be quiet! is a brand synonymous with silence, but also for delivering some of the most premium power supplies on the market. Their Dark Power series has long been a favorite of enthusiasts and high-end system builders who demand uncompromising quality, including myself, as there’s one at the foundation of my own work and gaming PC. Today, I will be taking a look at the new be quiet! Dark Power 14 1200W, a unit that promises to deliver the high-end power required for the latest generation of hardware while maintaining the company’s signature low-noise operation. Designed for demanding gamers and workstation users, this fully modular PSU comes equipped with the latest ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards, ensuring compatibility with the most power-hungry graphics cards and processors available. With 80 Plus Titanium efficiency and a host of premium features, expectations are naturally high for this top-tier unit.
Features and Specifications
The Dark Power 14 is packed with features designed to appeal to the enthusiast market. Perhaps the standout feature is the inclusion of a patented frameless Silent Wings 135mm fan, which sits in a funnel-shaped air inlet to maximise airflow while keeping noise to an absolute minimum. For those who prefer silence, at low loads a physical switch allows users to toggle between a semi-passive mode and a constantly spinning active cooling mode to suit their needs. Furthermore, the unit features an “Overclocking Key”, a switch that allows users to toggle the unit between multi-rail and single-rail operation, providing overclockers with the flexibility needed for extreme stability. Under the hood, it utilises a full bridge, LLC, and Synchronous Rectifier (SR) with DC-to-DC topology for unmatched signal stability and efficiency.
- 80 PLUS Titanium efficiency (up to 95.4%)
- ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compliant with native 12V-2×6 connectors
- Patented frameless Silent Wings 135mm fan for virtually inaudible operation
- Overclocking Key switches between four 12V rails and one massive 12V rail
- Active Rectifier and full bridge LLC technology for signal stability
- Semi-passive operation option via a dedicated rear switch
- 105°C rated Japanese capacitors for maximum reliability
- Fully modular cable management with sleeved cables
- 10-year manufacturer’s warranty
In terms of raw technical specifications, the Dark Power 14 1200W is a powerhouse. It delivers its 1200W of continuous power across four 12V rails by default, split into two 33A rails and two 45A rails, capable of a combined output of 100A. As mentioned, this can be combined into a single rail for heavy overclocking loads too, which is awesome. The unit includes a comprehensive suite of protection circuits, including OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OPP, and OTP. Physically, the unit measures 175mm in length, making it reasonably compact for something this powerful, and it includes two of the latest 12V-2×6 cables to support multiple high-end GPUs straight out of the box. In short, it’s a beast, and we’re expecting big things from it today.
- Model: Dark Power 14 1200W
- Continuous Power: 1200W
- Efficiency: 80 PLUS Titanium (up to 95.4%)
- Fan: 135mm Silent Wings FDB
- Dimensions: 175 x 150 x 86 mm
- +12V Rails: 4 (33A, 33A, 45A, 45A) or 1 Single Rail (Switchable)
- Max +12V Output: 100A
- Connectors: 1x ATX 20+4, 1x P8, 1x P4+4, 2x 12V-2×6, 4x PCIe 6+2, 13x SATA, 2x PATA
- Protection: OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OPP, OTP, SIP
- Topology: Full Bridge + LLC + SR + DC/DC
https://www.bequiet.com/en/powersupply/5988
