Maingear Pulse Series

Maingear Pulse 11

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Average Score: 76.67% - good

Reviews

80% Maingear Pulse 11
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
The Maingear Pulse 11 is functionally similar to the Eurocom Monster 1.0, but has a $256 cheaper price tag. At this price point, $256 is a lot of cash that can go toward buying games on the Steam network or monthly fees to your favorite MMORPG site. Aside from the battery issue, the Maingear Pulse 11 (and Eurcom Monster 1.0) blew away the Alienware M11xr3 on the game grid and the other benchmark tests. That makes the Maingear Pulse 11 the top of the gaming ultraportable heap, and our newest Editors' Choice winner. If you know you need better 3D gaming power than a mainstream ultraportable or ultrabook, the Maingear Pulse 11 is the one you want right now.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/28/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Maingear Pulse 11 11.6-inch Laptop PC
Source: Comp Reviews Archive.org version
For anyone that also wants the capability of playing PC games on an extremely mobile platform, the Maingear Pulse 11 is one of the only options available that weighs under four pounds. This $999 system offers a good overall experience gaming in a sturdy and compact package. Sure, it has issues particularly with a cramped keyboard and limited battery life but these are pretty much expected in such a system.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/20/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%

70% Maingear Pulse 11 Review
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
With its strong gaming performance and compact size, the Maingear Pulse 11 is a good choice for gamers on the go. The fact that a notebook this size can handle "Batman: Arkham City" at its highest settings is impressive. What prevents this mini-rig (and its close cousins from AvaDirect and Eurocom) from getting a higher rating is its short battery life.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/05/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%

Maingear Pulse 11 review: a small and surprisingly powerful gaming laptop
Source: Engadget Archive.org version
Partway through the week we spent with this laptop, we started to think about Arcade Fire's My Body is a Cage. It took us a while to understand why that was, but it seemed like a rather apt description of this device as a whole. At its core, this frankly bonkers gaming laptop has an unreasonable amount of power compressed and compacted into a shell the size of a netbook.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/29/2012

Maingear Pulse 14

New hardware makes thinner machines with enough performance to run some of the most demanding games out there. While gamers had to tote 17 inch desktop replacements to LAN parties once, slim 14 inch powerhouses are taking over nowadays. The Maingear Pulse is one of them and it comes in the kind of colors one dreams of for fast cars. However, a few parts of the body is plastic, which gives it a cheap feel. It weighs in at a decent 1.9 kg, and is slim enough at 0.9 inches but there are a few other similar machines that can beat this. The competition also hosts similar specs, the most disappointing of which is the 1600 x 900 resolution. However, the images are nice enough and the Maingear Pulse 14 has one of the brightest screens in its class.

The layout of the keyboard leaves something to be desired as it is easy to hit the wrong keys, but the touchpad is nice and responsive. With the 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 4702MQ processor and 16GB of RAM, paired with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M GPU with 2GB of VRAM; this is the 14 inch gaming laptop to choose for the maximum amount of power. Battery life is average amongst the competition, clocking in at 8 hours for light use. Of all the 14 inch gaming rigs out there at the moment, this one is the most powerful.

Specifications

Pricecompare

Average Score: 74.5% - average

Reviews

80% Maingear Pulse 14
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
Armed with a powerful quad-core processor and the latest mobile graphics powerhouse from Nvidia, the Maingear Pulse 14 offers an excellent mix of features and gaming performance. While the lack of keyboard backlight or high-end sound might leave us a little disappointed, there's no arguing with performance. The Maingear Pulse 14 offers some of the best graphics performance we've seen in this category, putting it high on our list of current ultraportable gaming laptops, and making it the system to get if graphics performance is your paramount concern.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/27/2014
Rating: Total score: 80%

70% Maingear Pulse 14
Source: Computer Shopper Archive.org version
For its size—heck, for any size—the Maingear Pulse 14 is a powerful gaming rig. The machine flew through our gaming benchmarks, and thanks to its sizzling Core i7 and dual solid-state drives it handled everyday computing with equal ease. Moreover, the laptop boasts a gorgeous 1080p screen, an excellent keyboard, and almost five hours of battery life.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/01/2014
Rating: Total score: 70%

78% A portable gaming PC that deserves a better screen
Source: CNet Archive.org version
In a field suddenly crowded with smaller gaming laptops, you now have several worthwhile under-15-inch options to choose from. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Alienware 14 has a great custom keyboard and touch pad, and the Origin EON13-S is the most compact.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/01/2013
Rating: Total score: 78% performance: 90% mobility: 90%

70% Maingear Pulse 14
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
The $1,903 Maingear Pulse 14 (M5-1492) offers a beguiling combination of horsepower and endurance in a design you can take anywhere. We love the Pulse 14's paint job and slim chassis almost as much as the Core i7 processor and Nvidia GTX graphics. Plus, this rig outperforms most of its competitors in gaming tests.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/22/2013
Rating: Total score: 70%

Maingear Pulse 17

The Maingear Pulse 17 is a player in the high-end gaming laptop market. Those looking for a customizable, powerful laptop should definitely consider it. You can get a beautiful paint job to stand out from the crowd of other gaming laptops if you add extra money.

Its 17.3-inch matte screen has a matte 1920 x 1080 resolution and good enough brightness and colors for all your gaming needs. Everything looks sharp and with its anti-reflective coating, using it outdoors is not that much of a pain to your eyes.

