"I have owned about a dozen high-end computers purchased from various vendors over the past 30 years or so. My Maingear experience has been, without question, the best experience to date. Quality product, excellent purchasing experience and prompt info and response time from Maingear sales and support. I recommend this company completely, absolutely and without qualification. P.S. My Potenza Superstock just flat out kicks ass!"

"I purchased a high - end specialized gaming laptop from Maingear and could not be happier with the purchase. Maingear is not the lowest priced alternative out there but their knowledge of custom built systems and their QA process is what you are paying for. I had not heard of Maingear before this purchase and only learned of them after reading several independent reviews of their systems.

The buying and customizing experience was easy and straight-forward. The purchase process was clear and fast. The communications from Maingear as my rig was being assembled was excellent - no guessing as to where I was in the process. Shipping was a day early and the laptop came very well packed and secured. No bloatware on the system is a plus. I have had the system for over a month and am very happy with it. I would buy from Maingear again."

"This was my first high end computer that I ever purchased. I am very happy with how the entire transaction was handled and I will eventually purchase an identical PC for my son as well for Christmas probably. The only bad thing about the experience is how the X-Cube is portrayed in the photograph. In the photograph there is a multi-media card in one of the drive slots. I took it as that was part of the overall purchase because when you usually see a photograph, that is what you get because of the basic business concept of, show the consumer what they are buying. Well, when I got my X-Cube, which was a day early which was great, when I took it out of the great packaging it did not have the multi-media drive in it. I was hoping to have this because I have a side business and need something like this because of all of the photos I use for my business. I called MainGear and asked if that was normal and was told that it did not come with the X-Cube, although it is shown. I just checked the website and it is still shown, so oh well. The representative on the phone told me he would sell me one at half price. I took the offer and made the purchase on 2/8/13 and had not received it until the end of the month after I called again and it was never shipped out. Now that I have this card, I have no clue how to install it, so now I am going to have to take this to a computer shop and have them do it which is probably going to cost me another $100.00 when it is all said and done because I really needed the multimedia card. I have no clue if anyone from MainGear will ever see this but please just throw a disclaimer up or a little side note saying that (This media card is not included in your purchase). It would make it easier for the consumer to know and add this if something is visually shown and not included. I would of bought it anyways and had you folks install it upon purchase but now I am having to have this installed somewhere else. And I am worried about my warranty not being good now because someone else is going to open the PC and install the card.

Overall I really am happy I chose MainGear and will recommend (and already have) to my friends looking for a good high end PC.
Just please make sure your customers are not deceived by a visual representation of an item for sale. Like I said, all you need is a nice little disclaimer in the photo.

Your Customer
Phillip"

"In need of a new desktop, I started shopping around. A friend of mine pointed me towards Maingear. I found it refreshing to have a computer put together with the components that I wanted, not the components that someone else chose for me. I also found it very refreshing to receive a computer with a lack of bloatware installed. The online ordering process went very smoothly and I was very impressed with how I was kept up to date via email with the status of my order. When there was an issue with my order (I had originally place an order for the Potenza, but they were having issues with their supplier), Maingear called me personally to let me know of this issue and offered a solution that would not delay my order being filled. I would definitely recommend Maingear to anyone in need of a computer."

"I got a F131 Maingear computer recently and I wish I have done so earlier. I am a multi-tasker and the F131 is great for this purpose. I also really like the elongated screen (Display: 23" Asus® ProArt PA238Q 1920x1080)that allows me to view so many windows at the same time. I 'custom built" my computer and it was built and shipped within a week. Price is not cheap but it is worth it and I don't think I would go back to mass produced computers again. Only one inconvenience with the CPU - the power button is placed at a weird place can be switched off a little too easily. Good customer service at Maingear too."

"I purchased my MainGear months ago and only recently have been able to set it up as I was waiting to move into a new home. Setup was a breeze. I absolutely love the fact that there's no software bloat. Early on in the process, I called MainGear to get an update on the build status, and it was great to get directly connected to a representative who was also helpful. I'll be recommending MainGear to others, and fully expect to be an ongoing customer down the road myself."

