MAINGEAR Retro98 Brings Back Beige PCs With RTX 5090 and Ryzen X3D Power

With AMD pushing performance forward through processors like the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and reports pointing to a possible Ryzen 9 9950X3D V2 refresh, not every PC enthusiast wants a futuristic-looking tower. For those drawn to late-1990s nostalgia paired with modern muscle, MAINGEAR has introduced something very different.

As VideoCardz reports, MAINGEAR has announced Retro98, a limited-run lineup of retro-styled desktop PCs built around SilverStone’s FLP02 “beige box” chassis, while still packing today’s high-end components inside.

Despite its retro design Retro98 series packs a punch

The Retro98 series fully embraces classic PC aesthetics without sacrificing practicality. The front panel includes a working “Turbo” button, inspired by SilverStone’s original design, which switches system fans to maximum speed for instant cooling. The case also features a key-lock style control layout, a front temperature display, concealed front I/O ports, and deliberately visible cable routing to reinforce the old-school look.

Despite the retro exterior, Retro98 systems target modern gaming and enthusiast workloads, with clearly tiered hardware options.

Retro98 | 5070

• Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
• 32GB DDR5-6000
• 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
• MSI Z890 Gaming Plus WiFi
• 360mm AIO liquid cooling

Retro98 | 5080

• AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
• 32GB DDR5-6000
• 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
• MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi
• 360mm AIO liquid cooling

Retro98 | 5090

• AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
• 32GB DDR5-6000
• 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
• MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi
• 360mm AIO liquid cooling

Retro98α (open-loop flagship)

• AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
• 64GB DDR5-6000
• 4TB Kingston FURY Renegade NVMe Gen5 SSD
• ASRock X870E Nova WiFi
• Custom Alphacool CPU and GPU liquid loop
• Dual radiators (360mm + 240mm)

MAINGEAR is treating Retro98 as a true limited-edition release rather than a mass-market product. The company is producing just 32 standard Retro98 systems alongside only six units of the flagship Retro98α model. All configurations are already available, with sales handled exclusively through MAINGEAR’s own online store.

Pricing reflects both the premium hardware and the niche nature of the design. The entry-level Retro98 | 5070 starts at $2,499, while the Retro98 | 5080 moves up to $3,499. The higher-end Retro98 | 5090 comes in at $4,999, and the fully custom Retro98α flagship pushes pricing to $9,799, placing it firmly in showcase-PC territory.

In other hardware news, benchmark results for Intel’s upcoming Core Ultra 7 356H processor have surfaced online, offering an early look at Panther Lake mobile performance ahead of its official launch.