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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe Maingear SHIFT Super Stock X79 was an extravagant boutique desktop in its day, not a machine whose old benchmark records establish how it compares with PCs now. HotHardware’s March 2012 review unit paired an overclocked Intel Core i7-3960X with three Radeon HD 7970 graphics cards and was configured at $7,570 before shipping. A separate Digital Trends review in 2019 covered a different configuration, with its own price and test results. Those distinctions matter when assessing the system’s specifications, strengths, and practical drawbacks.
What the 2012 HotHardware system included
HotHardware’s review, published March 14, 2012, describes a high-end configuration built around Intel’s six-core Core i7-3960X, overclocked by Maingear. The review’s table and prose together identify the following components; this is the tested build, not a guarantee that every SHIFT Super Stock X79 shipped with identical parts.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Logitech G RS H-SHIFTER for PC/Xbox/Playstation | $159.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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MAINGEAR MG-1 Platinum Gaming PC: RTX 5070, 7800X3D, 32GB DDR5 | $3,179.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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MAINGEAR MG-1 Ruby Gaming PC: RTX 5060 Ti, Intel 225F, 32GB DDR5 | $2,649.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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MAINGEAR MG-1 Ultimate Gaming PC: RTX 5090, 9950X3D2, 64GB DDR5 | $9,229.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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MAINGEAR MG-1 Elite Gaming PC: RTX 5080, 9850X3D, 32GB DDR5 | $4,669.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Component | HotHardware review unit, March 2012 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Overclocked Intel Core i7-3960X |
| Memory | 16 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1866 |
| Graphics | Three AMD Radeon HD 7970 cards in CrossFire |
| Solid-state storage | Two Corsair Force GT SSDs in RAID 0; capacity not stated in the specification summary |
| Hard drive | 3 TB Seagate Barracuda XT |
| Optical drive | LG 12X SuperMulti Blu-ray/DVD burner; exact model not stated |
| Motherboard and cooling | Asus Rampage IV Extreme motherboard and Maingear EPIC 180 Supercooler |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
The three graphics cards and overclocked processor made this a distinctly ambitious 2012 build. HotHardware’s description of its results belongs to the review’s contemporary benchmark comparisons, not to a present-day performance ranking. Read the HotHardware review for its original specification and testing context.
How large is the SHIFT tower, and what ports does it have?
HotHardware lists approximate dimensions of 24 × 21.5 × 8.6 inches (height × depth × width) and a weight of about 60 pounds. The Silverstone-built chassis used vertical airflow, a design intended to manage heat from multiple graphics cards. Those dimensions and weight make placement and access relevant considerations, particularly if the tower needs to be moved or fitted into a constrained desk area.
#1 Best Overall
- Feel every shift with mechanical clarity; each gear change in the 7-speed H-pattern manual shifter delivers the tactile feedback sim racers demand
- Built for precision, this sim racing shifter features Push-Through Lockout for 7th gear/Reverse, offering authentic control for GT, rally, drift, and street car simulations for a true-to-life driving experience
- Contactless Hall Effect Sensor technology detects gear position through magnetic field changes, delivering precise, consistent shifts with enhanced durability and reducing wear for long-lasting performance
- Cross-range compatibility: RS H-Shifter connects directly to PRO/RS50 racing wheel base for consoles, uses Racing Adapter (sold separately) for G-Series wheels, or connects via USB for PCs, supporting other brand wheels as well
- Customize your feel and fit of this shifter, swap the gear knob for your preferred style or add shaft extenders to fine-tune shift throw and perfectly craft your sim rig to match your style
The review lists four USB 3.0 ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, two eSATA ports, Gigabit Ethernet, optical and coaxial SPDIF, audio inputs, and an integrated memory-card reader at the rear/top panel. The front panel has two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, and headphone and microphone jacks. The rear connectors sit at the top under a removable cover, which can make access less straightforward than on a conventional rear-facing panel.
What did the two period reviews find?
HotHardware’s 2012 review
HotHardware characterized its tested unit as the fastest system the outlet had tested at publication. That is a dated judgment based on its contemporary comparison set. Author Paul Lilly wrote, “But we didn’t drop it and instead lobbed a bunch of benchmarks at the SHIFT Super Stock in vain attempts to make it break a sweat, or at least try to get it to stop yawning.” The line conveys the review’s impression of the machine’s headroom in those tests; it is not a manufacturer guarantee or a measure against current systems.
