Among enthusiast-grade hardware, the be quiet! Dark Power series represents precise engineering and thoughtful design, carving out a niche in the competitive world of high-end power supplies. Tarinder took a look at its predecessor, the be quiet! Dark Power 13, so it’s my turn to see what’s changed for this 14th iteration.
Dark Power 14 is designed to meet the needs of both uncompromising gamers and professional users and it embodies the spirit of German engineering, which prioritises reliability, ultra-efficient voltage regulation, and a noise profile so minimal it’s virtually undetectable. It is certified with 80 Plus Titanium and Cybenetics Titanium, together with efficiency of up to 95.57%. The promise carried in its name – quietness under load, regardless of conditions – is achieved by refinement and attention to component selection. In a constantly evolving market, it not only keeps pace but shapes the standard that others must follow.
be quiet! Dark Power 14 1,000W
$274.90 / €274.90
Pros
- Great efficiency
- Superb overall performance
- Excellent noise characteristics
- 10-year warranty
- ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compatibility
Cons
- Nothing of note
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How we test and review products.
The be quiet! Dark Power 14 series fully supports ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1, ensuring compatibility with high-wattage components, such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000/5000 series. This also means be quiet!’s PSU uses the latest 12V-2×6 (ATX12VO) power connector designed to deliver up to 600W of raw, unhindered power to the graphics card. You needn’t worry about the rather infamous 12VHPWR here.
When compared to ATX 2.X, which supports high load peaks but does not define a maximum above the nominal power of the power supply, ATX 3.1 represents clear target values – specifically, the PCIe connection for the graphics card must allow load changes of up to three times the power consumption. There is also a surge tolerance of up to 235%.
In particular, the be quiet! Dark Power 14 features an active rectifier and full-bridge LLC technology, offering some of the most advanced technologies available, resulting in higher efficiency, better regulation, and lower ripple noise for stable operation. With the simple push of a button, you can manually switch between multi-rail and single-rail mode. Furthermore, it gives you full overclocking control between the default four 12V-rail mode and the alternative massive single-rail operation.
Here’s a full list of variants you can choose from.
| Capacity | 12V-2×6 cable | PCIe 6+2 pin | EUR price | USD price |
| 850W | 600W | 4x | € 229.90 | $ 229.90 |
| 1,000W | 600W | 4x | € 274.90 | $ 274.90 |
| 1,2000W | 600W | 4x | € 309.90 | $ 309.90 |
The 850W and 1,000W models, in particular, are solid for setups with high-end CPUs like AMD Ryzen 9 or Intel Core i7/i9, combined with GPUs as powerful as AMD RX 9070 XT or Nvidia RTX 5080/5090. They have one 600W 12V-2×6 cable, while the 1,200W range-topper has two.
A 10-year warranty period is par for the course in this segment. When looking at the competition, pricing is consistent or even lower than other models with a similar feature set. Here in the UK, for example, the FSP Hydro TI Pro (80+ Titanium) is around £330, and the same for the Seasonic Prime TX-1000W. I expect be quiet! to come in at around £280.
Look and feel
The modular power supply is packaged in a typical black be quiet! cardboard box. On the front, you will find information about the model, PSU power, 80 Plus and Cybenetics Titanium certification, and a picture of the PSU. On the back, there is additional detail about the current and voltage-rating plate, as well as a QR code that takes us to the product page. Also, there is information about the PCIe 5.1 connector and a ‘developed in Germany’ banner synonymous with the manufacturer.
The supply comes with the obligatory power cable, plastic ties, mounting screws, and a user manual. There’s nothing revolutionary here, but still, it’s a nice package.
The cabling
The modular cabling of be quiet! Dark Power 14 1000W includes a full set of essential connectors, from a standard 24-pin ATX to multiple PCIe, Sata, and Molex connectors, making it versatile enough for a range of builds, from gaming rigs to workstations.
Graphics support is impressive, with a PCIe 5.1 12V-2×6 600W and 4 PCIe 6+2 connectors for overclocked, high-end models. This variety of connectors not only supports multiple GPU configurations but also enables future expandability, a key consideration for users planning incremental upgrades. Below, you can find a list of the supplied cables:
• 24-pin ATX cable (600 mm)
• 4+4-pin EPS cable (700 mm)
• 8-pin EPS cable (700 mm)
• 2x 6+2-pin PCI-e cable
• 12+4 PCIe (600 mm)
• Quad Sata cable (600+155+155+155 mm)
• Triple Sata cable (600+155+155 mm)
• Sata/Molex cable (605 mm SATA + 150 mm SATA + 155 mm Molex + 150 mm Molex)
be quiet! uses cables with a cross-section of 16 AWG and 18 AWG (American Wire Gauge), where a lower number means a larger cross-section. Additionally, its thoughtful design ensures it can be comfortably accommodated even in smaller PC cases or builds with tight space constraints, enhancing its overall usability.
