Maingear outfits desktops with GeForce GTX 650 and 660, drops prices to lure us in

Maingear F131, Potenza and Shift

Whenever there's a new video card or processor, Maingear is almost always on the scene with an upgrade -- sometimes within seconds of its hardware partners. A plan to use NVIDIA's new GeForce GTX 650 and 660 graphics chips from day one proves that rule in style, although Maingear is going the distance with some incentives beyond just shiny parts. Along with making the mid-tier GeForce technology an option for every desktop, the PC builder is offering special GTX 650 and 660 versions of its F131 and Potenza gaming rigs that knock as much as $150 off the price. The base prices of $949 for the limited-run Potenza and $1,199 for the F131 keep either system in serious gamer territory and preclude us from calling them tremendous bargains. Nonetheless, it's difficult to grouse very loudly: it's not often that a price drop and a hardware upgrade walk hand in hand.

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Maingear outfits desktops with GeForce GTX 650 and 660, drops prices to lure us in originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: Maingear Shift running Saitek flight-simulation hardware (video)

Maingear desktops running flightsimulation hardware video

Custom PC builder Maingear had something pretty nifty up its sleeve at Pepcom tonight: versions of its desktops configured to run Saitek's flight-simulation hardware -- in this case, with a full cockpit setup. In partnership with Mad Catz, the company developed configurations of its Potenza, F131 and Shift desktops optimized to work with the Saitek line of flight-sim systems.

Tonight we saw the Shift paired with some pretty heavy-duty hardware: we're talking 18 USB connections for the full Saitek cockpit. Maingear's pro-certified system packs a Core i7 CPU clocked at up to 3.9GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 graphics (with four GPUs), and with an experienced pilot behind the wheel, that translated into a smooth landing in Flight Simulator X. Maingear says the whole setup -- hardware controls plus the Shift desktop -- will go for $5,500 starting tomorrow. That's the top-of-the-line configuration, mind you; if your piloting aspirations are more modest, you could opt for the more affordable Potenza, which starts at $1,000. Check out a video demo below.

Continue reading Hands-on: Maingear Shift running Saitek flight-simulation hardware (video)

Hands-on: Maingear Shift running Saitek flight-simulation hardware (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maingear reveals more heat-dissipating desktops, keeps those new Ivy Bridge internals cool

Maingear reveals more heat-dissipating desktops, keeps those new Ivy Bridge internals cool

Maingear gave us a quick nudge to say something was coming. Now it can reveal that -- alongside Intel's third-generation processors inside all of its desktops and laptops -- it's further updated two of its tower models. The F131 ($1,049), the middleweight option, now houses the same vertical heat-dissipating design found on Maingear's Shift model, alongside hot-swappable storage. It's followed by the Potenza ($899), the company's "mini-ITX gaming solution." It's 45 percent smaller than the F131 with the same heat dissipation design, but still capable of squeezing in NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680 and support for a liquid cooling setup on the side. Phew. So pick your size, pick your processor and hit up the source for all the custom desktop options.

Continue reading Maingear reveals more heat-dissipating desktops, keeps those new Ivy Bridge internals cool

Maingear reveals more heat-dissipating desktops, keeps those new Ivy Bridge internals cool originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maingear teases incoming desktop line, promises smaller towers and Ivy Bridge CPUs

maingear ivy bridge teaser

Maingear's Shift is a force to be feared, but it generally requires an entire wing of one's home to be assembled and configured. Hyperbole aside, there's no question that Maingear's aiming to branch out somewhat after the aforesaid rig's successful run, today teasing an "all new line of desktops." We're told to expect smaller designs with "clean" aesthetics, Vertical Exhaust cooling technology and third-generation Intel Core processors (with factory overclocked options, naturally). Prices are slated to start at $899, though there's no real clue as to when we'll see these things up for pre-order. Here's hoping you didn't plop down an order last week, huh?

Maingear teases incoming desktop line, promises smaller towers and Ivy Bridge CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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