Rank #2
- NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 GRAPHICS — Built for smooth, high-refresh 1440p gaming. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell with DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, advanced ray tracing, and 12GB of ultra-fast GDDR7 memory for responsive frame rates and exceptional visual detail in demanding games.
- AMD RYZEN 7 7800X3D 8-CORE PROCESSOR — Built on AMD Zen 4 architecture with AMD 3D V-Cache technology, 8 cores, 16 threads, boost speeds up to 5.0GHz, and 96MB of L3 cache. Its large cache and gaming-focused design deliver exceptional high-FPS performance with responsive multitasking for streaming and everyday use.
- ALL-NEW, UPGRADEABLE MG-1 MK. II — Built around standard ATX hardware including 32GB DDR5-6000 memory, a 2TB Gen4 NVMe SSD, an X870E motherboard, and an 850W 80+ Gold power supply for straightforward future upgrades. Reinforced construction, expanded airflow, an improved component layout, and refined RGB lighting elevate the MG-1 from the inside out.
- ZERO BLOATWARE. COOLED, TUNED AND STRESS-TESTED. — Start with a clean Windows 11 installation free from unnecessary preinstalled software. A 360mm AIO liquid cooler, seven chassis fans, and custom fan curves balance cooling and noise, while CPU, GPU, and memory stress testing verifies reliable performance under demanding loads.
- BUILT AND SUPPORTED BY MAINGEAR — Hand-assembled by enthusiast technicians in New Jersey and supported by the same in-house team. Includes a 1-year limited warranty, award-winning lifetime technical support, protective double-layer packaging, and a custom GPU support bracket.
Digital Trends’ 2019 review
Digital Trends reviewed a separate SHIFT configuration on August 23, 2019. Its system had a Core i7-3960X, three Radeon HD 7970 cards, 16 GB memory, two 120 GB Corsair Force GT SSDs, and a 1 TB Seagate hard drive. Digital Trends reported an average of 184 FPS in Battlefield 3 at 1920 × 1200 on that tested configuration and described the system as surprisingly quiet. It also noted considerable heat under load, difficult port access, and a high price. These are the 2019 review’s results and observations, not HotHardware’s findings or specifications for the 2012 unit. See the Digital Trends review for its historical context.
What did the SHIFT Super Stock X79 cost?
Prices varied by configuration and review date. They are historical purchase figures, not estimates of what a used machine is worth today.
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- NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 5060 Ti 8GB GDDR7 GRAPHICS — Built for high-refresh 1080p gaming with the performance for 1440p in many popular titles. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell with DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, advanced ray tracing, and 8GB of fast GDDR7 memory for responsive frame rates and exceptional visual detail.
- INTEL CORE ULTRA 5 225F 10-CORE PROCESSOR — Combines 6 Performance-cores and 4 Efficient-cores with 10 threads and boost speeds up to 4.9GHz. Its balanced hybrid design delivers responsive gaming performance and dependable multitasking for streaming, productivity, and everyday use.
- ALL-NEW, UPGRADEABLE MG-1 MK. II — Built around standard ATX hardware including 32GB DDR5-6000 memory, a 2TB Gen4 NVMe SSD, a Z890 motherboard, and an 850W 80+ Gold power supply for straightforward future upgrades. Reinforced construction, expanded airflow, an improved component layout, and refined RGB lighting elevate the MG-1 from the inside out.
- ZERO BLOATWARE. COOLED, TUNED AND STRESS-TESTED. — Start with a clean Windows 11 installation free from unnecessary preinstalled software. A 360mm AIO liquid cooler, seven chassis fans, and custom fan curves balance cooling and noise, while CPU, GPU, and memory stress testing verifies reliable performance under demanding loads.
- BUILT AND SUPPORTED BY MAINGEAR — Hand-assembled by enthusiast technicians in New Jersey and supported by the same in-house team. Includes a 1-year limited warranty, award-winning lifetime technical support, protective double-layer packaging, and a custom GPU support bracket.
| Review | Price reported | What the figure describes |
|---|---|---|
| HotHardware, March 2012 | $7,570 configured | After a $100 promotion and before approximately $100 shipping; applies to the review’s configured system. |
| Digital Trends, August 2019 | $3,449 starting price; just over $6,400 after upgrades | Starting price and upgraded review configuration described in that article. |
The two figures reflect different configurations and dates, so they should not be treated as a like-for-like price comparison. Neither source establishes a current resale value.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What are the practical drawbacks?
