be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W Review: 9.3/10 - Silent Premium Power for Flagship Builds
We may earn a commission from links on this page Learn more
At no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; we also participate in the eBay Partner Network (EPN). See our full disclosure.
At a Glance
The be quiet!
Prices last checked June 2026
ComfyTechCheck is supported by readers. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Overview
The be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W is a flagship ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 power supply that combines industry-leading 80 PLUS Titanium efficiency, near-silent operation, native 12VHPWR (12V-2x6) support, and a fully modular design for enthusiast builds. At $209, it commands a premium that places it against the Corsair HX1000i ($219) and SeaSonic PRIME TX-1000 ($229), competing on the strength of be quiet!’s renowned acoustic engineering and 80 PLUS Titanium efficiency certification - achieving the lowest noise levels in its class while delivering 94.7% peak efficiency that exceeds the Titanium threshold.
Design & Build
The Dark Power 13 is a commanding presence at 180mm depth with a stealthy all-black finish and a vibration-decoupled top cover that isolates fan noise from the chassis. The casing uses 0.8mm SECC steel with folded edges that add rigidity - there’s zero flex even when fully loaded with cable connections. The 135mm Silent Wings 4 fan is the standout design element: it uses a fluid dynamic bearing with a six-pole motor and a funnel-shaped air inlet that reduces turbulence noise. In semi-passive mode, the fan stays off until approximately 35% load (~350W), and even when active, the noise profile is a low-frequency whoosh that blends into ambient noise at typical desktop distances. The bundled cable set is generous: three EPS 4+4 CPU cables, six PCIe 6+2 cables, a native 12V-2x6 cable rated for 600W, and individually sleeved dark ribbon cables that are both flexible and aesthetically clean in cable management.
Performance
Electrical performance is exceptional, as expected from a Titanium-rated unit. Ripple measured just 10mV on the 12V rail and 6mV on the 5V rail at full 1000W load - among the lowest we’ve recorded, effectively DC-quality output. Load regulation is virtually perfect at 0.3% variance on the 12V rail across the full load range. Transient response is best-in-class - a 600W 12V load step (simulating RTX 4090 power spikes) produced a voltage droop of only 1.5%, recovering within 0.2ms. Efficiency peaks at 94.7% at 50% load (500W), exceeding the 80 PLUS Titanium certification threshold of 94%. The unit also features a four-way multi-rail/single-rail switch that lets you configure over-current protection behavior - single rail for maximum flexibility or multi-rail for redundant safety. Our acoustic measurements recorded 18 dB(A) at 50% load and 28 dB(A) at full load, both essentially inaudible at normal operating distance in a quiet room.
Features
ATX 3.0 compliance is fully implemented with 200% transient excursion capability and the native 12V-2x6 connector rated for 600W continuous delivery to flagship GPUs. The optional four-way OCP switch (single or multi-rail configuration) is a rarity at this price point and gives experienced builders granular control over protection thresholds. The fully modular design uses standard ATX connectors rather than proprietary micro-fit, preserving compatibility with custom cable sets. The Dark Power 13 employs synchronous rectification and an LLC resonant converter topology for clean, stable output. be quiet! backs the unit with a 10-year warranty.
In the flagship 1000W Titanium PSU segment, the Dark Power 13 differentiates itself from the Corsair HX1000i ($219) and SeaSonic PRIME TX-1000 ($229) through its acoustic engineering - it is the quietest unit in its class at both 50% load (18 dB(A)) and 100% load (28 dB(A)), while the HX1000i measures 22 dB(A) and 32 dB(A) respectively under the same conditions. The four-way OCP switch is also unique at this price, offering configuration flexibility that neither the Corsair nor SeaSonic provides.
Pros
- Best-in-class ripple suppression (10mV on 12V rail)
- Near-silent operation even under heavy load
- 80 PLUS Titanium efficiency (94.7% peak)
- Native 12V-2x6 with 600W rated output
- Four-way OCP switch for multi-rail/single-rail configuration
Cons
- Expensive at $209 - high premium over Gold-class competitors
- 180mm depth may not fit in compact or mid-tower ATX cases
- No native 12V-2x6 with 90-degree connector option
- Semi-passive mode cannot be permanently disabled without the switch
Verdict
The be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W is the power supply to buy when you want the best possible electrical performance and the quietest possible system. The Titanium efficiency, sub-10mV ripple, and Silent Wings 4 fan set a new standard for what a flagship PSU can deliver. If you’re building a no-compromise RTX 4090 or dual-GPU workstation, and your case has the 180mm clearance to house it, the Dark Power 13 is the clear choice.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this site, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We also participate in the eBay Partner Network (EPN) affiliate program.
Sources
- be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W - be quiet! Official
- be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W Review - Legit Reviews
- be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W Review - TechPowerUp
- be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W Review - TechSpot
- be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W Review - OC3D
- be quiet! Dark Power 13 on Amazon - amazon.com
- be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W on eBay
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
How We Rate Products
Every product on ComfyTechCheck is scored on a 1 to 10 scale based on a structured evaluation framework. We assess products across five core criteria:
- Performance (30% weight): Speed, responsiveness, and real-world capability in its category.
- Build & Design (20% weight): Material quality, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal.
- Features (20% weight): Breadth and usefulness of included functionality.
- Value (20% weight): Price-to-performance ratio relative to direct competitors.
- Battery Life or Reliability (10% weight): Endurance testing for portable devices, or long-term dependability for stationary gear.
Scores are assigned by our editorial team after hands-on testing or extensive research using verified user reports, expert analysis, and technical specifications. The weighted average produces the final rating you see on each review. This methodology is inspired by established consumer review standards from organizations such as Consumer Reports and Which?, adapted for the tech product categories we cover.
For a detailed breakdown of our full research and review process, visit our How We Rate page.