be quiet! Dark Power 14 1200W ATX v3.1 PSU Review

Load Regulation

It measures the stability of the output voltage when the load connected to the power supply varies.

Test 12V 5V 3.3V 5VSB DC/AC (Watts) Efficiency Fan Speed (RPM) PSU Noise (dB[A]) Temps (In/Out) PF/AC Volts
10% 8.198A 1.986A 2.006A 0.993A 119.979 90.97% 0 <6.0 48.1°C 0.962
12.001V 5.035V 3.289V 5.035V 131.889 40.03°C 115.05V
20% 17.427A 2.982A 3.015A 1.195A 239.932 93.652% 0 <6.0 48.59°C 0.984
11.994V 5.031V 3.284V 5.02V 256.198 40.53°C 115.01V
30% 26.951A 3.481A 3.522A 1.399A 359.112 94.097% 0 <6.0 49.63°C 0.991
11.987V 5.028V 3.28V 5.005V 381.645 41.04°C 114.97V
40% 36.583A 3.981A 4.03A 1.603A 479.492 93.953% 0 <6.0 51.99°C 0.994
11.980V 5.025V 3.275V 4.99V 510.351 41.92°C 114.93V
50% 45.829A 4.98A 5.047A 1.809A 599.25 93.457% 0 <6.0 53.11°C 0.996
11.974V 5.021V 3.269V 4.975V 641.211 42.46°C 114.89V
60% 55.179A 5.981A 6.057A 2A 719.706 92.594% 954 20 42.63°C 0.997
11.961V 5.017V 3.269V 4.962V 777.296 54.25°C 114.85V
70% 64.449A 6.989A 7.082A 2.225A 839.487 91.811% 478 6.6 43.23°C 0.997
11.953V 5.009V 3.262V 4.945V 914.366 68.18°C 114.81V
80% 73.806A 7.989A 8.103A 2.331A 959.456 90.884% 677 10.3 43.55°C 0.997
11.944V 5.007V 3.258V 4.933V 1055.702 60.11°C 114.77V
90% 83.503A 8.494A 8.606A 2.439A 1079.261 89.982% 1093 24 44.41°C 0.997
11.937V 5.003V 3.253V 4.921V 1199.431 67.53°C 114.72V
100% 93.025A 8.993A 9.138A 3.065A 1199.302 88.963% 1654 35.4 45.57°C 0.997
11.928V 5.004V 3.25V 4.894V 1348.1 65.16°C 114.68V
110% 102.494A 10.001A 10.259A 3.071A 1319.897 88.093% 1973 40.7 46.37°C 0.996
11.919V 4.999V 3.246V 4.884V 1498.303 62.99°C 114.64V
CL1 0.116A 14.464A 14.679A 0A 121.293 84.86% 584 7.9 40.93°C 0.965
11.998V 4.992V 3.249V 5.045V 142.934 48.81°C 115.03V
CL2 0.115A 24.173A 0A 0A 121.275 83.641% 1343 30.1 41.77°C 0.965
12.002V 4.96V 3.286V 5.052V 144.995 46.79°C 115.03V
CL3 0.115A 0A 25.633A 0A 83.881 75.954% 1577 34.3 41.49°C 0.959
11.997V 5.029V 3.218V 5.047V 110.437 45.05°C 115.05V
CL4 100.566A 0A 0A 0A 1199.881 89.762% 1081 23.7 44.01°C 0.997
11.931V 5.028V 3.274V 4.99V 1336.756 62.57°C 114.68V

Load regulation is within 1% at 12V and 5V, but pretty loose at 3.3V.

Test 12V 5V 3.3V 5VSB DC/AC (Watts) Efficiency Fan Speed (RPM) PSU Noise (dB[A]) Temps (In/Out) PF/AC Volts
20W 1.237A 0.496A 0.5A 0.197A 19.993 69.931% 0 <6.0 47.27°C 0.884
12.005V 5.043V 3.298V 5.067V 28.589 36.14°C 115.08V
40W 2.723A 0.694A 0.701A 0.296A 39.994 81.375% 0 <6.0 51.39°C 0.94
12.005V 5.041V 3.296V 5.062V 49.146 37.68°C 115.07V
60W 4.209A 0.893A 0.901A 0.395A 59.995 86.433% 0 <6.0 45°C 0.963
12.004V 5.04V 3.294V 5.058V 69.416 38.78°C 115.06V
80W 5.690A 1.092A 1.102A 0.495A 79.93 88.653% 0 <6.0 50.94°C 0.96
12.003V 5.038V 3.293V 5.053V 90.158 39.31°C 115.06V

A glance at the light-load table is always useful, as the PSU typically operates at light loads.

Ripple Suppression

Ripple in power supplies refers to the small, unwanted AC voltage fluctuations superimposed on the DC output. It occurs due to imperfect filtering during the AC-to-DC conversion. Lower ripple is highly preferable because it ensures a cleaner, more stable DC output, reducing noise and potential interference in sensitive electronics, improving performance, and extending component lifespan. High ripple can cause instability, overheating, or damage to connected devices.

Test 12V 5V 3.3V 5VSB Pass/Fail
10% Load 14.4 mV 10.0 mV 10.1 mV 8.2 mV Pass
20% Load 14.6 mV 10.5 mV 10.2 mV 8.7 mV Pass
30% Load 15.8 mV 11.0 mV 11.2 mV 9.1 mV Pass
40% Load 16.6 mV 11.0 mV 11.0 mV 10.0 mV Pass
50% Load 17.3 mV 11.2 mV 11.1 mV 10.0 mV Pass
60% Load 14.1 mV 11.1 mV 10.9 mV 11.2 mV Pass
70% Load 14.8 mV 12.7 mV 12.7 mV 14.1 mV Pass
80% Load 15.7 mV 13.7 mV 13.8 mV 14.6 mV Pass
90% Load 16.6 mV 14.1 mV 14.6 mV 14.8 mV Pass
100% Load 16.1 mV 14.2 mV 14.4 mV 15.1 mV Pass
110% Load 16.3 mV 15.1 mV 15.1 mV 15.9 mV Pass
Crossload 1 14.2 mV 10.5 mV 10.9 mV 7.9 mV Pass
Crossload 2 15.1 mV 16.9 mV 11.2 mV 8.1 mV Pass
Crossload 3 14.1 mV 10.4 mV 13.0 mV 8.1 mV Pass
Crossload 4 15.9 mV 13.4 mV 13.6 mV 13.3 mV Pass

Ripple suppression is good overall.

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One thought on “be quiet! Dark Power 14 1200W ATX v3.1 PSU Review

  1. Oh, good timing for this review ;-). Managed to order this psu, for 250€ @Alternate.
    It will replace my older BQ DP 12 850W, for more future proof.

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