The Maingear Turbo is a robust device. Since the custom PC vendor put the most powerful (and expensive) components onto one system, the name-appropriate scorching speeds came with a dizzying price tag.
Maingear, however, goes a step further by packing premium components into a small chassis that silently and efficiently provides performance. The Turbo is precisely that—an experience that’s as much fun to use as it is to ogle, with an attention to detail and attention to detail that can’t help but impress.
This is one of the most significant gaming PCs available right now, assuming you can afford it, especially if you want a compact, quiet machine that can play the newest games at its highest settings without a sweat.
The Maingear Turbo is designed to be shown, so you can observe the liquid-cooling system as you wait for a match to begin. This is the most excellent gaming PC you will discover since it performs better in this area than any tiny form factor PC you have ever found.
What you will see here?
Price and availability
Maingear Turbo is currently offered, with prices beginning at $1,899. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor, an Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, a Maingear Epic 240 AIO Liquid Cooler, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD are all included with this.
Additionally, this lacks any custom paintwork or RGB lighting choices, making it a far less eye-catching piece. Additionally, although having many of the exact specifications as the Turbo, this is more expensive than many of the most OK low-cost gaming PCs.
With Maingear’s configurator, you can increase the cost by fully equipping the storage choices and including extra peripherals and unique artwork.
Depending on the customizations you select, shipping timelines may change. According to Maingear, expect delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the supply chain. Maingear’s 7-9 week estimate is as of the time of publication for an APEX system.
Design
The Maingear Turbo is the most attractive small form factor gaming computer.
The APEX Cooling system is also explicitly created and assembled around your unique PC build, much as everything else on the device, including the chassis and the acrylic panel on the side, is custom-made.
This results in a highly customized feel for the PC, especially if you choose bespoke artwork and paint job, which makes it an excellent PC option for streamers with a well-known brand.
A hub may ruin the look you were aiming to achieve if you have many USB Type-C accessories because there are only two USB Type-A ports and a 3.5mm combination jack on the front of the PC next to the acrylic panel. There is only one USB Type-C connector on the back panel.
This PC weighs significantly more than you may anticipate given its size, thanks to the APEX Cooling, but this is to be expected. It should be noted that the radiator at the top can become extremely hot. Although the APEX Cooling does an excellent job of keeping the Turbo’s internals working safely, it doesn’t use liquid nitrogen or anything, so all that heat from the heavy-duty gear can occasionally push north of 85°C.
If you plan to play strenuous video games on this machine, be aware that a small space heater will need to be placed next to your desk because all that heat will escape through the top of the computer.
Ports and Upgradeability
The motherboard ports make up most of the Turbo’s ports. A 3.5mm headphone jack and two USB Type-A connectors are the other two connections on the side. This desktop is undoubtedly tiny enough to be kept on a desk. Furthermore, a USB Type-C port would have made this case more future-proof.
Depending on your motherboard and graphics card, the rear ports will change. Some variants come with an ASRock B550M board, while ours arrived with an Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming Wi-Fi. In addition to Ethernet, audio connectors, onboard HDMI, and DisplayPort, the Asus has 8 USB ports (four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C) (separate from those on the GPU).
Your comfort with tailored water cooling loops is more critical when upgrading the PC. The case is relatively simple to open: remove a screw from the back to release the top, then lift the back panel to reveal the HDD and power supply.
You can also pull out the glass panel to access the motherboard, GPU, CPU, and Apex cooling. However, if you don’t have any prior experience with this type of cooling, you risk spilling coolant or other liquid all over your expensive PC. The reservoir and tubing prevent even the most basic RAM update.
Performance
Since the Maingear Turbo has so many configuration possibilities, ranging from an RTX 3050 to an RX 6800 and RTX 3080 Ti, it is difficult to discuss the device’s performance.
The machine had about the highest specifications you can find if you’re more concerned with performance than appearance. Having said that, the Turbo is a great gaming PC in terms of performance and can comfortably handle just about any AAA game you can throw.
From Cyberpunk 2077 to Hitman 3, ray-tracing or not (with DLSS enabled, of course), you’ll be able to play games at the highest settings in 1440p with ease and most games at 4K with ease (though don’t go overboard with the ray tracing).
This PC also performed excellently under creative demands, thanks to the RTX 3080 Ti. If you choose the RX 6800 instead, you might be able to use some of AMD’s CPU and GPU synergies, but you’ll undoubtedly be working with a gaming-only PC at that point.
Compared to even the cheapest RTX 3050, AMD RX 6000-series cards are terrible for creative work. This shouldn’t be a problem for you if you’re seeking the most proper workstation for creatives because you’re probably already looking elsewhere.
In the end, you’re purchasing a gaming PC, so whichever options you choose, the Turbo will deliver incredible performance. However, if you want the best of the best, you’ll need to fork over some cash to make it happen.
Software
The Maingear Turbo has almost no preinstalled hardware, as is appropriate for a device at this budget. The necessary tools are to check clock speeds and temperatures, update drivers, and manage the motherboard using ASUS’ Armory Crate. Some standouts are Scenario Profiles, which lets you link sound volume and chassis lighting to specific apps, and Aura Sync, which you’ll need to manage the chassis lighting (if you don’t want to use the included remote).
To fully utilize Aura Sync, you’ll need an entire ASUS ROG setup, but the Turbo’s internal parts are compatible and open to customization. If you have an artistic bent, you may also use ASUS’ Aura Creator to enhance the lightscape by making customized, timed lighting loops for the motherboard, RAM, and internal LED strips. Your entire home can participate in the fun because both Philips Hue lighting and Aura Sync are compatible.
Are MAINGEAR PCs worth it?
If you want to get your hands on a custom PC build without putting in the time to create one yourself, the Maingear Vybe is a great alternative. Excellent construction, intelligent cable management, and strategically placed front ports make the Vybe’s case a delight to use and admire.
Is MAINGEAR a US company?
Kenilworth, New Jersey, in the United States, is where Maingear is situated.
Can you upgrade a MAINGEAR PC?
Yes! Except for systems with open-loop liquid cooling, labor for upgrades for MAINGEAR systems is free for every component.
Conclusion
Maingear’s Turbo gaming desktop is compact but jam-packed with full-bore desktop components, providing superb performance. If you can handle the sticker shock, it’s the ultimate portable gamer.
MAINGEAR has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is a resellerratings.com Elite member. 9.
Because many games are so resource-intensive, a gaming PC usually includes a more powerful CPU, video card, and (sometimes) more RAM and data storage capacity than a general-purpose computer.
Because the Maingear Turbo offers an unparalleled combination of small size, tremendous performance, and extensive customization, it ranks among the most expensive and fastest gaming computers. Yet, one cannot say that the cost is not justified.