Detailed inspection
Dimensions come in at 150mm x 86mm x 175mm (W x H x D), and it tips the scales at 2.2kg. These are perfectly normal for a PSU of this wattage. A full-mesh front with a funnel-shaped air inlet maintains high airflow. Examining the Dark Power 14 1,000W up close reveals a PSU optimised for both airflow and advanced cooling.
The heart of its cooling system is a 135mm Silent Wings fan identified as BQ SIW4-13525-MF. It’s powered by a 6-pole motor and uses the preferred fluid-dynamic bearing. The maximum speed is 2,100rpm.
This assembly is nestled within an integrated aluminium heatsink, a design that not only eliminates vibrational noise but also efficiently removes excess heat from critical electronics. The fan shroud and its aerodynamic slats channel intake air through the heatsink, keeping operating temperatures remarkably low, as I’ll demonstrate later. The external modular connectors are clearly labelled to accelerate assembly and avoid confusion, which is a detail appreciated by both first-time builders and seasoned modders.
A button on the rear of the power supply allows switching between a balanced active cooling mode, where the Silent Wings fan spins continuously, and a semi-passive mode, where the fan does not spin under low load and only starts when additional cooling is required for more demanding operations.
The post-ventilation setting keeps the fan running for 2–5 minutes after cooling to prevent frequent, noisy starts and stops. With the simple push of an OCK button, you can manually switch between multi-rail and single-rail mode. It gives you full overclocking control between the default four 12V-rail mode and the alternative massive single-rail operation.
Internals
A massive heatsink connects to the parts of the power supply that need the most cooling and dissipates a large portion of the heat. Even though a Titanium efficiency power supply generates less heat, active cooling is required to prevent overheating under high load.
The OEM for this PSU is CWT, a well-known and reputable manufacturer. As for the topology, it’s a bridgeless APFC + LLC resonant converter for the primary side. It features an advanced APFC (Active Power Factor Correction) controller, specifically using Champion CM6500UNX paired with Sync Power SPN5003, which actively reduces no-load consumption and optimises input power management. This combination ensures the wall power-draw remains minimal under all conditions, contributing directly to the unit’s stellar efficiency ratings.
As for the secondary side, you can find Synchronous Rectification for 12V & DC-DC converters for minor rails here. This stage is populated with premium electrolytic capacitors:
- Six Nichicon units rated between 2,000–5,000μF at 105°C (HD(M) series)
- A series of Rubycon capacitors, including three 4,000–10,000μF blocks (YXJ), another set of 3,000–6,000μF (YXS), and an impressive 10,000μF (YXM) component for high-end filtering.
These tight-tolerance capacitors are designed not only for durability under constant load but also to serve as a safeguard against voltage fluctuations, thereby preserving sensitive system components beyond standard operational demands. Here, the emphasis is on low-ESR Japanese polymer capacitors, crucial for noise and ripple suppression.
In detail, there are 23 Nippon Chemi-con polymer units and 19 FPCAP modules form the backbone of the secondary filtering network, ensuring ultra-low output impedance and near-zero signal distortion on each 12V rail.
Synchronous rectification is standard, using top-tier MOSFETs that handle extreme loads without significant heat or inefficiency. A wire-free design inside the unit removes many airflow impediments, boosting long-term reliability and keeping all vital circuits at cool operational thresholds.
Performance and efficiency
My first basic test is performed with a power-supply tester. It doesn’t draw more than a couple of watts from the PSU, but it helps determine whether the PSU is operational. A self-check indicates whether the voltages are at the proper levels. As you can see, there are no issues with the be quiet! Dark Power 14 1,000W unit.
The following professional setup was used for the remainder of the testing:
- Voltcraft VC-870 Digital Multimeter – voltage measurement (+ Fluke 97 scope meter)
- Oscilloscope – GW INSTEK GDS 3154
- DC load – original solution
- Fluke 97 Scope meter (a measurement of voltage and ripple),
- Voltcraft SL-451 decibel meter (volume measurement)
- ACUVIM-IIRF is used to measure active power (input from the socket).
- PCE Instruments PCE-DT 50 tachometer – for the measurement of the rotational speed of the fan.
Measurements are taken only using 230V input voltage.
I’ll give you the TLDR first. be quiet! Dark Power 14 1,000W exceeds 80 Plus Titanium certification, delivering excellent efficiency that keeps power waste and heat generation in check. Under typical loads, the PSU consistently maintains very high efficiency, ranking among the best in its class. This high efficiency directly translates into lower electricity bills for users running their systems extensively, as well as a reduced environmental impact.