It's powered by a 4th generation i7 processor running at 2.4 GHz up to 3.4 GHz. The processor is the higher voltage variant, which delivers more performance than those found in ultrabooks. It's accompanied with 16GB of RAM for all your multitasking needs. Equipped with both an SSD and HDD, you get performance and capacity. The star is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M with 2 GB GDDR5 graphics card. You can play most if not all current games with this powerful card.

One of the biggest selling points is that it only weighs 2.72 kg and is only 0.86 inch (2.18 cm) thick. This means is not bulky and can fit comfortably in most bags. The 60 Wh battery that supplies juice to the powerful innards should last you roughly around 4-5 hours of mixed use. The Pulse 17 is a great choice for power and portability.

Specifications

Pricecompare

Average Score: 73.33% - average

Reviews

70% Maingear Pulse 17
Source: Maximum PC Archive.org version
Where the iBuypower laptop really has the advantage over the Maingear, however, is in price. At $2,400, the Pulse 17 costs a whopping $540 more with very similar specs. Yowza! The added expense likely comes down to the custom paint job that Maingear offers, and the company’s two-year warranty program versus the one-year warranty that iBuypower provides.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/27/2014
Rating: Total score: 70%

Maingear Pulse 17 Gaming Notebook Review
Source: PC Perspective Archive.org version
While the Pulse 17 is significantly more portable than the G750JX, you really have to be concerned about weight and size to spend at least an extra $550 on a laptop which ends up performing worse. The ability to customize the laptop may add value for some people, but it's an impossible case to make from purely a performance standpoint.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/14/2014

70% Maingear Pulse 17
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
The road to a truly portable 17.3-inch gaming laptop is paved with false starts, almost-theres and just-missed-its. However, the Pulse 17 is definitely on the right track: It's not only svelte and gorgeous, but packs a lot of power as well. The $2,347 configuration houses a Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M GPU with a searing SSD and pretty 1080p display -- all in a chassis that' s only 0.85 inches thick.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/06/2014
Rating: Total score: 70%

80% Maingear Pulse 17
Source: Comp Reviews Archive.org version
The Maingear Pulse 17 is essentially a rebadged MSI GS70 laptop but that isn't necessarily a bad thin as it is extremely thin and light for a 17-inch laptop and still quite capable for PC gaming. It does carry a higher price tag but those that either want to customize their laptop with a little color or extra SSD space have that option albeit at a price.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/13/2014
Rating: Total score: 80%

Maingear Pulse 15

Specifications

Pricecompare

Average Score: 75% - good

Reviews

75% Maingear Pulse 15 Gaming Laptop Review
Source: Techspot Archive.org version
Lastly, knowing that the Pulse 15 is essentially a GS60 Ghost Pro 3K, it doesn't take more that a quick search on Amazon or Newegg to find the same model or even a souped up variant with a GTX 970M GPU for less than Maingear's asking price -- if you don't mind losing the paint job and superior customer service that you may or may not end up using, that is.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/17/2014
Rating: Total score: 75%

80% Maingear Pulse 15
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
The Maingear Pulse 15 is a solid slim midrange laptop, and why wouldn't it be? It shares the same chassis and similar specs as our Editors' Choice MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K. But while we still love the slim design, the impressive 3K display, and even the improved speakers and stylish paintjob, the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K offers a better overall package with slightly better gaming performance, and remains our top pick.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/09/2014
Rating: Total score: 80%

70% Maingear Pulse 15
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
Maingear's svelte dynamo is nothing short of impressive. The $2,474 Pulse 15 combines powerful specs, including Nvidia GTX 8870M graphics and a Core i7 CPU with a wide-angle, Retina-like display in a slim chassis. When it came to performance, the laptop didn't slice through demanding games (and spreadsheets) without prejudice.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/30/2014
Rating: Total score: 70%

Maingear Pulse 15 3K
Source: Hot Hardware Archive.org version
Maingear's Pulse 15 is an overall successful demonstration that you can pack a higher end gaming experience into an ultra thin form factor, though it doesn't come without caveats. The biggest issues are heat and noise. Under load, the Pulse 15 gets plenty hot -- this is not a laptop you'll want to rest on your lap, especially if you value your fertility.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/15/2014

Comment

Maingear: US-American computer manufacturer, founded in 2002 with low international relevance.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M: A mid-range GPU and the fastest GeForce GT as part of the 600M series

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M:

High-End Graphics cards as part of the Geforce 700M series based on the Kepler architecture.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M: High-end graphics card from the GeForce GTX 800M series.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

Intel Core i5:

3320M: Fast Ivy-Bridge-based dual-core, includes HD 4000 Graphics, core clock 2.6 - 3.3 GHz

Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.  

4702MQ: Haswell-based quad-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz with Turbo Boost support up to 3.2 GHz. Offers an integrated HD Graphics 4600 GPU and a dual channel DDR3 memory controller.

4700HQ: Haswell-based quad-core processor clocked at 2.4 GHz with Turbo Boost support up to 3.4 GHz. Offers an integrated HD Graphics 4600 GPU and a dual channel DDR3 memory controller.

4710HQ: Haswell-based quad-core processor clocked at 2.5 GHz with Turbo Boost support up to 3.5 GHz. Offers an integrated HD Graphics 4600 GPU and a dual channel DDR3 memory controller.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

14.00:

14 inch display size represents a middle ground between the small subnotebook formats and the screens of the standard 15 inch laptops.

The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, provides good resolutions with usable detail sizes, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact. 

In the past, 14-inch devices were very rare, but now they are the standard for laptops after the 15-inchers. 

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

1.7 kg:

2.7 kg:

With this weight, a laptop is rather heavier than average. Devices in this range shine more with screen size and performance than with mobility.

74.85%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight