If you’re in the market for a pre-built PC and you feel like you need something with a retro Windows 98 aesthetic, Maingear has the perfect machine for you.
We should preface that this computer isn’t cheap, and since it’s coming from Maingear, it’s built using off-the-shelf parts. So if you wanted to save a few bucks, you could try and recreate this machine using the same Silverstone case that the PC assembly company used. The case is really where most of the magic comes from. In Canada, it’s listed for a little over $200, which isn’t that insane for a custom boutique case.
If you buy the computer from Maingear, the base model comes with an Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU. It’s not that bad compared to GPUs from the past, but it is the weakest of the current Nvidia GPU lineup, so the base model of this machine isn’t going to be for hardcore gamers. This is a shame because it’s such a cool computer, but it’s priced at US$1,599 ($C2,178), which is a little high for the spec you’re getting. When I spec the Maingear Retro 95 to have the same components from the computer I just reviewed from the Canadian builders at Quoted Tech, the price difference is a little over $700, which is a huge premium to pay just for a cool PC case.
Either way, I’m glad Maingear and Silverstone are going down this retro PC case rabbit hole. When building PCs today, there are hundreds of cases that are all simple black boxes with a glass window on the side, but that’s not the style for everyone. Part of the fun of building a PC is that you get to choose what you want, but when most of the market looks the same, it takes some of the fun out of it. Having options like this, or the wonky Teenage Engineering Computer-1, are a bit more exciting for the PC builders who want to stylize their computers a little bit.
Source: Maingear
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