When you're buying expensive PC components worth $1,000–$2,000, it's only natural to want to protect them from unexpected external factors. Power surges remain one such factor. They might be rare, but they can be fatal to sensitive electronics if the voltage is high enough. Grid outages, electrical storms, or other heavy devices can contribute to power surges that can permanently damage your PC. Most people use surge protectors that are built into cheap power strips, thinking they've done enough to safeguard their expensive rig. However, such surge protectors might not be enough for sustained power surges, and depending on their age, might not offer any protection at all.
My PSU just blew up - here's what I'll do to avoid that happening again
My PSU blew up after less than five years, and it changed how I'll approach PSUs forever.
Low-end surge protectors barely do what they're meant to
Stop trusting them blindly
The objective of surge protection for your devices is to absorb and redirect the incoming high voltage to the ground, avoiding your sensitive equipment from getting overloaded. The cheapest surge protectors, which are mostly just power strips with a single MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor), are good for just one power surge, after which they have to be replaced. They don't really offer long-term protection against threats like lightning-induced surges or power grid instability. Surge protectors with MOVs often can't do anything at low voltages, so you're mostly on your own during brownouts.
Even if you opt for a more expensive surge protector, it'll typically come with three MOVs (to reduce the risk of fire), but even that will need replacement if you live in an area prone to power surges. MOVs might be able to handle sudden power surges, but don't offer any protection against a sustained surge. The biggest issue with cheap surge protectors is the false sense of security. Users think they've done their best to protect their PC, while their power strip is either ill-equipped to handle serious power surges, or has dead MOVs inside it, offering no protection at all.
You wouldn't even know the remaining lifespan of the MOVs since most inexpensive surge protectors don't show that information.Decent surge protectors have a high joule capacity, low clamping voltage, and proper certification, but inexpensive models don't bother with any of that.
Power draw is important, but don't risk losing your PC to transient spikes
Covering total power draw is vital, but don't overlook other power metrics.
A quality UPS offers proper surge protection
Power backup is a bonus
Instead of trusting cheap power strips with minimal surge protection capabilities, you should invest in a UPS to not only protect your PC against power surges, but also get the additional benefit of power backup. This would allow you a few minutes to save your work and turn your PC off to avoid any damage from power surges. The primary benefit of a high-quality UPS, however, is surge protection and cleaner power for your PC. A UPS also stabilizes power in the event of a brownout (low voltage) and offers much better protection against sustained power surges. They're designed for continuous PC load, and depending on the capacity, can even run your system for longer, if needed.
4 reasons a UPS is one of the most overlooked PC upgrades
Most users ignore it until it's too late
You could consider surge protection for the entire house
More expensive but significantly better
There is a better option that can take your surge protection to the next level. Whole-home surge protectors are installed between the power grid and your home's power supply, protecting your entire home from harmful power surges. Instead of individual surge protectors for each of your sensitive devices, this comprehensive surge protector redirects any power surges to the ground before they can even enter your house. A 65kA whole-home surge protector costs around $150, and is excellent for the average house. You might need to spend more for advanced solutions or those supporting larger homes, but they'll offer much better protection than any individual surge protector. Having a UPS for your PC and other sensitive devices is still recommended, not just for power backup, but also to add extra points of safety.
Does your Synology NAS need a UPS?
You have a NAS, but do you need a UPS? It depends, but it's always better safe than sorry.
Consider a high-quality UPS or whole-home surge protector
Most inexpensive power strips have cheap internals that don't offer protection against serious power surges, and might even give you a false sense of security. A decent UPS with built-in surge protection will offer much better protection for your PC or other sensitive devices. You could also consider installing a whole-home surge protector between your home and the power grid for blanket protection.