01-05-2025
Maingear's Newest Gaming PCs Could Hang In An Art Gallery
MG-1 with art panels.
Credit: Maingear
The gamer aesthetic is an acquired taste, I'd say, especially when it comes to PC hardware. Not everyone wants a stark, futuristic space box drowning in gaudy RGB lighting. I'm sure some people crave something a little more… tasteful?
Maingear seems to be addressing the lack of, shall we say, proper chassis options via its latest collaboration with contemporary artist JuanCarlos rLora from ArtToSaveLives, a gallery that funds a private animal rescue. The following is an excerpt from their website, describing what they do:
'Our goal is to establish a farm sanctuary where we will have the rescue's facility open to the public together with the gallery.'
Who would have thought a system integrator and an art gallery would ever team up for anything? It's resulted in the creation of five unique front panels for Maingear's popular MG-1 series of gaming PCs, each priced at $99, and the designs look downright fantastic. According to Maingear, a portion of every purchase will go toward the rescue organization's budding sanctuary, although it's not clear what portion. Does it matter? Probably not.
These panels don't scream 'gamer' by any stretch of the imagination; they're real art from a real artist. Such warmth adds life to what is typically a somewhat sterile, utilitarian machine. To be fair, though, the rest of the PC still glows like a spaceship, but with one of these art panels, the front communicates an air of class. Feel free to extend a pretentious, upper-class pinky as you apply.
Check out the list of options below, even though names alone really don't do the panels justice:
Audrey's Daisy Blue might be my favorite, if only for the fact that it's got a sort of Tim Burton vibe going on. Here's the description, which I also dig:
'This piece is from Audrey's Journey series, which leans more towards a philosophical, scientific and theoretical framework, asking questions of the origins of the universe and existence, all while taking us on a journey of the imagination through the eyes of a child.'
I reviewed Maingear's MG-1 a while back and walked away very impressed. And one of the things that's awesome (obviously) about the MG-1 is its magnetic and swappable front panel, which makes limited edition runs like this possible. If you're ever sick of your MG-1's appearance, there's always another front panel to pursue. I do think $99 is a bit steep for what you're buying here, but Maingear is a premium company that sells premium products, so it's not surprising, exactly. Maybe not Falcon Northwest premium, but still.
Plus, you're helping animals, man. You're basically a hero if you buy one of these panels. That's what you can tell yourself, anyway, in the mirror when you're crying about all the money you just dropped on an MG-1.
The art panels are available now, while supplies last.
