Date:
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Author:
Tim Roper
Editor:
Jason Wall
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Maingear X-Cube

Last year's winner for Best Boutique Integrator returns with a small form-factor gaming box. Will the X-Cube live up to Maingear's high reputation, or will unexepected problems throw a monkeywrench into the works?

Introduction

About Our Program

As many of you might know by now, [H] Consumer doesn’t "review" systems; we evaluate the experiences they facilitate. We order the system the same as you would and evaluate every aspect of the end-user experience. Not only does this give us a better idea of what hardware an end user actually receives, it also allows us to obtain a more accurate picture of just how each company functions and treats its customers. As fast as PC hardware has become over the years, we think giving a personal computer "5 stars" based on a synthetic benchmark is simply irresponsible. We think service, support, and reliability are much more important factors in today's climate than speed. Fast is easily bought, but purchasing and ownership satisfaction can be elusive.

This process allows us to not only evaluate the system, but the OEM that builds it. Our goal is to give you the wide-angle lens view of the computer and the company so that you can make informed and educated decisions as to what you purchase or recommend to clients, friends, and family.

Maingear and [H] Consumer

Any regular reader of [H] Consumer (and particularly our forums) knows how impressed we’ve been with New Jersey-based Maingear. In last December’s Best of the Best year-end roundup, Maingear took the top honor in both the Best Boutique Integrator and Best Technical Support categories, beating out formidable competitors such as OverdrivePC, Falcon Northwest, and AVADirect.

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Looking back at our past evaluations of Maingear, one quickly sees how Maingear has earned its accolades. Our first experience with Maingear was the Prelude, a machine so impressive it earned an [H] Consumer Gold Editor’s Choice Award. It scored a perfect or nearly-perfect score in every category and took home a Bottom Line score of 9.5/10. Our only gripe with the Prelude was its above-average cost, but we felt the premium ownership experience that Maingear delivered went a long way towards soothing our sore wallet. Much to its credit, Maingear soon after adjusted its pricing structure to be a bit friendlier to the budget-conscious consumer.

Our next experience with Maingear came in the somewhat odd form of the Prysma HTPC. While the Prysma didn’t quite live up to the standards set by the Prelude in terms of build quality and overall aesthetic, Maingear’s technical support staff once again proved why they are one of the best in the business. The company went through a great deal of trouble to ensure that we were happy with our machine and did everything in its power to correct any issues in a competent, timely, and courteous manner.

Maingear returned in top form with the impressive F131. This machine combined the essential factors we look for in any machine (speed, stability, and proper integration) and also delivered the extra touches that make going with a boutique integrator worth the price premium (personalized service, superb technical support, and free extras like custom paint). Once again, we had very little to complain about, and the F131 earned Maingear a second Gold Editor’s Choice Award.

What We’re Looking For

The highest bar Maingear will have to meet is the one set by itself, but of course we’ll also compare the X-Cube to small form-factor (SFF) systems from other integrators such as the Hypersonic Phantom GX, the Shuttle P2 3700 XPC, and the Falcon Northwest FragBox II.

As with any SFF machine, the physical integration of the machine is of paramount importance. A sloppy build almost guarantees problems with cooling, which can affect stability. Given the cramped quarters inside the X-Cube, we’re curious to see if Maingear can work its wiring magic as well as it did on the F131.

The 8800 GTS inside the X-Cube means this system should provide some serious gaming brawn. Due to space limitations, SLI isn’t an option, so it’s vital that the single-card solution meet the needs of today’s gamers.

Maingear has experienced a significant up-tick in sales volume over the last several months, so we’re also quite keen to see if it continues to provide the excellent, personalized ownership experience that we’ve come to expect.

What We Ordered

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