Maybe you like to swim with sharks, or jump off planes without parachutes and catch them in midair. But no matter how much you live on the edge, you shouldn’t use your PC without a UPS, simply because the CPU can work without one.
Because in the event of a sudden power surge or brownout, the UPS comes to your rescue as a knight in shining armor to save you from data losses and file corruption.
In this article, I’ll explain the dangers of not using UPS and provide alternative ways to save your data.
Let’s begin!
Can a Computer Run Without UPS?
Yes, of course, you can run a computer without UPS. But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Because UPS can save your ongoing work and close all the applications in the event of a sudden power outage. It is your backup power supply.
So, running the CPU with no UPS comes with some risks. Your hardware will be fine, but I can’t say the same for the operating system or software.
When you start or shut down your computer, your system goes through a process in the background to preserve your data, which gets interrupted in case of a sudden power surge or voltage outage. This can damage your Windows OS.
If you still decide to run your computer with no backup power, you should know the risks it comes with.
What Happens if You Run a PC Without UPS?
When you use your computer without a UPS, and a power cut occurs, your PC hardware will not be damaged if it’s not updating the BIOS. However, your data files and OS can be corrupted. Worst case scenario, you’ll lose all the documents and need to reinstall Windows.
Below, I’ve provided the dangers of not using a UPS.
Here’s what happens if you run a PC without UPS:
Hard Drives can Suffer
Although most manufacturers have enhanced HDDs by making them more robust against sudden power failure, they are still vulnerable to fluctuations in power. In fact, hard disk failure is the most usual problem regarding power.
So, without a UPS keeping the power in check, more than acceptable current can go through the hard drive. And as a worst-case scenario, all the data on the disk gets deleted without any chance of recovery.
Your Valuable Data is Lost
In case of a rapid power outage, while your hard drive is in the middle of writing data on the disk, there’s a significant risk of data corruption.
Unsaved Work is Gone Forever
Without a UPS, if the power to your computer stops abruptly while you have unsaved work, means that the work is probably gone for good. Even though modern programs have autosave, they are not perfect.
Sudden Power Surge can Destroy Your PSU
The Power Supply Unit is one of the most critical parts of your computer. Without it, none of the PC components work. And this device can easily get permanently damaged during power surges, no matter how advanced the PSU is.
If the PSU gets damaged, your computer will fail to turn on the power supply.
A Fatal Blow to Your Budget
When a UPS is not there as a backup power supply to your computer, the SSDs, PSU, the operating system and your data are all at high risk of getting damaged or corrupted.
If you don’t invest in a UPS in the first place, you might regret it later, as SSDs and PSUs can cost more.
Do I Need a UPS for My PC if I have an Inverter?
Granted, using a CPU without a UPS is risky, but in case you’ve already got an inverter to supply power to the PC, you don’t need a UPS.
However, if you want, you can connect the PC to a plug socket without the inverter. Then you’ll need a UPS. But you don’t need to use both at once.
So, can a home inverter be used as a UPS for the computer?
Absolutely! Before, a UPS and a home inverter were two completely different types of hardware. But now, technology has evolved, and they’ve been merged into one.
But remember, to use a home inverter as a UPS for a desktop computer, the inverter has to have the UPS mode. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use it as a backup power supply for your PC.
Thus, you don’t need a UPS for your computer if you have a home inverter with UPS mode. Just keep the inverter running in that mode and you’re all set.
When only your PC runs on an inverter, a 120Ah battery will give you 2 to 3 hours, a 150Ah battery will provide 2 & a half hours to 3 & a half hours and a 200Ah battery will supply 3 hours to 4 & a half hours of backup time.
But keep in mind, this backup time lessens significantly if other home appliances are connected to the inverter along with the computer.
Remember, a computer consumes about 200 to 300 watts, and you need to know how much voltage a CPU takes before buying an inverter. So you may understand how big the inverter should be to run the PC comfortably.
If you only want to use your PC on the inverter, get the 900kVA but in case you want to connect other appliances along with the PC to the inverter, go for the 1500kVA home inverter.
Now that you know whether you can use a processor with or without a UPS, check out our in-depth guide on running a CPU Without a heatsink.
FAQs
Is UPS necessary for the CPU?
UPS is not required to run the CPU, however, it is necessary if you want to keep the CPU safe from random power outages and power supply failure.
What happens if I don’t use a UPS for my PC?
When you don’t use a UPS for your PC and face power surges or the voltage fluctuates, your hard drives might fail with all your data being wiped clean and the PSU can get permanently damaged.
Can a PC run without a power supply?
Power is essential for all the components of your PC. So, no. You cannot run a PC without a power supply.
Is it OK not to use UPS?
It is OK not to use UPS. But your computer is always at risk of permanent damage.
Final Thoughts
Now you know a CPU is more than capable of running without a UPS. But once you know better, you should choose better.
So, don’t cheap out on UPS and risk damaging the processor & other computer parts. Always use the PC with a UPS.
Leave a comment below if you have further inquiries regarding UPS, and we’ll get back to you.
