MONTECH, another emerging PC hardware brand, has sent us one of their latest power supply units to review – the CENTURY II. The MONTECH CENTURY II features PCIe 5.1 and ATX 3.1 standards and comes with a native 12V-2×6 connector that supports the latest NVIDIA RTX graphics cards.
Product Name: CENTURY II 850W
Manufacturer: MONTECH
MSRP: $89.90 (Amazon US), £79.99 (Scan Computers), 94,90€ (CaseKing)
MONTECH, another emerging PC hardware brand, has sent us one of their latest power supply units to review – the CENTURY II. The MONTECH CENTURY II features PCIe 5.1 and ATX 3.1 standards and comes with a native 12V-2×6 connector that supports the latest NVIDIA RTX graphics cards. The CENTURY II Series is available in 850W, 1050W, and 1200W models – we are taking a look at the 850W model in this review.
Like the majority of the PSU brands today, MONTECH is also revamping their PSU lineup to include models with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards, and the CENTURY II is one of their latest additions. The CENTURY II features 80PLUS Gold and Cybenetics Platinum certifications. It also features 100% Japanese capacitors, which we can verify later in this review. It also features a fully modular cable design, Smart Zero Fan mode, and a 10-year warranty.
At the time of this writing, the CENTURY II 850W is priced at $89.90 in the United States and £79.99 on Scan Computers. The MONTECH CENTURY II 850W power supply unit offers incredible value given the features and somewhat aesthetic design, if silver fits your PC build.
MONTECH on their CENTURY II Series Power Supply Units
CENTURY II is a next-generation breakthrough in power supply design. Featuring a sleek metallic silver finish, latest ATX 3.1 support, and enhanced ventilation, it delivers exceptional performance and reliability. Engineered to redefine value in high-performance power supply units.
Features and Specifications
Features
• 80 PLUS Gold Certified
• Cybenetics Platinum Certified
• 135mm FDB Fan Smart Zero Mode
• Modern Power Standards PCIe 5.1
• Modern Power Standards ATX 3.1
• Fully Modular Design
• 100% Japanese Capacitors
• Enlarged Air Intake Area
• Topmost Protection: 10 Years Warranty
Specifications
Dimensions (L*W*H)
140 × 150 × 86 mm
Efficiency
The CENTURY II 850W’s efficiency peaks at 40% load, which would be around 340W~350W. We will be adding a 40% load test in this review to check this out.
Understanding PSU Efficiency
Power supply unit (PSU) efficiency measures the effectiveness with which the PSU converts alternating current (AC) from an external power source into direct current (DC) used by internal computer components. A higher efficiency rating indicates reduced energy loss in the form of heat, resulting in improved energy savings, quieter system performance, and potentially enhanced durability of the PSU.
Packaging, Bundle, and Cables
On one side of the box, the efficiency and fan noise information can be seen. The CENTURY II 850W’s efficiency peaks at 40% load which is unlike the PSUs we’ve reviewed so far this year like the FSP VITA GM 1000W and Super Flower LEADEX III GOLD ATX 3.1 850W – both PSUs’ efficiency peaks at 50% load.
Closer Look (External)
The MONTECH CENTURY II 850W features a metallic silver finish with a unique fan grille design – one of the more aesthetic PSUs we’ve reviewed this year. It has no RGB lighting, but is certainly unlike most power supply units that come in either black or white colour.
The top of the PSU has a sticker that contains information about specifications and features. The power switch and Smart Zero Fan Mode switch are located at the rear of the power supply unit.
The CENTURY II’s modular cable headers are all located on the right side of the power supply unit.
We built a silver-themed gaming PC featuring the CENTURY II 850W PSU. It features the Mechanic Master C28 Silver mATX chassis and the COLORFUL iGame GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Advanced OC graphics card that has a silver-coloured cooling shroud. It’s perfect for silver-themed PC builds.
Closer Look (Internal)
The CENTURY II 850W comes equipped with a 135mm fan (Model: HA13525M12F-Z), rated up to 1800 RPM. The fan is secured by a different set of screws. To open the entire PSU, you need to remove eight screws.
The CENTURY II is equipped with heatsinks to help with heat dissipation and features 100% Japanese capacitors, which we can verify here.
The PSU comes equipped with two Nippon Chemi-Con main capacitors – a 420V 470uF 105°C and a 420V 390uF 105°C aluminium electrolytic capacitors. It’s quite surprising that this PSU packs two top-tier Japanese main capacitors, which suggests it’s a more premium build compared to PSUs with only a single main capacitor.
The secondary capacitors of the CENTURY II 850W are labelled “TK”, which is from the brand Toshin Kogyo – also a Japanese brand and is deemed a second-tier capacitor brand. Hence, the claim “100% Japanese capacitors” is true for this particular power supply unit from MONTECH.
For the MONTECH CENTURY II series, it appears that the 850W model uses a different PCB compared to the 1050W and 1200W models since this particular PCB only supports models up to 850W.
