Maingear Unveils Retro98, A Cream-Colored PC Case With a Functional Turbo Button
Veteran gamers who still remember the days of Quake and eagerly waiting for new Star Wars trailers may want to prepare their wallets. Maingear has officially unveiled Retro98, a gaming PC that looks like it came straight out of a late-90s computer shop. While the exterior embraces a nostalgic beige color scheme, the hardware inside is fully modern, capable of running today’s AAA games with ease.
The exterior design of Retro98 is a genuine love letter to retro PC enthusiasts. Each unit is carefully assembled by hand and features classic elements such as an LED display showing fan speed, a fully functional Turbo button, and even a physical lock key for old-school security. To preserve the vintage look, modern connectivity ports are cleverly hidden behind the Maingear logo. One glance is enough to evoke memories of late-90s playlists and iconic PC gaming moments.
Despite its nostalgic appearance, Retro98 delivers extreme performance under the hood. The top-tier configuration is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, 64GB of Kingston Fury RAM, and a 4TB high-speed SSD. The flagship Alpha model pushes things even further with a full open-loop liquid cooling system, ensuring thermal performance stays under control even at peak loads.
Pricing and Availability
Retro98 pricing clearly reflects modern premium hardware rather than retro-era costs. The entry-level model featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and GeForce RTX 5070 starts at USD 2,499. Mid-tier configurations are priced at USD 3,499 and USD 4,999, while the fully loaded Alpha edition with custom liquid cooling reaches USD 9,799.
Exclusivity is a major part of Retro98’s appeal. Maingear is producing only 32 standard units and just 6 Alpha units, with no plans for additional production once they sell out. For PC builders who love the aesthetic but miss out on the official release, the SilverStone FLP02 case, which served as the foundation for this project, offers a similar retro look for custom builds.
For those with the budget and a strong sense of nostalgia, Retro98 is available now through Maingear’s official website. It stands as a rare piece of functional art that perfectly blends the charm of the late 90s with the raw power of modern PC gaming.
Source: Engadget
