Time Warp Go back to the 90s with Maingear’s Retro98 computer

It’s all back from the ’90s – from And also And cassette tapes of postgrunge rock. Gaming PC maker Maingear is getting in on the trend, selling a ’90s-inspired PC, the Retro98. The company says it has a working Turbo button, though instead of changing the CPU frequency, it boosts cooling to maximum settings.

The turbo button was a popular addition to 1980s and 1990s computers that toggled their speed, allowing them to run older, slower games.

Despite its dated exterior, the new PC features high-end specs, including Nvidia GeForce RTX 50×0 graphics cards, 1TB or 2TB NvMe SSDs, and Windows 11. The problem is that the company is only making 32 units with a starting price of $2,499.

The company produces four different models, the model number refers to the Nvidia graphics card:

• $2,499 Retro98 5070 (Intel Core Ultra 7 265K)
• $3,499 Retro98 5080 (AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D)
• $4,999 Retro98 5090 (AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D)
• $9,799 Retro98α (AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D)

The Turbo button next to overclocking and the frankly awful beige color are arguably what inspired the first wave of overclockers and modders. I was one of those people who couldn’t understand why computers weren’t available in other colors.

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Although the limited number seems to make these machines sell out quickly, as of Friday, when I contacted Maingear, a spokesperson said they were still available.

Note that if you want to make one yourself, the beige Silverstone FLP02 case is available separately for $299.

Despite threats from Mobile devices and Gaming laptopsDesktop gaming is still alive and well. Last month, I built a desktop computer for my child using the excellent software Cooler Master Cube 500. With a flashy green, pink and orange color scheme, this one is anything but but beige.