Be Quiet! Dark Power 13 - 1000W PSU Review - Introduction

be quiet! Dark Power 13 review (1000W)
Element 22 - Bulletproof, nothing to lose, yes .. Titanium

Be quiet!, a well-known brand in the power supply, chassis and cooling market, has recently released their ATX 3.0 compatible Dark Power 13 series. Initially released in 1000W, 850W, and 750W models, we'll take a closer look at the 1000W version. Despite its non-pro title, this series is highly efficient, carrying a Titanium 80Plus certification, making it one of the most efficient products available for gaming. The Dark Power 13 PSU also comes with a 600W 12VHPWR connector, making it a high-end model with ATX 3.0 and PCIe Gen5 support. In terms of specifications, the Dark Power 13 includes 80 Plus Titanium switching, four drive connectors, two PCIe connections, one PCIe 5.0 connection, two P8 connections, one motherboard connection, and one overclock connection. It also includes four separated 12V rails as default, which can be switched to a single rail with the use of an overclock locking key. Additionally, it's wire-free on the DC side, resulting in high-efficiency ratings, the best possible even at rated Titanium. Overall, the be quiet! Dark Power 13 is a great choice for those who want a reliable and high-performing power supply that can handle the demands of heavy use and overclocking.

As mentioned earlier, if you prefer a single rail power supply, that is an option available to you. However, if you prefer a multi-rail design, the Dark Power series is a great choice. The 80 Plus Titanium certification ensures that this power supply is extremely efficient, with 96% efficiency at 50% load and 94% at 20% load (based on 230V).

When it comes to energy efficiency certifications, Titanium sits at the top of the spectrum, above Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. While it's possible that an even more efficient model may be developed in the future, currently Titanium is the best the industry has to offer. If your PC is on 24/7, a Titanium power supply is an excellent choice, as it will save you money on your electricity bill in the long run. However, it's worth noting that these power supplies tend to be quite expensive.

The efficiency of a power supply is important to consider because less efficient power supplies can waste a significant amount of power, resulting in higher electricity bills. For example, if your components consume 500W directly from the PSU, with a 70% efficient power supply, you would use and draw 650W from your wall power socket. With a Titanium PSU, the same PC would use 520W (depending on the PSU model). Investing in an efficient power supply can make a big difference in the long run.

These PSUs feature an integrated 12Vhpwr connection with 16 pins that can provide power up to 600W, specifically designed for use with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 40 graphics cards. Additionally, the PSUs must comply with ATX 3.0 standards for short-duration power supply and be able to sustain peak currents of up to three times the normal power consumption of the graphics card. The company also includes four regular 6+2-pin connections for powering graphics cards.

One of the most impressive features of the Dark Power 13 1000W is its four independent 12V rails which can be combined into one big rail with the OC key. The power supplies are also equipped with a 135mm Silent Wings fan for quiet operation. The PSUs come with a ten-year warranty. The 750W model has a suggested retail price of 215 euros, the 850W and 1000W variants cost 260 and 295 euros, respectively. Overall, this is a high-quality power supply with a range of features that make it well-suited for use with high-end graphics cards.