be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W PSU Review
Conclusion
Premium power with an upgraded feature set
be quiet’s Dark Power Pro 14 IO is everything that anyone should want from a high-end PC power supply. With 1600 watts of power at its disposal, this PSU is more than capable of handling dual-GPU systems, making this PSU ideal for monster workstations and heavy overclocking. It is also built to scream premium quality, with a weighty anodised aluminium exterior that makes it feel crafted rather than mass-produced. Yes, this is an expensive PSU, but that’s because this is a quality unit.
With Titanium-level efficiency, this PSU is amongst the most efficient PSUs we have ever tested. Voltage stability is also a strong point. Add be quiet’s IO-series analytics and digital features, and it’s easy to see why we consider this PSU “enthusiast grade”. With IO Center, you can see how much power your system draws, and how much that power costs. With a click of a button, you can switch from single-rail to multi-rail mode and set this PSU’s fan profile. These features are especially useful for system tweakers and overclockers.
Is your undervolt reducing power draw? Is your overclock dramatically increasing your PC’s power cost? This PSU lets you see this data inside your system, without external tools or unreliable estimates. This PSU is for PC builders who want to know everything there is to know about their PCs.
There is only one thing that irks us about this PSU: its supplied 12V-2×6 cables don’t use the same cotton braid as its other power cables. While be quiet! has clearly tried to make these cables look similar, people attuned to these details will notice the difference. That said, given how hot 12V-2×6 cables can get, maybe it’s better that these cables don’t use a fabric braid.
Aside from that issue, the cables supplied with this PSU are a strong point. This PSU ships with plenty of cable options and even includes sets of cable combs and Velcro cable ties for aesthetically pleasing cable management. This helps users achieve a premium system aesthetic, turning the PSU’s cables into a feature rather than something to hide away.
The be quiet Dark Power Pro 14 IO is a luxury PSU. It’s highly efficient, delivers great voltage stability, and has software/hardware features that set it apart from most PSUs available today. This is an Enthusiast Grade PSU, something for PC builders that demand a high-quality unit with an advanced feature set.
You can join the discussion on be quiet’s Dark Power Pro 14 IO power supply on the OC3D Forums.
