MG-1 Final
Credit score: Maingear
I’m nonetheless taking part in catch-up on protection following a three-month battle with COVID, and subsequent within the lengthy line of late opinions is Maingear’s MG-1 Final desktop gaming PC. That is truly the primary time I’ve encountered a Maingear machine in-person, although like lots of you, I’ve been greater than conscious of the corporate’s premium status. In my head, it’s kind of Falcon Northwest and Maingear on the high of the system integrator totem pole. Let’s see if the latter measures up.
The flagship pre-built MG-1 collection is available in quite a lot of flavors: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Legendary and Final, which is the configuration Maingear despatched over. Extra particularly, the {custom} Shroud version, which celebrates the favored streamer/creator (and Maingear co-owner) with {custom} panel branding.
Additionally, take into account that this rig doesn’t comprise one of many just-announced 14th Gen Intel processors, however fairly a now outdated thirteenth Gen CPU. Maingear revealed right now that it’s beginning to promote the MG-1 PCs with Intel’s upgraded chips, however that’s a subject for an additional time. Ah, the velocity of expertise. Obtained to adore it!
That stated, every of those MG-1 techniques is outfitted with differing parts, beginning with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 and an Intel Core i5-13400F on the fundamental $1,299 Silver model and bumping as much as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and an Intel Core i9-13900K on the $3,399 Legendary machine.
I like that Maingear affords an entire spectrum of setups to select from, permitting each newbies and fanatics to seek out one thing helpful in its product line.
The decked-out Final MG-1 retails for a major $4,699 (barely extra should you go for a custom-made entrance panel) and right here’s the spec run-down:
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
- Intel Core i9-13900K (24 Cores/32 Threads)
- Bitspower RGB 360mm AiO Liquid Cooler
- ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero – DDR5 Motherboard
- T-FORCE DELTA RGB DDR5 6000MHz (2x16GB) 32GB
- 2TB Solidigm P44 M.2 NVMe SSD
- 1000W EVGA Energy Provide
- Home windows 11 Residence
- RGB Lighting Package & RGB Efficiency Followers
- 1-year Guarantee & Lifetime Assist
In contrast to different gaming PCs I’ve obtained for evaluation, the Final didn’t ship in a picket crate, which I used to be truly grateful (crateful?) for. I can recognize the additional transport safety that comes with wrapping a PC in planks of useless tree, however crates are cumbersome and unwieldy. Plus, after I extricate the digital items from their FedEx sarcophagus, I’ve to interrupt down the entire thing and work out how one can eliminate all of the splintered wooden.
Be aware that I normally burn it as a sacrifice to the gaming PC gods, however I didn’t have to do this this time. Profitable, I say.
Every little thing arrived in good situation, and that’s largely because of Maingear’s glorious packaging. Loads of foam to maintain the heavy 4090 from dislodging or the acrylic entrance panel from shattering (I’ve had this occur earlier than). It helps that Maingear put in a pleasant GPU assist bracket for such an enormous graphics card, so kudos for the eye to element. Goodbye, GPU sag!
Talking of consideration to element, it is a brilliantly constructed rig. Placing collectively Corsair’s Construct Package just lately has jogged my memory that PC development and cable administration are respectable artforms, and the crew over at Maingear clearly is aware of what they’re doing.
Peering into the clear entrance panel reveals a ravishing, cleanly offered motherboard (with cool pixelated Polymo I/O cowl lighting), Maingear branded AIO cooler, twin sticks of glowing RAM, loads of followers and sufficient RGB lighting to maintain any power drink-infused gamer glad.
Eradicating the again panel reveals off extra of Maingear’s glorious cable administration. The entire setup is so organized, so pristine. It jogs my memory loads of the aforementioned Falcon Northwest’s care and keenness for PC constructing, although Kelt Reeves Oregon-based firm may need the slight edge by way of customization and making the client really feel…particular? I didn’t get a espresso mug with this Maingear PC, so take into consideration that, pricey reader.
The MG-1’s diminutive mid-tower case feels noticeably small to me for some cause, and possibly that’s as a result of I’ve been utilizing huge PCs just lately. I like how compact it feels (for a strong, outfitted desktop, particularly) and it doesn’t come throughout as cumbersome or in the way in which. It’s no wood-paneled North Sequence chassis, however what are you able to do.
One of many fascinating issues about this specific case, nevertheless, is that it helps custom-designed, magnetic, light-up entrance panels, which could be swapped out at will. These can add a pleasant personal touch to any of the completely different configurations. Maingear included a Forbes panel. How pleasant.
Across the swappable entrance panel space is a barely rubberized coating that homes all of your go-to buttons and inputs, like energy, USB-C and a pair USB-A ports. The Final, with its ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO motherboard, has loads of extra ports across the again, though this function set will clearly rely on which model of the MG-1 you find yourself buying.
So far as gaming efficiency goes, it is a Halloween-breeze-quiet system that basically delivers the products. I examined a lot of demanding video games right here, all in 4K and at max settings. The outcomes converse for themselves, with Forza and Starfield being the one outliers by way of a lesser top-settings framerate.
This makes some sense, since they’re the most recent AAA titles of the bunch, and (theoretically) produce probably the most demanding visuals. Credit score awarded to the not-exactly-AAA soulslike Lords of the Fallen for making a robust displaying, although.
Be aware that on Extremely/4K settings, I at all times had each element maxed out (raytracing, reflections, and many others.) whereas for the 1080p/Medium settings, I defaulted each element choice to swimsuit a lower-end (or framerate hungry) gaming scenario. Moreover, I saved NVIDIA DLSS off for the whole testing length:
- Baldur’s Gate 3: 4K/Extremely – 137.6 fps, 1080p/Medium – 143.9 fps
- Forza Motorsport: 4K/Extremely – 85 fps, 1080p/Medium – 139 fps
- Lords of the Fallen: 4K/Extremely – 135.6 fps, 1080p/Medium – 143.8 fps
- Cyberpunk 2077: 4K/Extremely – 135.4 fps, 1080p/Medium – 215.7 fps
- Starfield: 4K/Extremely – 94.4 fps, 1080p/Medium – 143.3 fps
Unsurprisingly, the MG-1 Final is one hell of a contemporary gaming PC. You don’t have to fork over $4,700 to particularly expertise Maingear’s glorious builds-manship (select any tier of the MG-1, I’m certain) however should you’re wanting bleeding-edge tech to your Steam, GOG and Epic sport collections, you may’t go fallacious with this premium system.
Given the top-tier parts, impeccable construct high quality, full lack of bloatware and strong transport practices, there isn’t an excessive amount of to criticize right here. Would I’ve favored some further storage for such a steep worth? Positively, like a second M.2 NVMe SSD, or perhaps a bigger mechanical HDD for dumping video games I don’t play fairly often. The identical may very well be stated for added reminiscence, though 32GB will serve most individuals simply wonderful in the meanwhile by way of gaming and common productiveness.
General, the MG-1 is an astoundingly competent method to play any of the most recent video games, and possibly one of many solely sincere avenues by which to expertise a zippy Starfield outdoors the performance-restricted Xbox Sequence X|S variations which can be locked at a tragic 30 fps. You get what you pay for, as they are saying, and also you’ll pay lots for the privilege of gaming like royalty.
Disclaimer: Maingear supplied evaluation product for protection functions.
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