Maingear gives power-efficient game PCs a Pulse
Update: This post has been corrected to indicate the proper graphics chip in the Pulse's default $799 configuration.
We don't apologize for liking HP's Firebird gaming PC a bit more than other review sites. If you can accept that it lacks a graphics upgrade path, HP's small, power-efficient desktop is both an attractive and capable gamer aimed at general consumers. But what if you could buy a small PC with a similar eye on efficiency, that also allowed you to add a full-size 3D card? If that sounds appealing, you may want to check out Maingear's new Pulse, which goes on sale later Thursday.
Maingear's new Pulse aims to replace HP's Firebird.
(Credit: Maingear)Maingear built the Pulse around Nvidia's Ion integrated graphics chip platform. We've seen other Ion-based systems, most notably paired with Intel's Atom CPU in a few Netbooks, and also matched with Intel's Core 2 Duo in Apple's latest Mac Mini. But the Pulse is the first Ion-based PC to offer a full graphics card upgrade path, by way of a full-size 16x PCI Express 2.0 slot. That gives the Pulse an advantage over the Firebird, which had an essentially fixed pair of Nvidia laptop chips.
The Pulse chassis measures roughly 11 inches high, with an 8x8-inch footprint. That makes it about 2 inches wider than the Firebird (to accommodate the full-size 3D card), but 11 inches shorter, and almost 10 inches less deep. For comparison, the Mac Mini has a 6x6 footprint, but it's only 2 inches high.
The basic Pulse starts at $799, which gets you only an embedded GeForce 9300 graphics chip, along with a fast 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 CPU, HDMI and eSATA outputs, 802.11b/g wireless, and a 300-watt power supply. True to its roots, Maingear will offer all kinds of upgrade options for the Pulse, including special low-power quad-core Intel CPUs and a variety of low-power "Eco"-model Nvidia cards, up to a 1GB GeForce 9800 GT. That card will let you play pretty much any PC game on the market right now, with speed and decent image quality.
It's tempting to slap the Firebird-killer tag on the Pulse, but HP seems to have reduced the Firebird's retail profile, which makes it easier for the Pulse to broaden its appeal. The higher-end Firebird 803 model that we reviewed is no longer available, and all that remains is a $999 Firebird 802. HP says that model will remain available through standard retail channels, but we can't help but wonder for how long. When Windows 7 systems come out in the fall, for example, we'll be surprised if HP issues a new Firebird with an updated operating system.
In any case, Maingear claims that the Pulse has better power efficiency than the $999 Firebird, but according to what Maingear has told us about its pricing, in order to configure the Pulse to outperform that sub-$1,000 HP, you'd have to spend about $1,250. The $999 Firebird may be priced to move, but it's also a fixed configuration. The Pulse offers configurability, and Maingear has a reputation for keeping its hardware options current. That means the Pulse's price-performance outlook could very likely improve as new hardware hits the market.
Short of a Firebird update from HP, or a similar desktop from another vendor, the Maingear Pulse may become your only up-to-date option for a small, power-efficient, midrange gaming PC. We think HP was on to something when it introduced the concept last year, and while we're glad Maingear picked up and seemingly improved the torch, we'd love to see other vendors help keep this innovative category alive.
Rich Brown reviews desktops and various other components and peripherals for CNET. E-mail Rich. 
1. the ION platform is the combination of an Intel atom CPU + the NVidia 9400 chipset IG. This motherboard has a socket 775, thus it is not an ION platform. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NVIDIA_Ion
2. The IG is not the 9400. It is in fact a 9300. I can tell because the motherboard used in this system is the 9300 WIFI edition created by Zotac. You can even see Zotac on the chipset in the pictures of the pulse. Here is a link to pulse http://www.maingear.com/products/desktops/pulse/ and a link to Zotac 9300 http://www.zotacusa.com/zotac-geforce-gf9300-d-e-itx-wifi-lga-775-mini-itx-intel-motherboard.html
3. Also with a case length of only 8", that severly limits the upgrade path of the cards used in this system. Except for specially made shortened versions, most normal mid-range cards will not fit. 4850, GTS 250, 4770, normal 9800GT all will not in this system. There really is no upgrade path regarding GPU in this system.
So all in all, Maingear lied about platform, IG chipset, and GPUupgradability.
1) You are correct, that's a 9300 GPU - Rich typo'd - it happens.
2) Read what NVIDIA had to say about the Pulse, from their management:
?The Maingear Pulse with NVIDIA graphics is perfect for anyone who wants a small, energy efficient, and stylish PC. With its NVIDIA ION-based motherboard, the Pulse delivers the best graphics solution available for low-power, small form factor designs? says Drew Henry, general manager of the desktop GPU business unit at NVIDIA. ?By adding the GeForce 9800 GT ECO, gamers can enjoy superior performance in a design that saves both energy and space.?
3) Considering we can upgrade this system from its integrated graphics to one of three graphics solutions, how did we lie?
1) You are correct, that's a 9300 GPU - Rich typo'd - it happens.
2) Read what NVIDIA had to say about the Pulse, from their management:
?The Maingear Pulse with NVIDIA graphics is perfect for anyone who wants a small, energy efficient, and stylish PC. With its NVIDIA ION-based motherboard, the Pulse delivers the best graphics solution available for low-power, small form factor designs? says Drew Henry, general manager of the desktop GPU business unit at NVIDIA. ?By adding the GeForce 9800 GT ECO, gamers can enjoy superior performance in a design that saves both energy and space.?
3) Considering we can upgrade this system from its integrated graphics to one of three graphics solutions, how did we lie?
if not this is definitely not worth it:
estimating:
Zotac 9300-ITX-wifi $150
Core 2 Duo E7500 $150
power supply and case $100
_________________________
total: $400
even if it includes monitor and mouse they'd better be worth $400
Why does everyone expect companies to sell a product at cost and yet stay in business?
No one goes to business lunches at a strip club, they don't have good lunch deals and glitter gets in the food. Everyone knows that you have business lunches at the hookah bar down the street. Don't you know anything about economics?! GEEEEEZ!
Zotac 9300-ITX-wifi $100
Core 2 Duo E7500 $100
power supply and case $100
Hard Drive $50
Optical Drive $50
OS (Microsoft Tax) $100
Memory $50
Labor/Packaging: $90
_________________________
total: $690
Retail: $799
Profit Margin: ~16%
The small size is a negative in my book...not that I would ever spend $700 on something that I could make 200% better for just a few extra dollars.
(Why Trojan feel the need to advertise on a tech site I will never know...)
I fail to see the benefits of a small form factor 'energy efficient' gaming pc. The nature of the games market is to graphically push the top end of the market to the limit, and use any cpu leeway on poor coding.
The pc above is capable of playing 1080p. That should be a given for anything above the $500 mark. My question is whether I can play Crysis without too much framerate spasms and still make a MEANINGFUL energy saving.
As environmentally friendly as I am, I won't buy a 'green' gaming pc until it can give me all of the above.
My advice?
Re-label this as a multimedia pc that's capable of gaming. Add a tv card. Stick in a passively cooled mid-high range gfx card and redesign for minimal sound.
I think anyone who appreciates a quiet background will be willing to pay $799 for that.
- by jake.foxx June 6, 2009 6:52 PM PDT
- So nobody feels this is worth buying...
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