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

Efficiency Normal, Light & Super-Light Loads

Efficiency in power supplies is the percentage of input AC power converted to usable DC power for the system, with the rest lost as heat. For example, an 80% efficient PSU delivering 400W of DC power draws 500W from the AC source, losing 100W as heat.

The platform offers high efficiency in all load ranges.

Average Efficiency

The PSU’s average efficiency with more than 1450 different load levels at 115V and 230V is depicted in the graphs below.

The average efficiency meets the Cybenetics Titanium criteria.

Average PF

Power factor in power supplies is the ratio of real power (used to do work, measured in watts) to apparent power (total power drawn, measured in volt-amperes). It indicates how efficiently a PSU uses incoming AC power. A higher power factor (closer to 1) is better, as it means less wasted energy, reduced strain on electrical systems, and improved efficiency, often achieved through Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) in modern PSUs.

The APFC converter works well, even at 230V, which is usually the weak point of most platforms.

Average Efficiency 5VSB

The 5VSB rail’s efficiency is high.

Vampire Power

Vampire power, also known as standby power, refers to the electricity consumed by a power supply unit (PSU) when it is plugged in but not actively powering a device, such as when a computer is turned off or in a low-power state, like sleep mode. This small, continuous draw (often a few watts) occurs due to background functions, such as maintaining standby rails (e.g., +5VSB for wake-on-LAN). Lower vampire power is better, as it reduces energy waste and lowers electricity costs.

Vampire power is increased.

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

  1. I have the 1200w Dark power 14, Amazing psu and completely silent too all round.
    The addition of a semi-passive fan mode switch was much requested for Be Quiet to implement to there psus and the Dark power 14 delivers that, now the fan doesn’t have to constantly run for complete silence at most normal loads.
    My only gripe is the cables could be more flexible but that is a non issue to the performance being so excellent. I just have to wait till I can buy some replacement cables for the psu.

  2. so this PSU was use main caps TK or Rubycon, on the sheet was listed Rubycon but in the photos says it was TK or BeQuiet gonna change their main caps config on a retail product so you just listed in a datasheet usinf Rubycon main caps ?

  3. Thanks for the review! We’ll see in the 850W,1000W reviews the Pure Power 13 M numbers together but if the lower wattage models are in line with this one then in some areas the Pure Power 13 M is actually better so hard to justify spending this much more for this one. Which one would you pick? Be Quiet is on the right path thats for sure and should be on buyers list performance wise but reliability matters more since we don’t want to burn down the house haha, but you can read horror stories about every brand so who knows which to pick. Hopefully my 2019 Seasonic Focus Gold will hold on for a while.

    Even the cables don’t seem to be much more premium, the cables with the Pure Power 13 M are rather stiff some say, would be nice if other than the overall cable quality you would mention flexibility aspect of them, often overlooked quality.

  4. 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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