"I'm a Mac. And the Potenza is the first PC I have had in over a decade. I got it because the Flight Simulator I was interested in ran on the Windows platform, and although it would have been possible to run it on my iMAC, I didn't want Windows running on my Mac :) The bottom line is, the Potenza runs great. My only issues have been with the Windows OS. One of the previous reviewers stated he wished he would have bought from a bigger company. Really? As for me, I don't like to navigate long multi-layer voice response systems only to be put "on hold" when i call BIG companies for help. Maingear tech support answered in person most of the time, and I was never on hold for more than a min or two. And when I first got this PC I was calling a lot with Windows newbie questions. The people at Maingear surely realized I was not the brightest bulb in the box, and it was not the PC, but actually the Windows OS causing my problems. But they still helped me get up to speed every time. Thanks Maingear!"

"This is my first high end computer purchase and I was not disappointed. I did over a years worth of research into who makes the best gaming computer and though they are a bit on the expensive side, they are worth every penny I paid. I ordered the computer during the Christmas season and it shipped one day after the advertised shipping date. Given the northeast was in the middle of a major winter snow storm, that is unbelievable. Also, I had a screw up (my fault) with the order and called the sales staff to straighten it out. The customer service rep was excellent and told me exactly what to do to fix the issue. Once the computer arrived, I openned the box and it was in great condition. The "information" box sent with the computer is very detailed, easy to follow and helped me to get the computer up and running in no time. Thus far I love the system. I have run it against an on-line PC performance website and it scored in the top 1% in all categories. I mainly use the computer for Microsoft Flight Simulator and it runs flawlessly. All of my flight gear connected with no problem. Overall, great company, great product. Remember to buy USA!"

"UPDATE: Within hours of posting the review below, I was contacted by Maingear's COO who apologized for the delays and assured me that my computer would be diagnosed and shipped as soon as possible. That conversation was much more in keeping with what I had expected from the company when I decided to buy from them. Within 48 hours, my computer was in the mail on the way back to me. Although I obviously would have preferred that the ordeal had gone more smoothly from the get-go, I have revised my rating to 5 stars because of the outstanding way Maingear handled this situation after I made my initial dissatisfaction known. They took ownership of the problem, admitted error, and did what it took to make the situation right. They were able to turn a very dissatisfied customer into an enthusiastic one, an experience I have literally never had before.

---------------

A few months ago, I decided to purchase a Maingear Potenza. The system build looked great, with lots of customization during ordering and competitive pricing. But most of all, I was excited to buy from a boutique manufacturer known for great customer support. Unfortunately, that has not been my experience thus far.

I ordered on November 5, 2012. I did not receive the Potenza until November 28. I was surprised by the long delay, but was willing to swallow it since I thought I was buying a premium product from a company that would be there when I needed it. Unfortunately, my system was dead almost immediately upon arrival, and to make a long story short, I have been on the phone or exchanging emails with Maingear ever since. The RMA process has been very sluggish and marked by poor communication and delays throughout.

It has now been two months since I placed my order and paid in full, and I still do not have a functioning computer. In the brief time I had it, the Potenza seemed well-built and sleek, but I barely used it before the problems began. If I were relying on this computer as my only system, this would have been an absolute disaster.

I want to like this company and keep giving them the benefit of the doubt. "Tomorrow, they'll get this sorted out," I keep thinking. But as time goes on, that's getting harder and harder to believe. Think twice before buying from them. In retrospect, I wish I had gone with a bigger name manufacturer, with better infrastructure, who could have shipped my system within a week of my order, and would have replaced it long ago if problems had begun."

"I purchased my current Maingear computer (Vybe) just over a year ago. The sales process was wonderful and the order was promptly filled. The system is everything I had hoped for and has been running smoothly since then. I called their support line with a few questions after I received it and they answered them promptly. I really liked how their setup is very clean of an trialware. I would purchase another system from them in the future."

