Buying Guide
The Best PSUs for Machine Learning
From the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G to the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W: four power supplies ranked on rated output and native 12V-2x6 cable count, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 products evaluated
Machine learning rigs run the GPU at full power for hours, sometimes with two cards. Every pick is rated for 1200W or more, ordered by wattage.
Our comparison rests on published figures for wattage, native 12V-2x6 cables and PCIe 8-pin connectors; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out PCIe 8-pin connectors, we say so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Most Native 12V-2x6 Cables
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600GThe most native 12V-2x6 cable count here (2).
Best for: Buyers who put native 12V-2x6 cable count first.
Check price for ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600WMonitoring and control through be quiet!'s IO Center software at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G costs less.
Check price for be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200GThe cheapest way into this group, below the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $150.
Check price for ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200WFour PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6.
Best for: Buyers who want four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6.
Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The most native 12V-2x6 cable count here (2). | Buyers who put native 12V-2x6 cable count first. | Check price for ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Monitoring and control through be quiet!'s IO Center software at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G costs less. | Check price for be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The cheapest way into this group, below the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W. | Keeping the cost under $150. | Check price for ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6. | Buyers who want four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Most Native 12V-2x6 Cables1 of 4
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G
ASRock's Phantom Gaming PG-1600G has 1600W, two 12V-2x6 cables with temperature monitoring and eight PCIe 8-pin connectors.
Best for
- Buyers who put native 12V-2x6 cable count first.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: a 180mm depth needs a roomy PSU bay.
Why we like it
At 180mm deep it needs a large case. On rated output it ties with the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W at 1600W. Its 2 native 12V-2x6 cable count is the most here; the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W comes next at 1.
It shares a gold 80 plus rating with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G and be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W; the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W goes with a titanium 80 plus rating. At 180mm deep, compare it with your case's PSU clearance before buying. You also get this: A 10-year warranty.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1600W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 2
- PCIe 8-pin connectors
- 8
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Depth
- 180mm
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan
- 135mm
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- 1600W of rated output for high-power cards
- 2 native 12V-2x6 cables
- 8 PCIe 8-pin connectors for older cards
- A 10-year warranty
Cons
- A 180mm depth needs a roomy PSU bay
- Costs more than the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G at the time of writing
Premium Pick2 of 4
be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W
The be quiet!
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G costs less.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its 8-pin PCIe connector count before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W is built around monitoring and control through be quiet!'s IO Center software, with a switchable active or semi-passive fan mode on top. On the spec sheet, it offers a 1600W rated output and offers a 1 native 12V-2x6 cable count. It switches between multi-rail and single-rail modes, and it is Titanium rated at up to 94.9% efficiency.
A vibration-free Silent Wings fan keeps it quiet. It matches the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G on rated output (1600W). It matches the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W on native 12V-2x6 cable count (1).
It is the only pick here with a titanium 80 plus rating; the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G has a gold 80 plus rating instead. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1600W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- 80 Plus rating
- Titanium
- Cybenetics rating
- Titanium
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- 1600W of rated output for high-power cards
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- 80 Plus Titanium efficiency
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- No published 8-pin PCIe connector count
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed 8-pin PCIe connector count, look to the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G instead: it offers 8, while this one gives no figure.
Lowest Price Here3 of 4
ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G
ASRock's Steel Legend SL-1200G is a 1200W ATX 3.1 unit with a native 12V-2x6 cable, a 10-year warranty and a Cybenetics LAMBDA A noise rating.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $150.
Skip if
- Its 8-pin PCIe connector count is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It uses 100% Japanese capacitors for longevity and stable output. Check your case and component specifications before buying. On rated output it ties with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W at 1200W.
On native 12V-2x6 cable count it ties with the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W at 1. It shares a gold 80 plus rating with the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G and be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W; the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W goes with a titanium 80 plus rating. You also get a 5V boost function for stable standby voltage.
No depth is rated for the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. It undercut the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1200W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Warranty
- 10 years
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan
- 135mm
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- 1200W of rated output for high-power cards
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A 10-year warranty
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- No published 8-pin PCIe connector count
The catch
The maker doesn't give its 8-pin PCIe connector count; if that figure matters, the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G offers 8.
Also Consider4 of 4
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W
The be quiet!
Best for
- Buyers who want four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated output matters most to you; the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G offers 1600W.
