APC Back-UPS RS 800 review

Gallery

Verdict:

Goes on longer than that rabbit. High-end features and high-end power, albeit at a high-end price.

Review Date: 17 Oct 2008

Price when reviewed: inc VAT

Reviewed By: Chris Lee

Our Rating 4 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

APC's RS range is aimed at users looking for a little more power than can be found in the company's budget CS and ES ranges.

The RS 800, as the name suggests, is rated to provide 800VA of power, which is 540 watts in real money. There are six kettle lead outputs on the back of the unit, two of which are surge-only. The RS 800 was the only UPS on test to offer Ethernet surge protection, which will prevent spikes being transmitted between devices connected via the network port, such as your PC and router.

As well as more power, the RS 500 also provides what APC refers to as automatic voltage regulation (AVR). This means that if you experience a prolonged brownout (lower mains voltage than usual), the unit should be able to supply power indefinitely, automatically boosting (or lowering) the voltage to its correct level, rather than simply shifting to battery power and letting the battery drain completely. This means the RS 800 is especially suited for use in areas of the country where the mains supply isn't as dependable as it should be.

The RS 500 can still hold its own in the raw power stakes. The battery survived for 37 minutes when powering our test equipment while it was idle, dropping to a still decent 30 minutes when we put the PC under heavy load. These results compete almost blow for blow with the higher-rated and more expensive Riello ND150. At £135, the APC RS 800 is a significant investment, but its compact, quiet design and excellent software mean it's a quality competitor in this price range. For a home office, it's worth the asking price.

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