"This Maingear system was my company's 8th. We bought our first Maingear in 2008, and as we have needed to replace systems, we have replaced them with Maingears. Three factors have earned our repeat business:

1)
We use the systems for engineering and physics modeling, so floating point calculations and graphics rendering are very important to us. Maingear has given us a fantastic selection of top of the line parts.

2)
While the performance is very important to us, the quality of product and service has been a real differentiator. Historically we bought Dell workstations because Dell had a big name and we placed a great deal of trust in it. As the years passed, the Dell systems, and resulting support, caused us significantly in down time. A large computer company may brag about their extensive support network but we have come to realize that quantity does not mean quality.

3)
Our engineers have repeatedly commented on how quietness the systems. People often overlook the quality of work environment sacrifice caused by a howling, rattle trap system from the larger computer suppliers, but the value is quickly seen when you turn on a Maingear box."

"Maingear is an exceptional company. The quality of their build and components is second to none. The tecchnical staff gladly assists with any questions. I just purchased my second Maingear sysyem in the last five years- this one is for my office. Maingear is light years ahead of any of their competition."

"12/04/12 Update:

Yesterday I met in person with Wallace Santos, CEO of Maingear. Mr. Santos was surprisingly non-defensive, and acknowledged the validity of my complaints. His CTO apologized for his intemperate reply on this website, and on his own initiative asked to have it removed. They delivered my computer and they refused to accept any payment, even though I had agreed to one.

Mr. Santos is clearly proud of this business he has built from the ground up. The plant is as clean as any well-maintained hospital, and the staff seems dedicated to its work. Perhaps the business has grown too quickly. There are clearly problems in record keeping and in performing repair work in a timely fashion. I believe that Mr. Santos took my concerns seriously and that he is highly motivated to improve his company.

I am prepared to revise my harsh assessment of this product, and I will boost my overall rating if the computer continues to perform consistently.

--Steven Simring, MD


After 6 months, most of the major components in my $4,000 F131 system failed, including the power supply, the memory and the motherboard. Some but not all of it was covered by the extra cost extended warranty. There is no in home service. I delivered the computer to the factory, where it has been "worked on" for the last 4 weeks.

The technicians are friendly and well-meaning, but seem overwhelmed and unable to deal with the technical issues. They do not return calls, and it takes forever to get anything done. The bosses are arrogant bullies.

My computer has been on their bench for over a month with multiple component failures. Sometimes they blame the hardware, sometimes they blame the software, sometimes they blame me. Of course, all computers have component failures. However, Dell or HP or Sony will come to your home or office within 48 hours and replace whatever needs replacing under the warranty, without aggravation and without threats or insults.

In an odd twist, Maingear has refused to return my data discs until I either pick up the dead computer or wait for them to fix it.

Perhaps gamers are attracted to Maingear for their hype and their free games. However, I rely on my computer for work, and this not a product anyone should rely on. My advice: stick to a major manufacturer. The computer will be cheaper, it will function at least as well, and you can be assured that you will have a repair or a replacement quickly if the unit fails.

I would advise anyone who feels that he or she must have a Maingear, to have a backup computer ready when the Maingear breaks down. That is, unless you can do without a computer for a few months. Ask yourself if any machine is worth this much aggravation, just because the specs look impressive.

Steven Simring, MD"

"I am on my second Maingear computer and the second is because of the superior service I have recieved. I'm 75 yrs old and pretty much a comp dummy and the support staff have helped me even when it wasn't something that they normally take care of...now that's SUPERIOR service!"

"Maingear computers has been a joy. Sal and Thiago worked me on a system I had to ship back when my watercooler inexplicably stopped working. They always communicated promptly and did their best during a difficult time in New Jersey (Storm Sandy). Customer service is top notch and the best I have experienced. The computer system itself is without fault and detail to attention is perfect."