* Back-UPS: inverter offline, expect a 15-20ms power transfer
* Smart-UPS: interactive, inverter is always online 2-5ms trasnfter
* Symmetra and above: inverter online, voltage conditioned, 0ms transfer
Most desktops will work just fine with the Back-UPS line. The processor is practically sleeping. Workstations should be on a Smart-UPS because the PSU capacitor won't have the capacity for a brownout with a Xeon-class CPU and multiple GPUs.
Here is how I differentiate the APC brand:
* Back-UPS: inverter offline, expect a 15-20ms power transfer
* Smart-UPS: interactive, inverter is always online 2-5ms trasnfter
* Symmetra and above: inverter online, voltage conditioned, 0ms transfer
Most desktops will work just fine with the Back-UPS line. The processor is practically sleeping. Workstations should be on a Smart-UPS because the PSU capacitor won't have the capacity for a brownout with a Xeon-class CPU and multiple GPUs.