Testing Methodologies & Results
Our testing methodology for PSUs is straightforward, using a multi-meter and high-precision wattmeter and power analyser. The multi-meter and wattmeters are installed on the +12V, +5V, and +3.3V output rails. There are three distinct cables in a PSU that deliver +12V: PCIe, EPS, and Peripherals cables. We will be testing all +12V outputs in all three cables using a wattmeter.With this, we can compare whether the +12V output for the PCIe cables, EPS cables, and peripherals has differences, particularly at higher loads. We also have a wattage and power meter for the entire system to monitor the total wattage pulled by the entire PC. The test computer’s configuration is as follows below which is on an open-frame testbench.
CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K (stock)
Cooling: Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS EXTREME X
Graphics Card: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3070 EAGLE OC
Memory: KLEVV CRAS XR5 RGB DDR5-6000 2x16GB Kit
Storage: ADATA Legend 960 Max 1TB / 2TB Seagate SkyHawk 5900 RPM
Cooling: Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS EXTREME X
Graphics Card: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3070 EAGLE OC
Memory: KLEVV CRAS XR5 RGB DDR5-6000 2x16GB Kit
Storage: ADATA Legend 960 Max 1TB / 2TB Seagate SkyHawk 5900 RPM
Efficiency Graph
For the MONTECH CENTURY II 850W, wherein the peak efficiency is at 40% load, I will be using a mixture of software to achieve 40% load that pulls approximately 340~350W. I will also be checking voltage regulation at >50% load.
Results
I have tested the +3.3V, +5.0V, and +12.0V outputs of the power supply unit. As mentioned above, the +12V on three different cables has been tested. In all three load scenarios, the CENTURY II 850W showed impressively tight voltage regulation, particularly the +12V delivered on the EPS, PCIe, and Peripherals cables which are all under 1%. See the table below to see the voltage deviation in three load scenarios tested.
Voltage Regulation
Across all load scenarios testing, the +12V readings on the PCIe and EPS cables have the tightest voltage regulation. This means the CENTURY II 850W delivers stable power for the +12V PCIe and +12V EPS-connected components, the graphics cards and motherboard, in all load scenarios tested.
Acoustics
The CENTURY II 850W is one of the most silent power supply units I’ve tested this year, probably because of its unique grille mesh design that has smaller openings that dampen noise compared to PSUs with larger vent openings. At idle, less than 10% load, the sound meter gets a reading of 45 dBA. At >50% load, the reading goes up to 53 dBA. Considering that the FSP VITA GM 1000W had a reading of 55 dBA at >50% load, it goes to show that the CENTURY II’s vent design dampens noise. Our test system is in an open test bench without any form of sound insulation. In a typical desktop chassis wherein the PSU bay would likely have a fan filter at the bottom, noise should be even lower. There’s also no coil whine observed from our tested power supply unit.
Conclusion
MONTECH is a relatively new player in the PSU market but offers an impressive selection of power supply units for all types of builders. Considering the pricing of the CENTURY II Series, it is a very compelling option for mainstream PC builders looking into building a new gaming or workstation PC. The CENTURY II Series are significantly more affordable compared to equivalent PSUs from other known brands that also have ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards and 80 PLUS Gold, Cybenetics Gold/Platinum-level certifications.
We cannot speak for the 1050W and 1200W models of the CENTURY II because it seems like those two higher-wattage models use a different PCB with different components but as for the 850W model and its price – this is hard to beat. In Europe, the CENTURY II 850W is available in Scan Computers for £79.99 and on CaseKing for 94,90€ – it is almost £50 cheaper than the Super Flower LEADEX III GOLD ATX 3.1 850W while also offering an impressive 10-year warranty.
The MONTECH CENTURY II 850W stands out with its impressively tight +12V voltage regulation, ensuring stable and reliable power delivery to critical components like the CPU and GPU. Its Smart Zero Fan mode also provides quieter operation for users who prioritise low-noise performance. With a strong feature set, it offers exceptional overall value – a must-have for budget-conscious builders looking for a PSU with 12V-2×6 connectors. Just take note that the 12V-2×6 cable on the CENTURY II 850W is only rated for 450W, not 600W.
If you’re building a gaming PC on a tight budget, the MONTECH CENTURY II 850W is a strong contender. While its silver finish might not suit every colour scheme, it offers a distinct and stylish look that sets it apart from standard PSUs. More importantly, it’s fully modular, supports the latest power standards, and holds both 80 PLUS Gold and Cybenetics Platinum certifications. For builders who want reliable performance without overspending, the CENTURY II 850W delivers outstanding value and helps stretch your budget further for other key components.
Pros
+ 100% Japanese capacitors
+ Strong +12V PCIe/CPU Rail
+ Fully modular cable design
+ 10-year warranty
+ Smart Zero Fan mode for silent operation
Cons
– Silver might be difficult to colour match
+ 100% Japanese capacitors
+ Strong +12V PCIe/CPU Rail
+ Fully modular cable design
+ 10-year warranty
+ Smart Zero Fan mode for silent operation
Cons
– Silver might be difficult to colour match
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