MainGear MG-1 Silver Gaming PC, a collaboration with streamer Shroud, aims to cater to advanced gaming needs. Its design focuses on delivering high frame rates for smoother gameplay and supports multitasking capabilities essential for streaming. While these features are promising, they are contingent on real-world performance, which can vary based on numerous factors.
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Whilst taking time to take in the many features Main Gear has packed into MG-1 Silver, here are some of our first impressions. Spoiler alert: It’s a pretty good deal.
Design and Customisation – MainGear MG-1
The MainGear MG-1 features a magnetic front panel with RGB lighting, offering aesthetic customisation. However, the value of such features is subjective and depends on personal preference. We received two Shroud-branded panels, one black with the Shroud logo running up the left-hand side and the other sporting a beautiful purple floral design.
Its compact design suggests a balance between form and function, accommodating high-end components within a small footprint. It’s a great starting point for beginner and intermediate master racers. Ours has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, reinforced with a custom 3D printed bracket, with plenty of room for an upgrade or dual card functionality.
Noise and Cooling Efficiency
A vital aspect of the MG-1 Gaming PC is its emphasis on quiet operation facilitated by an intelligent fan controller. This could be advantageous for users seeking a less intrusive gaming setup. However, the efficiency of cooling systems is often better evaluated under load conditions. When running Cyberpunk 2077 on Ultra Ray Tracings at 1440p, fans behaved without sounding like MainGear MG-1 was about to take flight.
There are three front fans, one side-mounted to the CPU and one rear fan, with the option to add an extraction unit or more fans on the top of the case. MG-1 Silver runs smooth as butter out of the box but doesn’t melt when things heat up.
Build Quality and Software
MainGear’s approach to building the MG-1 involves hand assembly and quality part selection. This attention to detail might enhance reliability, but performance and longevity can only be assessed over time. The system’s clean Windows installation, devoid of additional software, is practical, potentially contributing to better system performance.
That’s right, this is a no-frills operating system experience, which means less time uninstalling bloatware and more time downloading drivers and games during initial setup. From the rubberised feet and front panel frame to the fantastic cable management, a technician obviously sat down and put some time into ensuring this MainGear MG-1 Silver unit was immaculate. We’ve even received all of the spare cables, screws and other bits should we need them down the line.
Specifications
The MG-1 offers a range of processors, motherboards, graphics cards, memory, and storage options. These components are crucial for overall system performance, but their effectiveness can vary based on specific configurations and usage scenarios. Here are the specifications for MainGear MG-1 Silver Gaming PC, which is the entry point for pre-configured builds with Main Gear:
| Component | Specification |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (8 GB GDDR6) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-13400F (10 Cores / 20 Threads) |
| Cooling | CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Air Cooler |
| Memory | 16GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR4 3600MHz (2x8GB) |
| Storage | 512GB Solidigm P41 Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD |
| Motherboard | MSI Pro B660M-A CEC DDR4 WiFi |
| Power Supply | 650W MSI Power Supply |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
| RGB Lighting | Case Lighting |
| Warranty | 1-Year with Lifetime Support |
Price Point
The starting price of £1099 for pre-configured models such as Main Gear MG-1 Silver and £1249 for custom builds positions the MG-1 in the mid to high range of gaming PCs. The value for money can only be determined by comparing it with other systems in the same price bracket, and we think it’s a fantastic starting point for first impressions.
Final Thoughts
The MainGear MG-1 Silver is a high-performance gaming PC focusing on customisation and aesthetics. While its features and specifications are noteworthy, the actual user experience and value for money depend on individual needs and preferences. For a rig to run Cyberpunk at 1440p on Ultra Ray Tracing settings is a big win for those looking for an entry point into PC Gaming.