Access and working inside the case
The top-mounted, covered connector area can be awkward to reach. Digital Trends also found the case less intuitive to work in than its exterior suggested. If you need frequent access to rear connections or expect to service components yourself, those observations are worth weighing alongside the tower’s cooling-oriented layout.
Rank #4
- NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 GRAPHICS — Built for uncompromising 4K gaming and demanding creative workloads. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell with DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, advanced ray tracing, and 32GB of ultra-fast GDDR7 memory for exceptional visual fidelity and elite high-refresh-rate performance.
- AMD RYZEN 9 9950X3D2 DUAL EDITION 16-CORE PROCESSOR — Built on AMD Zen 5 architecture with dual AMD 3D V-Cache technology, 16 cores, 32 threads, boost speeds up to 5.6GHz, and 192MB of L3 cache. Enjoy exceptional high-FPS gaming performance and powerful multitasking for streaming, content creation, and other demanding workloads.
- ALL-NEW, UPGRADEABLE MG-1 MK. II — Built around standard ATX hardware including 64GB DDR5-6000 memory, a 4TB Gen4 NVMe SSD, an X870E motherboard, and a 1250W 80+ Gold power supply for straightforward future upgrades. Reinforced construction, expanded airflow, an improved component layout, and refined RGB lighting elevate the MG-1 from the inside out.
- ZERO BLOATWARE. COOLED, TUNED AND STRESS-TESTED. — Start with a clean Windows installation free from unnecessary preinstalled software. A 360mm AIO liquid cooler, seven chassis fans, and custom fan curves balance cooling and noise, while CPU, GPU, and memory stress testing verifies reliable performance under demanding loads.
- BUILT AND SUPPORTED BY MAINGEAR — Hand-assembled by enthusiast technicians in New Jersey and supported by the same in-house team. Includes a 1-year limited warranty, award-winning lifetime technical support, protective double-layer packaging, and a custom GPU support bracket.
Heat and noise
Digital Trends described its 2019 review unit as surprisingly quiet, but also reported considerable heat under load. These observations apply to that review configuration and its use; they do not establish temperatures or noise levels for every build.
Legacy platform and uncertain replacement fit
The reviewed 2012 build used Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and DDR3 memory. The period reviews do not establish current support, warranty terms, or compatibility with present-day replacement parts. HotHardware identifies an LG 12X internal Blu-ray/DVD burner but not its exact model, connector, dimensions, or bezel. Before buying a replacement drive for an individual machine, verify its physical fit, connector, tray and bezel arrangement, and operating-system support. The review does not confirm compatibility for any specific current drive.
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- NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 GRAPHICS — Built for high-refresh 1440p and 4K gaming. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell with DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, advanced ray tracing, and 16GB of ultra-fast GDDR7 memory for smooth frame rates and exceptional visual detail in demanding games.
- AMD RYZEN 7 9850X3D 8-CORE PROCESSOR — Built on AMD Zen 5 architecture with AMD 3D V-Cache technology, 8 cores, 16 threads, boost speeds up to 5.6GHz, and 96MB of L3 cache. Its large cache and fast clock speeds deliver exceptional high-FPS gaming performance with the multitasking power for streaming and everyday creation.
- ALL-NEW, UPGRADEABLE MG-1 MK. II — Built around standard ATX hardware including 32GB DDR5-6000 memory, a 2TB Gen4 NVMe SSD, an X870E motherboard, and an 850W 80+ Gold power supply for straightforward future upgrades. Reinforced construction, expanded airflow, an improved component layout, and refined RGB lighting elevate the MG-1 from the inside out.
- ZERO BLOATWARE. COOLED, TUNED AND STRESS-TESTED. — Start with a clean Windows 11 installation free from unnecessary preinstalled software. A 360mm AIO liquid cooler, seven chassis fans, and custom fan curves balance cooling and noise, while CPU, GPU, and memory stress testing verifies reliable performance under demanding loads.
- BUILT AND SUPPORTED BY MAINGEAR — Hand-assembled by enthusiast technicians in New Jersey and supported by the same in-house team. Includes a 1-year limited warranty, award-winning lifetime technical support, protective double-layer packaging, and a custom GPU support bracket.
Is a Maingear SHIFT Super Stock X79 worth buying?
The period reviews establish why the SHIFT attracted attention as a costly, high-performance boutique tower in its era. They do not establish whether a particular used unit is worth its asking price today: current resale values, machine condition, component health, and present support or warranty status are not covered by those reviews. A buyer evaluating an individual system would need to verify its actual configuration and condition and compare the seller’s price with current market evidence.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
