KITGURU SHORTLISTS: THE BEST POWER SUPPLY OF 2026

The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W is a seriously impressive power supply and one of the strongest high wattage units we have tested in some time. Technically it delivers where it matters. Load regulation is very good across all the rails and it handled our cross load testing without any problems. Ripple suppression is also excellent, with the +12V rail peaking at only 39mV at the full 1600 watt load. That is well inside the ATX specification and a very good result considering the enormous power output.

A high-grade Full Bridge LLC architecture with synchronous rectification and DC-DC topology ensure that power remains consistent and efficient across the full load range. We measured close to 95% peak efficiency which is exceptional and one of the best results we have seen in our labs.

The Ion 3 Gold really excels in regards to noise output, the inclusion of a noise tuned Fractal Momentum 14 fluid dynamic bearing fan has really helped improve the overall performance of this supply. Most of the time you wouldn't even know it was turned on, and it's only in the last 25% of total power output that the fan spins up enough that you can hear it. It never is intrusive, and it's one of the finest power supplies in regards to fan-tuning that I have tested this year.

Overall, the FSP Mega GM 1200W is an excellent and well-balanced power supply. It delivers very high levels of sustained power, operates extremely quietly, is fully modular, and uses premium internal components throughout. Backed by a 10-year warranty, it presents a compelling package.

The Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition may have an almost identical design to the original Seasonic version we reviewed a little while ago, but the new grille design, state of the art fan implementation and clever fan curve mean this power supply is one of the quietest we have tested. The fact it can withstand 1600 watts while generating almost no audible noise is remarkable.