Best Surge Protector for Gaming PCs Right Now

Not all power strips are created equal, and this Belkin power strip turns one outlet in your wall into a strip of 12 well-placed outlets. This flexible setup sports six vertically-aligned plugs in the center, then three on either side, which allows you to use bulkier plugs without losing access to the others. You even get two high-speed USB-A ports to charge a tablet or smartphone. The wall plug is also angled, so you still have access to the second wall outlet, while the six-foot extension cord is durable and long for easy access to the strip.

Belkin delivers 3,996-joule protection to your electronics, safeguarding them from surging, overloading, short-circuiting, and fluctuations. A green or red light will glow, indicating whether the plug is grounded and protecting against surges, so you’ll know if there is an issue with the power strip and if your devices are safe from potential voltage spikes.

Surge protection doesn’t need to come at a high price. This Belkin 8-Outlet Surge Protector still delivers up to 2,500 joules of overcurrent and overvoltage protection for less than $25. With voltage clamping at 400V, the voltage will be diverted quicker than higher clamping voltage options for better defense against electrical fluctuations. All three AC lines — hot, neutral, and ground — are also protected, preventing voltage spikes from load switching. It’s even UL Certified and meets strict safety standards.

Belkin’s surge protector has eight AC outlets. Four outlets are a bit cramped together for smaller plugs, while the other four are more spacious with 2.4 inches of space between them to fit larger plugs. This size and layout are perfect for a robust entertainment center or PC setup. Each outlet also features a safety slide lock to close unused sockets, keeping little fingers and other things from getting shocked.

Beyond the outlets, this surge protector has a thick and durable 14 AWG, 8ft-long cable with a slim right-angle plug, bringing access to even harder-to-reach outlets. Two indicator lights are on it, informing you if the surge protector is grounded and protecting. The materials used to make this surge protector are even flame-resistant, and it comes with a built-in thermal fuse. Belkin’s 8-Outlet Surge Protector will bring major peace of mind when your valuable electronics are plugged into it.

For massive PC or entertainment rigs, a surge protector offering heavy protection for a range of peripherals is a good idea. Tripp Lite delivers with its 12 outlet option that features six well-spaced transformer AC outlets around the edge for bulky adapters and six outlets crammed closer together in the middle of the surge protector for slimmer plugs. It’s not only AC outlets enjoying protection, as dual coaxial connectors and RJ11 ports with a splitter provide additional data line damage prevention for cable, satellite, phone, and internet equipment. Plus, two USB charging ports are available to top up smartphones, gaming PC handhelds, tablets, and more.

The Tripp Lite 12 Outlet Surge Protector should easily fit into even the most cramped spaces thanks to its durable eight-foot power cord, right-angle plug, and mounting slots. When it’s plugged in, the lights will illuminate, indicating if the plug is protected. It can even help diagnose bad wiring plaguing a building with its grounded indicator light. An on/off switch with a glowing light is also on the surge protector to cut power manually.

When it comes to protection, Tripp Lite doesn’t mess around. It absorbs up to 4,320 joules, safeguarding sensitive equipment like TVs, PCs, routers, and appliances against power surges and spikes. However, the 800V clamping voltage is a bit of a disappointment on an otherwise excellent surge protector. Still, it meets several UL certifications and has EMI/RFI noise filtering to prevent malfunctions.

If you’ve got a space full of smart home gadgets, why not add a surge-protecting power strip to the mix? You can control the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip’s six outlets independently via Alexa, Google Assistant, or a mobile app for more capabilities, and you don’t even need a hub. Those plugs can be grouped together and commanded or set on schedules, and when connected to Wi-Fi, it’s even possible to control them from anywhere and monitor energy usage.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip offers more than just its six outlets with smart functionality, as you also get a 1,710-joule breaker to protect against large surges. A status light also lets you know when the strip needs replacement, ensuring you maintain protection post-surge. And it doesn’t stop with just AC outlets, as there are three USB ports to charge up smaller electronics.

For some reason, many electronics still use large, frustratingly shaped charge bricks, which means plugging them all in, especially to the same powerstrip’s a pain. That’s where the Belkin PivotPlug comes into play, you still get four averagely arranged standard outlets down the middle, but each of the eight outlets lining the sides can pivot up to 90 degrees, helping accommodate all your devices. Given the 12 outlets and the pass-throughs for coaxial, DSL, and telephone connections, cable management is essential, so its cable trap is a nice bonus to keep your setup tidy.

As far as surge protection goes, the 4,320-joule-rated Belkin PivotPlug is a perfect companion for the safety and longevity of your electronics. There are two indicator lights on the strip; one glows green to let you know your equipment is secure, while a red light tells you if the outlet is grounded. It doesn’t stop with surge protection, as it reduces electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference for a better performance out of certain devices.

You might not take your gaming PC on the go, but even if you’re traveling, it doesn’t mean your expensive portable electronics, like a smartphone or laptop, need to be subjected to potential spikes that could brick them. The Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler is a small two-port portable surge protector with 1,050 joules of shielding and respectable clamping voltage to protect more sensitive electronics. Two LED indicator lights also tell you when the outlet is grounded and if it’s protecting against surges or spikes – just keep an eye on the status light to know when to replace it.

You don’t need to worry about the Tripp Lite 2-Outlet Traveler fitting in your bag either, as it weighs less than 4oz, and its three-prong plug is retractable, so you can even pop it in your bag if need be. DSL and Telephone ports are also available to prevent surges from damaging your internet or phone equipment. And this surge protector even has a limited lifetime warranty, so it should be easy to replace if it ever stops working.

The Anker 521 Power Strip is a great USB-C charger that tops up your devices quickly and safely. You get two USB-A ports delivering up to 12W of power and a USB-C port with power delivery offering up to an impressive 30W, though the three ports are cumulatively limited to 30W at one time. That means your PC peripherals, like a wireless keyboard or gaming mouse, can juice up way quicker than they would with your typical blocks, while three other AC outlets let you plug in even more.

It doesn’t stop there, as the Anker 521 Power Strip offers additional peace of mind with its, though somewhat light, 300 joules of surge protection. You’ll also find indicator lights on the powerstrip to let you know when it’s on, grounded, and protecting against surges. A few extra safety features, like fire resistance, overload protection, and over-temperature control, further your safety and the safety of your devices.

While surge protectors are great, preventing work or game save loss is ideal. This uninterruptable power supply (UPS) from CyberPower protects against surges and keeps your electronics going for a limited time during blackouts. It should run for 2.5 minutes at a full load or 10 minutes at half capacity for enough time to save important work or games before shutting your machine down. And if there are slight power fluctuations, automatic voltage regulation lets this UPS correct the issue without switching to the battery, extending its battery life.

On the CyberPower, all 12 outlets have 1445 joules of surge protection, while six connect to the battery, ready to take advantage of its 1000W should power be lost. There are additional ports to plug in more electronics, including an ethernet, USB-C, and USB-A. A detailed LCD on the front chassis also displays the UPS battery status and power conditions.

To save on energy costs, the Belkin 8-Outlet Conserve Switch comes with a light-switch-style wireless remote control, allowing you to turn off your devices with a simple switch. If you want to keep some of your components on, there are two active outlets that won’t be affected by the switch.

Belkin claims the switch has a 60 foot range with no line of sight required. You could easily mount the switch to the wall, or have it located in another room, and viola – your PC and any accessories will be turned off instantly.

There’s nothing too fancy about this surge protector other than the wireless functionality, but it’s certainly convenient.