Last year one of the big trends at tech trade shows was what we dubbed “the War on Cables,” new designs for desktop PCs and components that helped you route power and data cables out of sight for a super-clean build. Only a few of those products actually made it out by the time that 2023 wrapped up, but at CES 2024, Maingear is doubling down on that idea. The company is partnering with both component maker MSI and case maker Phanteks on the new “MG-RC” (rear connection) system, which almost universally routes interior cabling to the rear of a case.
In two new desktop designs, the Maingear Zero Drop and the Maingear NV9 Zero concept, the company is featuring MSI’s Project Zero motherboards. These reverse-mount power and data connections at specific points on the motherboard, which combined with specially-placed cutouts on the motherboard mount, allow you to access nearly every power and data cable from the rear or underside of the case. The Zero Drop uses the MSI B760M Project Zero motherboard while the NV9 Zero has the Z790 Project Zero board.
