Eaton 3S 750VA and 5PX 1500VA: How UPS Protects Computing Experience

Conclusion
The cold hard truth is that a UPS is not a sexy product and will never get the press or adoration that the majority of other PC components get. However, if that UPS keeps your new 3D TV from getting smoked in lightening strike then its sex appeal will go through the roof.

The 5PX and 3S represent opposite ends of the power protection spectrum for home or small office use. The 5PX with its average online price around $550 is definitely not for every consumer. The strong power protection, full set of management features and ability to adapt between tower and rackmount form factor all point to its prowess in small office to server-room size market. Add in the support for VMware and this unit's business focus is clearly evident and it's feature set will be of great value to that crowd.

The 3S represents a true consumer product in size, price and features. Ringing up at roughly $110 for the 750VA/450W variant we tested, it easily fits within the budgets of most consumers looking to securely protect their electronics. The EcoControl mode is a nice feature and allows the user a simple way to save energy and money. The smaller form factor is easily tucked away under a desk or entertainment center and can just as easily be wall mounted (I'm thinking media server closet here). The remote management features via USB or network can provide users with as little or as many control options as they want.

Eaton appears to have done its homework on the units we tested. Both units worked as advertised and either met or exceeded their primary performance claims. With each model offering multiple variants there is certain to be a solution that fits most customers. When it comes down to it a UPS is an insurance policy for not only your hardware but also your data, productivity and business continuity.

For excellent integration into the enterprise environment and VMware interoperability, we award the 5PX 1500VA with Innovation Award for the Workstation/Server segment.




For EcoControl features on the consumer unit, compact size and better-than-rated performance, we award the 3S 750VA with the Editor's Choice Award.