PC Hardware

A few hardware tips...

 

Surge Protectors / Batteries

To protect your computer against power spikes or lightning strikes you need a Surge Protector or a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).

I like the APC & TrippLite brands. They guarantee their equipment with insurance, and they replace damaged equipment free.    My sister gets lightning strikes regularly - the equipment is always protected, and when it does fry the APC - they send her a new one.

A surge protector can protect your electronics from power surges, but most inexpensive surge protectors cannot protect against lightning strikes. More expensive power protection equipment, such as a UPS, can provide far better protection than a surge protector, in addition to providing battery backup power when a power outage occurs.   A UPS will also have a link to the computer to provide useful diagnostic tools and can automatically shut down your computer safely when the power goes out or the  battery runs low.

A battery backup that is labeled as a "UPS" means it provides much better protection including voltage regulation.  Every UPS has a "VA" (Volt Amps) number rating, which indicates how much power the UPS is designed to protect. The higher the number, the more watts it can support. 500VA UPS can usually protect 250 watts. Most computers have a power supply capable of around 220 watts, but most normal computers will actually use about 110 watts of power. The more devices inside a computer, such as hard drives and cards, the more power the computer will consume.

 

At the very least get a surge protector.  I often use the APC or TrippLite brands, about $35-$50. These have network protection also.

For the best protection, get a UPS, like a 350-500VA APC UPS, $50-100.  Watch for local sales flyers.

The cheap no-name power strips with 'reset' buttons that most people use are worthless as protection against lightning.

 

Printers

I like HP printers because they do such a fabulous job of color matching. I have thrown away a brand new Lexmark printer because the printouts had no resemblance whatsoever to the PC screen. 

 

Recycling Old PCs

If you have an older PC or components that you want to get rid of, here are some area resources to consider for recycling: