]

No, the battery/surge is split down the middle. The outlined outlets are so you plug your comp into the single one and peripherals that can be cut from power into the other three. That way when the comp sleeps, other devices power down too.

[Hax Or @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:16PM]

I plugged a regular incandescent 70 watt amp and a 350-Watt UPS could not keep it lit.

Sure it was lit but it was 30% darker than normal. What's up with that?

[murray @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:49PM]

It may be that your house has a somewhat high line voltage. The UPS is set to 115V (or whatever), which may be lower than what you're normally getting.

Or maybe your UPS is a POS.

[murray @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:53PM]

This is cool. Now I won't have to remember to turn off my speakers. Yet another step toward complete laziness!

[Bloobie @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:18PM]

11.3 minutes at 225 watts, 2.3 minutes under a full (450-watt) load.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:20PM]

Ok, this may sound dumb... but were are the Internal UPSs? When you think about all the lost energy converting AC to DC to charge the batteries to AC to have your computer convert it back to DC... why not just run your computer off the DC power of the battery backup tucked inside that thing we call a computer case? Ok, so the batteries might have to sit outside the case, but they'd be more expandable by chaining them together.

[Jesse S @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:14PM]

Because UPS's are huge and heavy. They would be unweildy within a PC case.

Also, I doubt all that potential heat would be any good for the battery.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 3rd 2007 5:33PM]

"Ok, so the batteries might have to sit outside the case"

You know... I never thought of that Jesse...

[dpk @ Dec 3rd 2007 6:22PM]

I'd dig having a built in UPS. I'd only want a 2 minute UPS -- 1st to allow me time to move cables around, and the second minute for it to hibernate and shut down. I sure don't need 15 minutes at home if it's going to automatically shut off, anyway.

[murray @ Dec 5th 2007 12:10AM]

Not dumb at all. It's a good idea, but it would add cost, bulk and weight to PCs, so it would never be popular to the mainstream buyer. But most geeks would appreciate it for sure.

[murray @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:32PM]

Circuit City has this for $80 and standard shipping is free.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/APC-Back-UPS-750G-Surge-Protector-BE750G/sem/rpsm/oid/193834/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[Bizam! @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:37PM]

I own this already, Best Buy had a few of these sitting on the shelves, so I picked one up a few days ago. They're pretty nice, but as many have said, there's no way in hell that you'll get 70 minutes out of this thing with any normal computer equipment plugged into it.

I've got a pretty decent computer and 17" LCD monitor hooked into it, i'll only get about 10 minutes or so on battery.

My computer never sleeps, so I probably won't get much power saved out of this, but it's a nice feature nonetheless.

[BananaBoat @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:53PM]

I have this models predecessor and you'd be very lucky to get 10 minutes out of the thing. UPS's in this class (Read: Under a grand) aren't designed to keep your crap running for longer than it takes you to turn off your computer/electronics the proper way. During lightning season my breaker often trips, and my UPS gives me just enough time to run upstairs and turn off my computer. Everyone could probably benefit from a UPS, but I wouldn't suggest one at 100 dollars. Get yourself the 30 dollar cheapy version. It will still give you time to shut off your computer, but it won't be so expensive that you are pissed at their 70 minute PR BS

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 3rd 2007 6:41PM]

Wow. So it takes 30W 24/7 just to keep the UPS running, but it'll help me save 5W from my peripherals when my computer is turned off!

I'd love a UPS with better efficiency, not just one with gimmicks.

[Jon @ Dec 3rd 2007 7:10PM]

apc is twice as efficient as any of its competitors

[Che @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:36PM]

It's an odd choice that it looks like none of the switched outlets have battery back-up. You wouldn't want to plug your monitor into one of those.

[murray @ Dec 5th 2007 12:08AM]

Nah, it makes sense. The things you want to be switched are things don't power themselves off. Powered speakers are a good example. Your monitor doesn't need to be switched because it will already go into powersave mode when you shut suspend your PC.

[Che @ Dec 5th 2007 12:34AM]

I'd prefer one master plug for the computer with battery protection, one switched plug with battery protection, one switched without, one unswitched with battery protection and one unswitched without. Some monitors have exterior power bricks that don't suck power when they're not doing anything and you'd want battery protection and switching on a watercooling system.

[devwild @ Mar 26th 2008 9:10AM]

This model is already at best buy, I saw it there last Friday and it is in stock on their web site (but I ended up buying the previous model on sale for $85 from office depot, I don't need the new features ;))

[Devin Bryant @ Mar 26th 2008 9:12AM]

hmm, glitchy reply update. oops :)