Why we like it
Pure Power 13 M 1200W is built around four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6, with semi-passive cooling at low load on top. On the spec sheet, it offers a 1200W rated output and offers a 1 native 12V-2x6 cable count. On rated output it ties with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G at 1200W.
On native 12V-2x6 cable count it ties with the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G at 1. It shares a gold 80 plus rating with the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G and ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G; the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W goes with a titanium 80 plus rating. On price it sat second of 4, between the cheaper ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G and the pricier ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1200W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- PCIe 8-pin connectors
- 4
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- 1200W of rated output for high-power cards
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- 4 PCIe 8-pin connectors for older cards
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- Rated output trails the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (1600W)
- Native 12V-2x6 cable count trails the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (2)
- No published warranty
The catch
The trade-off is rated output; for more, the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G offers 1600W.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up four power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, 8-pin PCIe connector count and warranty from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and 8-pin PCIe connector count and warranty are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G to the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W, state rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count and 80 Plus rating and share ATX 3.1 ATX version and Black colour.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G give no 8-pin PCIe connector count; the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W give no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G ($100 to $150) to the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a PSUs for Machine Learning
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much rated output you need
Here rated output runs from 1200W on the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W to 1600W on the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, a 33% spread. Start with the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G if rated output decides it.
Native 12V-2x6 cable count across these picks
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G tops native 12V-2x6 cable count at 2 and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W sits lowest at 1. The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G is the pick for native 12V-2x6 cable count.
Modular cable sockets on the back of a power supply 8-pin PCIe connector count across these picks
Across these 2 picks 8-pin PCIe connector count spans 4 (the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W) to 8 (the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G). The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G is the pick for 8-pin PCIe connector count. The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G give no 8-pin PCIe connector count figure, so 2 of 4 picks are compared here.
Cybenetics rating
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W list platinum; the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W lists titanium.
Power cables routed to a graphics card inside a PC What to check at home
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G comes with 2 native 12V-2x6 cables, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
How to Choose a PSUs for Machine Learning
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put native 12V-2x6 cable count first | ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G | The most native 12V-2x6 cable count here (2) |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G costs less | be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W | Monitoring and control through be quiet!'s IO Center software at the highest price in the group |
| Keeping the cost under $150 | ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G | The cheapest way into this group, below the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W |
| Buyers who want four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6 | be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W | Four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G leads on rated output at 1600W, ahead of the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W at 1600W. "Not listed" marks 8-pin PCIe connector count where the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G leave the figure out.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | PCIe 8-pin connectors | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G | 1600W | 2 | 8 | 10 years |
| be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W | 1600W | 1 | Not listed | Not listed |
| ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G | 1200W | 1 | Not listed | 10 years |
| be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W | 1200W | 1 | 4 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G, sat in the $100 to $150 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Power supplies |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G |
| About $150 to $250 | be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W, ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G |
| About $250 to $500 | be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G ahead of the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W on native 12V-2x6 cable count?
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G leads at 2, with the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W at 1.
Which has the most 8-pin PCIe connector count: the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G or the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W?
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G tops 8-pin PCIe connector count at 8; the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W follows at 4, 100% apart. The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G are left out of this ranking because their 8-pin PCIe connector count isn't stated; 2 of 4 picks are ranked.
Is the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W worth paying more than the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G?
The spec sheets show rated output (1600W against 1200W) in its favour. The ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G sat in the $100 to $150 tier and the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, with 2 other picks between them; pay the difference only if rated output decides your purchase.
What makes the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G the Most Native 12V-2x6 Cables?
The label rests on the most native 12V-2x6 cable count here (2). The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W is next on native 12V-2x6 cable count at 1, so this pick's 2 is 100% further out. The ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G, the cheapest pick, sat in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits anyone who puts native 12V-2x6 cable count first.
Do the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G and the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W differ on 80 Plus rating?
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W use Gold; the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W uses titanium.
What should I check before buying the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W?
The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. In this guide it ranks second of 4, as our Premium Pick, and second of 4 on rated output (1600W).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, chosen for the most native 12V-2x6 cable count here (2). Look at the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W for monitoring and control through be quiet!'s IO Center software at the highest price in the group, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-1200G for the cheapest way into this group, below the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1200W for four PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6 if those matter more to you.
Check the 12V-2x6 cable count against every GPU you plan to install.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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