Not enough voltage for desktop gaming computer

A sine wave is no 'purer' than a square wave. It all depends on what your equipment may need to run properly.

If your computer power supply requires a sine wave source, it probably won't run at all with a modified sine or square wave.
If it runs with the square wave, then the square wave is just as good as a pure sine wave.

A loose analogy would be comparing a CD to a vinyl record.
The vinyl record is the 'pure sine wave' as in it provides a continuous wave analog signal source, while the CD is the square wave as it is digitally sampled so only provides a strict on/off signal as determined by the sample rate.
Most people these days don't recognize the loss in quality from going from a discrete 4 channel analog system to a crummy digital replacement.

It is the same with video.
Before digital video it was all analog tapes. BetaMax was simply the best.
Then came digital, which provided a cheaper way. Much cheaper.
I used to build desktop video editing computers that cost from $10,000 - $30,000 dollars each. And this was 20 years ago, so you might imagine how much they would cost today.
Then along came digital, and the systems dropped to around 4 grand.

The thing is, the pristine quality was lost in the process.
How often do you watch something on TV these days, and they can't even get the audio synced up with the video?
How often is the aspect ratio all wrong, and everything is either too fat or too skinny?


Anyway, my computers have all run just fine with non-sine wave inverters.
If it runs, it is good to go. If it won't even turn on you will have to get a sine wave inverter to make it work.
Those are really the only two possibilities.

If it is draining the batteries too fast then you keep the truck running when you are using it.
If you have a 1,500W inverter and you are using more than that between your killer desktop computer (in a truck!) and the monitor and whatever else you are trying to charge at the same time, well, you will just need to invest in a much larger inverter.
And possibly batteries and alternator, if they are not up to the task.

 

Are you talking about a UPS?
Those are only meant for a very short term event in case of a power outage.
They allow the computer to maintain power for 5-10 minutes while it is shutting down safely, but they are not intended to keep the computer running for extended periods of time - especially under a load.
Certainly not enough to keep you in a game.
Unless you have a very high capacity UPS that cost you a lot and takes up a lot of room.
But even if, shouldn't you be charging it while you are driving?

 

Buy a laptop they work better then a desktop and an inverter from Walmart.

 

I don't think you know between voltage and wattage.

Your inverter outputs 120 volts, which is what your computer uses.
The power supply in your computer uses 120 volts and outputs a certain amount of watts.
It might be a 250W power supply, or it might be a 750W power supply or higher.
You are the one that bought this super computer... do you actually know the specs and what they mean?
And did you ever think to consider what it might mean to run this monster from batteries and an inverter in a truck?

 

A better option would be to just get a gaming laptop or a console. I can use my PS4 and flat screen TV for hours continuously without issue,

 

i have to admit, in all my years in this business, i ain't never heard of anyone taking a full sized desktop on the road. too many things can go wrong with the internals from the bumps in the roads, compared to the laptops, which can be padded much easier and stored away.

like someone else said, and i'll expand on, take the desktop HOME and get a good gaming laptop, with maybe another backup battery pack.

frankly as much as i like that you want some "entertainment" on the road, you really didn't use your head for this.

 

Its not a gaming rig, it is a server with a couple raid sets. I use it as a multipurpose machine, right now it holds my dvd and music collection and I have maybe a dozen vm images I use for different things like programming work when I do anything. I think when it is running heavy, it consumes about 1300 watts.

I'm like you, 6 years of a university education on a dual degree EE/ME and a bunch of years working in radio stations and in different obs trying to find what I liked to do. I have an extra ticket and a grol (was a 1st class rt ticket but got grandfathered in - i like the 1st class moniker better) beside a bunch of other certs.

OK to the issue, I don't think you are getting what the problem is.

You may get a 3000 watt inverter, pure sign wave will work best but I think you need to downsize and seriously think of dropping the gaming portion for a while. This is a job for you, not a place to sit and just play games, it is a serious thing where gaming for many screws with their sleep - it is addictive and you need sleep.

As for movies, I have a 1tb drive that holds 500 movies that is attached to a little android box for playback, and they also have a USB digital TV receiver if they want to watch tv. This is the thing I install in my tucks for my driver if they want it, or they can have their dish/Direct TV thing. I have three drivers who have the unit in their truck with movies already on the drive, yes it is legal copies.

Back to the computer, I have to ask this because it wasn't asked, what makes you think that there isn't enough power?

 

Maybe I didn't pay enough attention. Or not enough info....but?

From what I see. When you load your supply more heavily. That is when your voltage drops? Otherwise you don't have problems with your supply?