Voltage surges are sudden and unexpected. Yet, they are one of the most common things that exist wherever an electrical connection is established. A continuous and stable supply of power is essential for any electrical orelectronic device, but once the power surpasses the maximum voltage threshold a device can tolerate, the device can fry in an instant.
Amazon Basics Rectangular 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector
Monster Power Center Vertex XL Surge Protector
A gaming PC is no different. Perhaps it is one of the most demanding electronic devices that needs a continuous and reliable voltage for individual components. While a good power supply unit can take care of other components inside the chassis,the power supplyis itself prone to physical damage if the voltage exceeds the threshold. To protect against this damage, surge protectors are the best way to ensure the safety of your gaming system.
What is a surge protector and what components does it use? In simple words, it is a device that uses components like Metal Oxide Varistors or even gas discharge tubes to send excessive voltage to the ground, while a resistor and a transient voltage suppression diode take care of the rest. This way, your gaming PC only receives the right amount of voltage for reliable operation, thereby extending the lifespan of the components.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Surge Protectors for Gaming PCs
Belkin 12-Outlet Surge Protector
This Belkin Surge Protector is a highly capable device to protect your electronic devices and provides a dozen outlets for connecting a lot of them. With 3480 joules of protection, it’s already exceptional for high surges but also excels due to having a variety of USB ports for connectivity.
Belkin 12 outlet surge protector isn’t your regular surge protector, but is rated at around 4000 Joules of surge suppression. Not only that, but it’s also one of the most affordable ones that gets a lot of outlets and connectivity ports for your usage. There are a total of 12 power outlets, arranged in three rows for easy connectivity. Although the middle row may not be ideal for bigger plugs, the left and right rows are spaced properly to accommodate large AC plugs.
The surge protector is rated at 3480 Joules and has an incredibly low clamping voltage of 340V to start dissipating the extra energy as soon as the surge starts. With plenty of room for the absorption of extra energy, it’s going to keep your gaming system completely safe from big surges and has a 10-point safety system to protect your gaming PC from various faulty currents, voltages, and high temperatures. At the bottom, you will find two USB Type-A ports anda single Type-Cport, which share 22.5W of total power and can be used to charge your phone or earbuds quickly. If only this surge protector had a longer cable, it would be perfect even for users who have a wall outlet pretty far from their gaming setup.
Yintar Power Strip Surge Protector
Yintar Surge Protector is a simple yet capable protector against voltage surges and provides a decent 1680 Joules of suppression rating. Whether you are using a PC, TV, or any mid-range electronic device, this one will do the job of protecting your devices with a quick response time of less than 1 nanosecond. Apart from that, there are a few connectivity ports for charging USB devices.
The Yintar power strip surge protector is a dirt cheap surge protector for your gaming system that allows connecting up to six devices at the same time. This includes your computer, monitor, speakers, or any other miscellaneous power adapter. While it is the cheapest on the list, it isn’t bad at all. With a maximum of 1680 Joules of surge suppression rating, it’s a reliable option. All the outlets are aligned at the same angle and are in the same row to save space under or behind your desk. It’s compact enough to be put in a cable rack and has a standard six-foot cord to reach a nearby wall outlet.
However, if your wall outlet is far from your setup, you can also opt for the 10-foot edition, though it is a bit expensive for these features. The protector is made using a fireproof shell and has a 45-degree plug that facilitates connecting to another plug under it if there is another outlet on your wall. There are some connectivity features too, including two Type A and a Type C port for charging your phones. Sure, the total power that goes into all of them is just 15W, but it will still supporta variety of USB devicesand cables with effrtless connectivity.
SuperDanny Surge Protector
SuperDanny Surge Protector boasts nearly a dozen power outlets in four different rows, making connectivity hassle-free. It is also one of the few budget surge protectors that has several USB ports for connectivity. With over 2000 Joules of surge suppression rating, it keeps your devices safe from sudden voltage surges and is available with various cord lengths.
SuperDanny surge protector is a rare option that comes with a ton of power outlets. It’s not only capable of powering every device used on your computer, but can support a hoard of other electrical appliances at the same time. If you think that will cause an issue, the answer is no, because the surge protector has quite a decent 2100 Joules surge suppression rating and offers protection against overvoltage, overcurrent, short-circuit, and overheating.
The case is made of fire-retardant coating to eliminate any chances of catching fire and is well-built to stand the test of time. What stands out is its connectivity, providing up to a total of six USB ports that include five USB Type A and a single USB Type C port, all of them sharing 24 watts of power to charge your devices. The cord’s length is 6.5 feet, but thankfully, the surge protector has three more versions with longer cables. Nonetheless, it’s quite big for keeping on the desk or in a cable rack, but if you need 20+ outlets, it’s better than anything.
