pcmagnetwork logo
Subscribe!

Desktops

  FIND PRODUCTS
Narrow your search for
Desktops:


Price
 
Company
Hewlett-Packard Company (93)
Dell, Inc. (68)
Gateway Inc (49)
Sony Corporation (34)
Velocity Micro Inc (34)
Show more...
 
Type
 
Processor Family
 
RAM
1 GB (187)
512 MB (137)
2 GB (86)
256 MB (51)
4 GB (38)
Show more...
 
Storage Capacity
 
Primary Optical Drive
 

New Search

PC Magazine Desktops Product Guide Add PC Magazine Desktops Product Guide RSS feed to your feed reader so that you don't miss another headline!

  • Add to My Yahoo!
  • Add to Google
  • Add to My MSN

Maingear Prysma

review DATE:07.05.06

Maingear Prysma
Full Set Front Size Comparison Front Right

review

The Maingear Prysma ($3,407 direct, without monitor) is for people who seek not only a competent Viiv Media Center but also something akin to installation art. Echoing the Luxor, the glitzy pyramid-shaped casino/hotel in Las Vegas, the Prysma uses a striking pyramid case complete with a Lucite capstone and glowing bright light underneath. Despite its unique looks, the Prysma is plagued by some frustrating design inconveniences.

red arrow Read the Maingear Prysma full review

Company

Maingear Inc

http://www.maingear.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $3,407.00 Direct
  • Type: Media, Digital Entertainment System
  • Processor Family: Intel 9 Series (Pentium D)
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • Storage Capacity: 400 GB
  • RAID: No
  • Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 7600 GT
  • Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW
  • Secondary Optical Drive: DVD-ROM

Bottom Line

The Maingear Prysma is a fast-performing Media Center PC masquerading as a bold design statement, with a few flaws.

Pros

Unique case that's an instant conversation starter. Decent amount of power. Viiv-certified. Dual NTSC (SDTV) tuners, single ATSC (HDTV) tuner.

Cons

Cable management is inconvenient. Sample system is a little loud. Shape is not home-theater-rack friendly. Pricey.

Lenovo ThinkPad T400
Lenovo ThinkPad X200
Click Here Click Here
Info Centers
 
Special Offers
Free White Papers
View all White Papers >
Click here to list your White Papers >
 
newsletters

Get PCMag.com's FREE email newsletters delivered to your inbox.

It's easy, just follow the steps.

Want more? Check out our other newsletters here.

Manage your newsletter subscriptions here.

1. Make your selections:

Daily News Alert
Inside PCMag.com
PCMag.com Small Business Update
PCMagCast Update
Productwire: First Looks Update
Security Watch
Tech Saver
Tip of the Day
Utility Library Update
What's New Now
PCMag Announcements

2. Select email format:

3. Enter email address:

Subscribe to PC Mag
Subscription Help | Renew | Give a Gift
Featured Offers
FREE UTILITY:

Free utility finds the fragmentation that's crippling your network!

New Disk Performance Analyzer for Networks 2.0 takes the guesswork out of tracking networked system performance. This revolutionary utility scans networked systems' performance from one single access point. It equips administrators with an arsenal of performance data, so they can zero in on systems' fragmentation and slows.

Don't let low-functioning systems go unnoticed. Get Disk Performance Analyzer for Networks 2.0 free now!

>> brought to you by Diskeeper
MUST READ WHITE PAPERS:

Check out the latest briefs and white papers from PC Magazine's Partners.


NoteWhen 3: Clear the Clutter. Version 3




NoteWhen 3: Clear the Clutter. Version 3 adds many features that you, our subscribers, have been asking for. You can now:

• Send notes by e-mail, including Gmail or secure servers
• Synchronize notes with notes from other machines
• Lock notes to prevent further editing
• Archive notes, taking them out of the list without deleting them
• View scheduled events on a bigger calendar showing note titles
• Make NoteWhen portable for flash drives
• Export notes to HTML, RTF, Text, or CSV
• Print a list of notes

Download Now: NoteWhen3Setup.zip
PCMagCast
PC Magazine's live, online events make you more productive at work, home, and on the go. Best of all, they're FREE!

Featured Event:

Mobile Wireless Broadband: Optimizing Wide Area Networking and WiMax
Thursday, December 4, 2008 2pm ET - Sponsored by Lenovo Need the convenience of a constant connection? Find out how to choose and use cutting-edge technologies for ubiquitous mobile broadband networking. Register today.

See all PCMagCasts >>
 
More Free PCMagCasts:

On-Demand Applications: Easy Ways for Your Business to Work Online
Sponsored by Dell Sb360
We walk you through the best on-demand offerings and what they can do for your business. Attend now.

Virtualization: How Small Businesses Can Save Money and Boost Efficiency
Sponsored by Dell SB360
This course delves into how server strategies at small businesses can be optimized with virtualization, and how multiple operating systems can be efficiently deployed on single systems for networked use. Attend today.