Maingear introduces eco-friendly, Ion-powered Pulse SFF PC
By Darren Murph 
posted Jun 5th 2009 10:05AM
posted Jun 5th 2009 10:05AM
MAINGEAR Unveils Small, Green Pulse PC Based on NVIDIA ION
World's first GeForce-upgradeable ION PC delivers remarkable performance in a small footprint
Union, New Jersey – June 3rd, 2009 – MAINGEAR Computers, award-winning builders of high performance custom computers, is proud to announce the Pulse, a powerful, energy efficient small form factor PC based on NVIDIA ION graphics. The Pulse is the world's first ION PC that can be upgraded with a GeForce GPU, offering consumers the flexibility to choose an economical, low power ION solution or an energy efficient, high performance configuration with GeForce.
The ION configuration is available with Intel Core 2 45nm processors and a 80+ Certified 300 watt power supply that is 80%+ efficient. This configuration is the smallest, most energy efficient gaming PC on the market today.
Serious gamers have the option of adding a GeForce 9800 GT ECO discrete graphics card that consumes 40% less power than a standard GeForce 9800 GT – available in both 512MB and 1GB configurations. This version of the Pulse is available with high performance, eco-conscious 65 watt Core 2 Quads.
Pulse also includes 802.11b/g wireless for optimal connectivity and eSata support for maximum expandability. Optional Blu-ray and TV Tuner make Pulse a phenomenal option for enjoyment in the living room.
"NVIDIA's ION platform has opened up a new realm of possibility for small form factor PCs" said Wallace Santos, Founder and CEO of MAINGEAR. "By delivering a GeForce-upgradeable product, we are maximizing ION's potential with high performance, energy efficient CPUs and GPUs to deliver a powerful and balanced computing solution in a sleek, inconspicuous design. It's a tremendous option for the living room, a dorm, or for the kids."
"The Maingear Pulse with NVIDIA graphics is perfect for anyone who wants a small, energy efficient, and stylish PC. With its NVIDIA ION-based motherboard, the Pulse delivers the best graphics solution available for low-power, small form factor designs" says Drew Henry, general manager of the desktop GPU business unit at NVIDIA. "By adding the GeForce 9800 GT ECO, gamers can enjoy superior performance in a design that saves both energy and space."
For more information on how Pulse can radically change your computing experience including performance data and power consumption, please visit www.maingear.com. The base price for the Pulse is $799 and comes with MAINGEAR's standard Lifetime Labor and Phone Support with 14-month hardware warranty and is backed by the best in-house support team in the country.
INTEL ION?????? Blasphemy if ever I saw it!
+ 1
damn you beat me to it!
Me too...
When did Intel buy out NVIDIA?
they didnt..........
@Alex
ICanHasSarcasm
Who knew they made a 300w psu that could do solid gaming....
Depends on your definition of solid.
Considering the power draw when the system is fully loaded is about 50% of the PSU's rated max output, it is right where it needs to be to ensure 80% efficiency.
Well i bought a dell quad core with a powerful GPU and they stuck me with a 350W PSU that i can not updgrade without voiding the warrenty, so should suspect that the 300W one with a Core2Duo will be just fine
People really overrate what is needed for a power supply. nVidia and ATI's power supply recommendations for their video cards take into account that you bought a total garbage $20 PSU that is just waiting to pop a cap(acitor). If you aren't doing SLI/Crossfire or an excessive number of hard drives or fans (or something else crazy) a quality 500W PSU will power any system (dual GPU cards will push it some, but it can handle it). It's when you get into setupd with 4+ hard drives, 6+ fans, lights, and multiple GPUs where you need the extra juice, but even then people go overboard. (I have yet to see any system that needs 1200W of power)
SFF? It's not so "small".
And given it's a Core 2 with optional GeForce 9800, where is the ION?
Yeah it just looks like a mini tower to me. SFF is a stretch.
It's amusing to watch the green frenzy repeat itself after watching it last time in the 70s. I think the green movement would get a lot more traction with people if they'd switch their focus from "save the earth" or "love your mother" to "save the humans." The earth doesn't care what we do to it. It will simply shrug us off like it did the dinosaurs with their high carbon footprints and their overfishing.
I wonder how this box compares to a PS3 or an Xbox 360 in terms of power use. I don't wonder enough to bother to go look it up, but perhaps someone here knows.
Releaux: Good point! Of course, there are always those religious nuts who will tell you that their imaginary friend (codename "god") created this planet for humans to consume and rape in every imaginable way... :)
What I also find hilarious is the marketing that IT companies use to sell these products. GREEN and ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY = we pollute slightly less then the other guy.
With a quad core processor and 9800 GT ECO 1GB it consumes under 145 watts under load. With a 9600 GT ECO that drops to 125 watts.
oh nice. thats the new lian li case
Strictly speaking this isn't ION, it's a Zotac mini-ITX 9300 board. Which have existed since before ION was announced. Also I don't think the ION spec includes PCI slots of any flavor.
Jon, this is an officially sanctioned ION platform that went all the way to the top at NVIDIA. We had numerous conference calls and assistance from NVIDIA on this project. ION has been expanded to include 9300/9400 + Intel CPUs (not just Atom). Believe me, we wouldn't do this without NVIDIA's blessing.
Straight from the horse's mouth:
"The Maingear Pulse with NVIDIA graphics is perfect for anyone who wants a small, energy efficient, and stylish PC. With its NVIDIA ION-based motherboard, the Pulse delivers the best graphics solution available for low-power, small form factor designs" says Drew Henry, general manager of the desktop GPU business unit at NVIDIA. "By adding the GeForce 9800 GT ECO, gamers can enjoy superior performance in a design that saves both energy and space."
can it play crysis?
1). found out that $799 gets you starter spec w/ E7400 CPU / 2gb RAM / Onboard graphic, not exactly what I would call a gaming build...
2). customized it to 'gaming spec' w/ E8600 CPU / 4gb RAM / 9800GT, but bump the price up to over $1500
3). checked on Newegg for the exact or better parts as the 'gaming spec' for
1). found out that $799 gets you starter spec w/ E7400 CPU / 2gb RAM / Onboard graphic, not exactly what I would call a gaming build...
2). customized it to 'gaming spec' w/ E8600 CPU / 4gb RAM / 9800GT, but bump the price up to over $1500
3). checked on Newegg for the exact or better parts as the 'gaming spec' for less than $750... *blink*blink*...
4). ordered from Newegg
5). feeling good yet still wondering where that extra $750 could have gone to.. Premium Warranty & White paint on the case perhaps??
Cute case! Seems like it's trying to find an odd market. Green gaming?
I highly recommend checking the following couple parts out if you're interested in a mini gaming rig. Silverstone did a heck of a job making this case (specifically designed to accomodate doublewide PCIE vid cards on Mini-ITX mobos) the most user friendly mini rig I ever built (and I've been fighting with these things since Cel300s on FlexATX boards):
zotac socket 775 Mini-ITX mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500022
silverstone Mini-ITX case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163149
just add your choice of PCIE video card, optical drive, HD, ram, and intel 775 cpu.
you could pick some nice parts for
Huh, eco-friendly i like it.
Awesome Look, It just looks like a mini tower to me. and also it is eco-friendly.