Belkin Power Strip Surge Protector
Belkin Power Strip Surge Protector offers a dozen outlets with plenty of space between them. The surge protector is one of a kind since it comes with 1-in-2-out RJ11 ports, for stable phone line and network connections. Its excellent surge protection and child safety sliding locks make it a perfect choice for those who are serious about their appliances and computer systems.
This is another impressive surge protector for Belkin, dedicated to those who don’t take protective measures for their gaming systems lightly. While some of its features aren’t going to be necessarily beneficial for every PC user, it’s still good to have a one-in, one-out ethernet protection, and a one-in, two-out RJ11 telephone protection for continuous connection. The only big flaw it has is the absence of USB ports, which is quite common even on budget surge protectors.
Nonetheless, this Belkin surge protector is designed with 4000 Joules of surge protection to safeguard yourhigh-end gaming PCand even other appliances you care about the most. It’s quite durable from the outside and has child-safety sliding locks that also prevent dirt from entering into the sockets. It uses huge MOVs to absorb the extra energy quickly and has multiple LEDs to indicate the protection status and grounding. Equipped with a big eight-foot cord, it’s going to be somewhat more convenient than most surge protectors in reaching the wall outlets.
Amazon Basics surge protector has a decent amount of outlets for your computer or appliances and has a high surge suppression rating for sensitive parts. Its 12-cord foot makes it easier to connect it to a wall outlet located far from the devices and the onboard LED indicates the surge protection status.
Amazon Basics Rectangular surge protector is just too good for a mere $20 price tag and is one of the best-selling surge protectors at the moment. Unlike other budget surge protectors, the Amazon Basics one comes with a high energy rating for absorbing a lot of excess voltage to protect your PC components. It’s a great solution for high-end gaming builds, while being light on the pocket, though you won’t find any other features (like USB ports) on this surge protector apart from the power outlets. This may or may not be a deal-breaker for some, but it’s definitely a drawback when there are already plenty of surge protectors available with multiple USB A and C ports.
Coming to its specifications, it is rated at a whopping 4500 Joules of surge suppression. Therefore, expect it to be one of the most reliable power strips you may have used till now. The casing is durable too, and uses a transparent section that lights up with the green LED, indicating that the surge protection and grounded wiring are active for all the outlets. Another impressive feature is its long 12-foot cord, which is twice the size of the cords you generally find on most surge protectors. However, you can also opt for the 6, 8, or 10-foot cords if your wall outlet isnear your gaming PC.
The Vertex XL isn’t your casual surge protector, but a premium offering for highly sensitive devices such as gaming PCs and laptops. Featuring 5000 Joules of surge suppression and 10 outlets spaced and positioned adequately, it can help you connect all your devices simultaneously. With a detachable USB power strip, you’re able to connect and charge your phones wherever you like.
Looking for a premium and versatile surge protector? Monster’s Power Center Vertex XL is going to fulfill your needs. Bringing a 10-power outlet configuration with a detachable power strip, the Vertex XL surge protector is highly convenient, letting you choose where the power strip goes. This power strip can be attached back to the outlet board or kept on the desk if you need to charge your phone or other USB devices without losing access.
There are two USB Type A and one Type C ports for the latest devices, offering up to 20W in total. But this is just the handy side of the surge protector. The primary function of Vertex XL is to absorb as much extra voltage as possible when it sees any surge. Rated for at a massive 5000 Joules surge suppression, expect it to save your PC components from sharp voltage surges. All of its outlets are well-spaced and are divided into two rows to make connection easier. The six-foot cord that goes into the wall outlet is well-braided with nylon to protect it from wear and tear and can be wrapped around the surge protector for easier cable management. It’s expensive, but provides uncompromised safety for your devices.
Things to Consider When Buying a Surge Protector for a Gaming PC
These key factors can make a huge difference in whether you enjoy your surge protector and whether it will fully meet your power needs:
FAQ
Q: What is a good joule rating for a gaming PC?
Typically, anything between 1000 and 2000 Joules is standard for a surge protector but 2000+ Joules is perfect for high-end gaming systems.
Q: Are all surge protectors the same?
No, every surge protector comes with a different Joule rating and clamping voltage. They also differ in connectivity, number of power outlets and cord length.
Q: How do I know if my surge protector is still working?
Most surge protectors have indicator LEDs to show whether the surge protector is active or not. If they turn off, it means your devices aren’t being protected by the surge protector.