Given its ATX12VO support, the be quiet! Dark Power 14 1000W houses four 12V rails, capable of delivering 33/33/34/34A or 83A in total, for a 996W power output. Should you need to use 5V and 3.3V, there’s 24A available on each, though not concurrently, of course.
12V regulation
| Wattage | Dark Power 14 1,000W |
| 100W (10%) | 12.05V |
| 250W (25%) | 12.04V |
| 500W (50%) | 12.02V |
| 750W (75%) | 12.00V |
| 1000W (100%) | 11.99V |
Voltage remains solid across the load spectrum, with minimal deviation from the ideal 12V rail output, providing stable power to sensitive components even at full load. This stability is crucial because voltage fluctuations can cause system crashes or hardware damage, especially in high-performance components like CPUs and GPUs.
Wide-load efficiency
| Wattage | Dark Power 14 1000W |
| 100W (10%) | 91.04 per cent |
| 250W (25%) | 94.53 per cent |
| 500W (50%) | 95.08 per cent |
| 750W (75%) | 94.22 per cent |
| 1000W (100%) | 92.89 per cent |
80 Plus Titanium PSUs are amongst the best of the best. be quiet! Dark Power 14 1,000W is comfortably above 90% efficiency at workloads common on consumer PCs.
Low-load efficiency
| Wattage | Dark Power 14 1000W |
| 40W | 84.15 per cent |
| 60W | 87.72 per cent |
| 80W | 89.96 per cent |
Examining low-load efficiency is equally important if, like us, your PC spends a vast amount of time idling. The wide-load efficiency range, however, ensures that whether your system is running basic tasks or pushing full CPU and GPU performance, the PSU operates economically, minimising heat output and potentially extending the lifespan of your computer’s components.
12V ripple suppression
| Wattage | Dark Power 14 1000W |
| 100W (10%) | 19.4 mV |
| 250W (25%) | 20.8 mV |
| 500W (50%) | 20.7 mV |
| 750W (75%) | 19.6 mV |
| 1000W (100%) | 20.7 mV |
Ripple suppression reflects high-quality AC to DC conversion. The Dark Power 14 1,000W showcases consistently low ripple voltage across its operational spectrum, enabling extremely clean power delivery that secures stable, error-free operation for high-end processors and graphics cards.
Reduced ripple contributes to better long-term health of your PC parts, too, and it can even lead to slightly improved overclocking headroom because delivered power is consistent and mostly free of electrical noise.
Noise
| Wattage | Dark Power 14 1000W |
| 100W (10%) | 30.0 dBA (0 rpm) |
| 250W (25%) | 30.0 dBA (0 rpm) |
| 500W (50%) | 30.0 dBA (0 rpm) |
| 750W (75%) | 30.9 dBA (520 rpm) |
| 1000W (100%) | 36.3 dBA (1,550 rpm) |
These are terrific results. be quiet! Dark Power 14 1,000W is semi-passive to over 50% load, with the fan turning on closer to 60%. Even with 75%, mind you, it’s barely spinning. The 135mm fan’s intelligent control keeps noise to a minimum, with the PSU practically silent during low-to-medium workloads.
Even under heavy loads, the noise output remains subdued, making it an excellent choice for quiet PC builds. This cooling efficiency means the PSU can maintain stable operation without resorting to aggressive fan speeds, which often cause distracting noise spikes in less well-designed units.
Background noise in my lab is 30dBA, so even under a full load, I can barely hear the fan which spins at around 700-800rpm at anything other than 100% load.
Conclusion
The be quiet! Dark Power 14 1,000W is a top-notch supply power supply unit that will make an excellent home for your next high-performance build.
Its 80 Plus Titanium efficiency rating assures low energy waste, while the sturdy build and solid protections give peace of mind for both gamers and professionals. be quiet! uses semi-passive cooling, and the 135mm fan only starts at around 60% load, and even then, it’s barely noticeable over background noise, spinning at ~520rpm. The average efficiency in the 20–100% range is over 93.5% and maximum efficiency is 95.08% at 50% load. Impressive numbers.
The suite of modular cables, actively-cooled heatsinks, and multi/single-rail configurability ensure adaptability across generations of hardware, from current flagship graphics cards to future silicon yet to be announced. Its comprehensive compensation for ripple, superb voltage regulation, and solid set of protection circuits reaffirm its place among the highest calibre PSUs on the market. It comes with a rather reasonable price, too, so there’s a lot to like.
When reliability, silence, and performance are simultaneously non-negotiable, the be quiet! Dark Power 14 1,000W stands as a natural and enduring choice.
