The Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W ATX 3.0 PSU Review: Flagship Quality, Flagship Price
by E. Fylladitakis on July 26, 2023 8:00 AM ESTHot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)
The overall performance of the Dark Power Pro 13 1300W PSU degrades only slightly when the ambient temperature is high, suggesting minimal thermal stress. The drop at heavy loads is also minimal, meaning that the components of the Dark Power Pro 13 handle the high output and the high temperatures without any significant stress. The energy conversion efficiency drops by about 0.5% across the nominal load range with an input voltage of 230 VAC, which drop is marginally smaller with an input voltage of 115 VAC. In both cases, the efficiency drop is almost entirely evenly distributed across the entire load range.
The thermal performance of the Dark Power Pro 13 is mediocre when the ambient temperatures are very high. As the control circuitry is geared toward silent operation, the component temperatures can get high even when the load is low – at least for a unit that has its fan always on. Component temperatures can reach over 100 °C if the PSU is very heavily loaded for prolonged periods of time, yet the PSU keeps coping with the adverse operating conditions and performs seamlessly without any hint of thermal stress.
The Silent Wings fan is valiantly striving to maintain normal operating conditions when the ambient conditions are adverse. It does a fine job while the load is relatively low, managing to maintain tolerable noise levels. The speed of the fan increases alongside with the load, quickly reaching sound pressure levels that would be uncomfortable for typical everyday usage, with the fan reaching its maximum speed when the load is a little over 900 Watts.
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ballsystemlord - Thursday, July 27, 2023 - link
Dumb question, where's a good article about the new connector?Thanks!
Sivar - Sunday, July 30, 2023 - link
I have been most impressed by this Greek guy:https://hwbusters.com/psus/how-to-select-a-new-psu...
https://hwbusters.com/news/no-more-12vhpwr-connect...
escksu - Wednesday, July 26, 2023 - link
Hmm... not sure if its worth the money for a CWT PSU. CWT is pretty decent but there are much better ones like Delta and Flextronics.back2future - Sunday, July 30, 2023 - link
What's the rectifying circuit from mains like (active, pfc-coupled in series before it, passive ?)?How is resistance with dust clogging over years (high fan rpms) and thermal protection on low power demand (with low efficiency on that part of the performance profile and lower efficiency heat distribution on lower fan speeds)? (thx)
thedarkbird - Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - link
I ordered components for a new build last week and I avoided this PSU because there are numerous reports on different sites of the fan making a ticking noise. Furthermore, other high-end PSU's have 0 RPM fans on low loads, this one does not. Simply not acceptable for a PSU costing 400$.(Since I did the research for my build: FSP Hydro Ti Pro is the best ATX 3.0 PSU currently on the market.)
Itlotus - Thursday, October 12, 2023 - link
Hydro ti is quiet but 1kW is not enough for overclocking, especially for trx4 if you have 32 cores and use them.Tom Sunday - Monday, August 7, 2023 - link
Why did they simply not label the (2) 12VHPWR connectors for which they are...for a novice like me?Jayden Edwards - Wednesday, August 9, 2023 - link
I heard that they were recognized as defective. And at this price, it's just unacceptable.