be quiet! Dark Power 14 1200W Review: Silent Efficiency Meets Extreme Power

be quiet! continues to refine its Dark Power series of power supplies. The Dark Power 13, launched in January 2023, now gives way to the Dark Power 14. While the design remains familiar, the internal components have been upgraded to support the latest standards and meet the growing demands of modern gaming systems.

The lineup includes 850W, 1000W, and 1200W models. As always, the design philosophy remains true to the series: minimalist and industrial. Under the hood, the PSU supports the latest ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards, with 80 PLUS Titanium and Cybenetics Titanium certifications guaranteeing exceptional efficiency. Cooling is hybrid, featuring a switch to toggle between semi-passive and always-active fan modes. A second switch allows users to choose between multi-rail and single-rail configurations, and the cable management is fully modular.

In this review,Tech2Geek tested the 1200W flagship model paired with a Core i9-10900K and a GeForce RTX 4090.

Is it quiet and stable? Do the voltages hold steady under heavy load? And does it justify its $200 price tag? Let’s find out.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Buy be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 1200W Modular Power Supply ($179) on Amazon

Design and Technical Overview

The Dark Power 14 brings a notable mechanical improvement to the series. While the Dark Power 12 supported ATX12V 2.52, and the 13 introduced ATX 3.0, the 14 now embraces ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1.

The older 12VHPWR connector has been replaced by the new 12V-2×6, which is designed for improved safety and reliability. The three available power levels (850W, 1000W, 1200W) clearly target the high-end segment, with MSRP set at €229.90, €274.90, and €309.90 respectively.

At first glance, the chassis looks nearly identical to the previous model, but subtle refinements are visible — notably at the front, where two buttons now sit beside the power input.

The first controls the cooling mode: semi-passive or active. In semi-passive mode, the fan stops completely when temperatures and load permit. It also features intelligent post-cooling, keeping the fan spinning for 2 to 5 minutes after shutdown to dissipate residual heat.

Cooling is handled by a 135 mm Silent Wings fan with a 6-pole motor and fluid dynamic bearings, capable of up to 2600 RPM. be quiet! claims a maximum noise level of 21.1 dBA, and only 8.3 dBA at 50% load.

Unlike typical PSUs, the fan isn’t simply mounted above the components — it’s integrated into a large black heatsink that directly cools the most heat-sensitive areas. Combined with the PSU’s ultra-high efficiency, this helps minimize heat output and power waste.

Internally, the unit uses an active rectifier with LLC conversion on the primary side, and synchronous rectification (SR) with DC-DC conversion on the secondary. High-quality 105°C Japanese capacitors and comprehensive protections (OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OTP, OPP, and surge protection) complete the package.

Overclocking and Connectivity

The second rear switch is intended for overclockers. It allows users to toggle between multi-rail and single-rail modes. In multi-rail mode, four independent +12V rails distribute power evenly; in single-rail mode, all power is consolidated for maximum output — ideal for extreme overclocking.

The +12V rails deliver 45A on one line and 33A on the other two, while the +5V and +3.3V lines provide 24A and 25A respectively.

With 1200 watts on tap, the PSU easily supports the most demanding systems. It includes:

• Two 12V-2×6 connectors (for GPUs),
• Four PCIe 6+2-pin connectors,
• Two EPS (4+4 and 8-pin) connectors,
• One ATX 20+4-pin,
• Thirteen SATA,
• Two Molex connectors,
  distributed across 11 fully sleeved cables.

The 100% modular design allows users to connect only what’s necessary, improving airflow and cable management.

Visually, the PSU features a matte black finish with chrome “Dark Power 14” and “be quiet!” branding. The side label shows the power distribution, and the fan grill — a full-length Metal Mesh — exudes premium build quality. Dimensions remain unchanged from the Dark Power 13: 175 × 150 × 86 mm.

be quiet! backs the PSU with a 10-year warranty.

Test Setup

Test system:

• Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme
• CPU: Intel Core i9-10900K
• RAM: 4×8 GB DDR4-3200 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB
• GPU: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC
• Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 Chromax.Black
• Storage: Corsair MP400 2TB NVMe SSD

Measurements included:

• Voltage fluctuations on +12V, +5V, and +3.3V lines
• Power Factor Correction (PFC) values
• Noise levels
• Total system power consumption

Testing was conducted with OCCT 12.0.5 (Power Test) in multiple runs (idle, CPU load, GPU load, full system load).

The CPU drew ~285–290W, and the RTX 4090 ~445–450W.

Voltage Stability

The results were excellent:

• +5V rail: 0.75% fluctuation
• +12V rail: 0.02%
• +3.3V rail: 0.42%

These are well below the ATX 3.1 tolerance limits. In fact, the Dark Power 14 1200W matches — or even outperforms — the Seasonic Prime TX-1600, particularly in +12V stability.

Power Factor Correction (PFC)

With 80 PLUS Titanium certification, the PSU maintained a PFC value between 0.85 and 0.98, depending on load — a perfect result.

A high PFC means the PSU draws power more efficiently, reducing wasted energy and electrical noise on the power grid. The active PFC system adjusts dynamically to line conditions, ensuring optimal efficiency at all times.

Noise Levels

During all tests (ambient room temperature: 19°C), the Dark Power 14 1200W remained completely fanless, even under a 820W full load for 10 minutes. The fan never spun up — a testament to the PSU’s thermal efficiency and design quality.

Power Consumption

No surprises here: system power draw remained among the lowest in its class. Compared to an 80 PLUS Gold PSU, the Titanium-rated Dark Power 14 saved 18–20 watts under identical conditions — a clear benefit of its ultra-high efficiency.

Conclusion

At $200, the be quiet! Dark Power 14 1200W sits firmly in the high-end PSU segment. Its 1.2 kW output is built for the most demanding gaming and workstation builds. This is an evolution rather than a revolution, refining the Dark Power 13 with improved efficiency, silence, and compliance with the latest standards.

It offers:

• Robust build quality and stability
• Silent operation, even under heavy load
• Excellent electrical performance
• ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compatibility
• Safer 12V-2×6 connectors
• Fully modular cables
• 80 PLUS Titanium efficiency
• 10-year warranty
• Multi-rail / single-rail flexibility

Our tests confirm rock-solid voltages, flawless PFC behavior, and complete silence during operation — even beyond 800W of sustained load.

The only real downside is its price, but given the quality, reliability, and performance, it’s a worthy investment for enthusiasts and professionals seeking the best.

👉 Verdict: The Dark Power 14 1200W is a top-tier, whisper-quiet powerhouse — efficient, stable, and future-proof, designed to power today’s and tomorrow’s most extreme gaming PCs.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Buy be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 1200W Modular Power Supply ($179) on Amazon