The new Maingear Retro98 prebuilt gaming PC includes an AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and RTX 5090 config
Maingear is back with another limited-edition desktop aimed at retro gaming enthusiasts. The Retro98 pays homage to late 1990s computing, relying on the predictably beige SilverStone FLP02 tower PC case. Blending a nostalgic design with modern performance, one option features the new AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU.
The Retro98 is available in four configurations. A $2,499 build includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor and Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU. For a loftier $4,999, the prebuilt ships with the Ryzen 9850X3D, which is arriving for individual orders on January 29th. This version employs an RTX 5090 graphics card along with these components:
- Cooling: Maingear EPIC 360mm AIO
- RAM: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 6000MT/s CL32
- Storage: 2TB Gen5 NVMe SSD
- Motherboard: MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi
- PSU: MSI 850W G
The top-end $9,799 Retro98 Alpha is a retro gaming PC and workstation powered by the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Some of the high cost comes from the 64GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 memory. Storage is more healthy, thanks to a 4TB Gen5 NVMe SSD. It also introduces a custom Alphacool open-loop liquid cooling system.
The Retro98 is retro gaming tower
Of course, much of the focus on the Maingear PC will be on its throwback looks. On the face of the Silverstone case, buyers will find conveniences like an LED fan speed readout. The front of the desktop also displays three customizable 5.25-inch drive bays.
Other highlights include a turbo button that blasts cool air throughout the chassis. A bright red power switch is hard to miss, while a physical key lock prevents unauthorized rebooting. Maingear has added some retro touches to the cabling, with ketchup-and-mustard-themed sleeves.
The U.S manufacturer is assembling only 32 examples of the Retro98 prebuilt PC, plus another five alpha units. Even so, it’s upgrading some of its other desktops with the 9850X3D newcomer. Gaming and work-oriented systems, including the MG-1, North, Rush, and shroud can all be ordered with the Granite Ridge CPU.
Source(s)
Press release via Maingear PR, Retro98@Maingear
MAINGEAR Drops Retro98: Looks like it’s From 1998, Spec’d for 2026A nostalgic nod to the rigs we modded as kids when our parents weren’t looking;
reimagined with uncapped 2026 PC gaming performance
Warren, NJ – Jan 29, 2026 – MAINGEAR, the leader in premium-quality, high-performance
gaming PCs, today announced the next iteration of its retro-inspired drops - Retro98, a
limited-edition gaming PC drop inspired by the rigs that sparked our obsession with gaming.
Built around the SilverStone FLP02 tower PC case, this drop is for the gamers who swapped
GPUs under cover of darkness, begged for RAM upgrades for their birthday, and lived for LAN
parties.
On the outside, Retro98 looks like it was pulled straight from a 1998 gaming setup, but don’t be
fooled by the beige box. Inside, it’s an absolute beast. Available in four fully loaded
configurations, including an unapologetically over-the-top liquid-cooled rig co-developed with
Alphacool, Retro98 is packed with today’s most elite components: the newly announced AMD
Ryzen 9 9850X3D, graphics up to the GeForce RTX 5090, ultra-fast Kingston FURY RAM and
SSDs, and modern airflow engineering. It’s all hand-built with MAINGEAR’s signature
craftsmanship. From the LED fan speed display, turbo button, and power lockout key on the
front panel, to the ketchup-and-mustard sleeved cable colorways to anti-kink coils on the tubing
and a pump/res combo proudly housed in the 5.25" drive bay space, every detail plays like a
love letter to the golden age of PC gaming. Even the front I/O is neatly hidden behind the
MAINGEAR logo, No mods needed, just turn it on and relive the thrill of 3AM LAN sessions.
“This drop is for those of us who tore open the family PC just to install a 3DFX accelerator,” said
Wallace Santos, MAINGEAR CEO and founder. “Retro98 brings back that feeling of chasing
every last frame, waiting for the dial tone to download driver updates, and building a system that
could handle the most graphics-intense 32-bit games. Except this time, we built the one your
younger self always dreamed of.”
Each Retro98 system is hand-assembled by a single master technician at MAINGEAR HQ in
New Jersey, and tested like we’re keeping it for ourselves. These aren’t slapped-together beige
boxes, they’re built with purpose, reinforced for longevity, tuned to get every last drop of
performance, and backed by lifetime support.
Retro98 Configs:
Retro98 | 5070: $2,499
● CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
● GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
● Cooling: MAINGEAR EPIC 360mm AIO
● RAM: 32GB Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 6000MT/s CL32
● Storage: 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
● Motherboard: MSI Z890 Gaming Plus WiFi
● PSU: MSI 650W G
● OS: Windows 11 Home
Retro98 | 5080: $3,499
● CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
● GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
● Cooling: MAINGEAR EPIC 360mm AIO
● RAM: 32GB Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 6000MT/s CL32
● Storage: 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
● Motherboard: MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi
● PSU: MSI 850W G
● OS: Windows 11 Home
Retro98 | 5090: $4,999
● CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
● GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
● Cooling: MAINGEAR EPIC 360mm AIO
● RAM: 32GB Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 6000MT/s CL32
● Storage: 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
● Motherboard: MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi
● PSU: MSI 1250W G
● OS: Windows 11 Home
Retro98α - Open Loop Liquid Cooled: $9,799 (Unapologetically overkill)
● CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
● GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
● Cooling: Custom Alphacool Open GPU/CPU Loop, 6x Alphacool Chrome Apex Stealth
Fans, Dual Radiators (360mm + 240mm)
● RAM: 64GB Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 6000MT/s CL32
● Storage: 4TB Kingston FURY Renegade NVMe Gen5 SSD
● Motherboard: ASRock PG X870E Nova WiFi
● PSU: XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium
● OS: Windows 11 Pro
Limited Means Limited!
Once it’s sold out, it’s gone forever! Only 32 units + 5 alpha units. No reruns. Period. Retro98
drops today exclusively at www.MAINGEAR.com, starting at $2,499.
AMD Ryzen 9 9850X3D Available Across The Board:
Kicking 2026 off strong with the latest high-performance gaming CPU in its arsenal, MAINGEAR
has unveiled two new pre-configured MG-1 systems featuring the newly-released Ryzen 9
9850X3D CPU: MG-1 | Legend, which is paired with the RTX 5080 GPU, and MG-1 | Champion
which packs the flagship RTX 5090 GPU. Furthermore, every MAINGEAR gaming and
workstation platform, including the MG-1, North, Rush, shroud, and Force, can be custom
ordered with this new CPU.
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