Maingear patented its rear-connector motherboard design in 2011, and now it wants to make MG-RC an industry standard

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Embracing rear connectors for clean looks and better airflow

Maingear MG-RC
(Image credit: Maingear)

With MSI, Asus, and multiple case makers announcing products based around motherboards with connectors shifted to the back, it's starting to feel like this will be the PC-building trend of 2024. But prebuilt PC maker Maingear has owned the patent on this tech since 2011, and the company is attempting to standardize it, starting with its name: Maingear Rear Connection, or MG-RC. And for now, at least, its partners are MSI and Phanteks.

Maingear says that moving the connectors and cables to the motherboard's backside improves the system's interior aesthetics while reducing air turbulence and making assembly easier. Having built a system around MSI's Project Zero motherboard and MAG Pano M100R PZ case, I can confirm that's true for the most part, though I wouldn't say it's a massive improvement on all fronts. You can read about my Project Zero build experience to learn more about what's different in terms of the assembly process.

Of course, Maingear isn't just announcing the MG-RC name. Here at CES, it's also launching a pair of desktops that leverage MG-RC and products from its partners. The first, Maingear Zero, is a system using the same panoramic glass MSI case mentioned above, as well as MSI's B760M Project Zero Micro ATX motherboard.

(Image credit: Maingear)

The company says the Maingear Zero will ship with Nvidia's new RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card, starting on January 24th. This will be a limited run offered on the company's maingear.com/drops page, with the company noting that previous drops have sold out in less than two weeks.

(Image credit: Maingear)

The second system, dubbed NV9: Zero Concept, uses a version Phanteks' NV9 case that's been updated to support MG-RC and a stepped-up MSI Z790 Project Zero ATX motherboard. The NV9: Zero Concept system will ship with an MSI RTX 4080 Super GPU and an Intel 14900K CPU, along with a large 420mm Phanteks AIO cooler. 

The system will also feature an LCD display, which looks to be the Phanteks screen the company was showing off in prototype form at Computex last year. It's designed to be mounted in various places inside or outside your system. The integrated screen is a first for Maingear, according to its press release. But cases like the Hyte Y70 Touch and even the 2018-era iBuyPower Snowblind have proven there's a market for in-case displays.

Maingear says the NV9: Zero Concept will be available directly from Maingear, starting sometime in Q1 of 2024.

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Matt Safford
Matt Safford

After a rough start with the Mattel Aquarius as a child, Matt built his first PC in the late 1990s and ventured into mild PC modding in the early 2000s. He’s spent the last 15 years covering emerging technology for Smithsonian, Popular Science, and Consumer Reports, while testing components and PCs for Computer Shopper, PCMag and Digital Trends.

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • toffty
    So unhelpful. Hey here's news about a rear connected motherboard. Don't know what that means? Well we won't include anything to explain it or show it except for two pics that are too zoomed out to understand the connection layouts and how they're different.
    Reply
  • rgd1101
    power cable is on the back
    Reply
  • throughfire
    toffty said:
    So unhelpful. Hey here's news about a rear connected motherboard. Don't know what that means? Well we won't include anything to explain it or show it except for two pics that are too zoomed out to understand the connection layouts and how they're different.
    Seriously, I cam here to try to get my head around what it would look like to build a system this way. All I got was some unhelpful front images.

    Shouldn't have had to do this, but after googling a back photo of the motherboard, it does indeed look like every single connection except M.2 slots are on the back. All the fan headers, USB headers, etc.
    Reply
  • cyrusfox
    Form over function... Only benefit to function is air path channeling, but if we wanted to get serious on that we could add customized ducting solution...

    Is there any benefit outside of hiding unsightly cables? Does it lower the PCB layer count of the mobo or reduce the complexity in any meaningful ways? If we aren't shrinking it to make it smaller or streamlining (Like 12VO), its an art project.

    RGB sell like wild, so maybe this will catch on now to
    Reply
  • dutty handz
    cyrusfox said:
    Form over function... Only benefit to function is air path channeling, but if we wanted to get serious on that we could add customized ducting solution...

    Is there any benefit outside of hiding unsightly cables? Does it lower the PCB layer count of the mobo or reduce the complexity in any meaningful ways? If we aren't shrinking it to make it smaller or streamlining (Like 12VO), its an art project.

    RGB sell like wild, so maybe this will catch on now to
    It's not form over function, quite the opposite. It's specifically designed to streamline the building process by making all connections happen behind the motherboard tray, which is objectively simpler for the builder, especially those with large hands and stubby fingers. Another benefit is a marginally better airflow, which isn't the targeted goal, alongside a cleanier build from the motherboard perspective.

    Combine that standard with Asus (currently propriatery) GPU power connector straight onto the motherboard (it looks like a 2nd PCIe connector after the normal one, both on GPU and MB), and we could have a 0 cable on main chamber build.
    Reply
  • islandwalker
    So, this link about my build experience using the MG-RC/Project Zero motherboards got left out of the story initially. Sorry for that. But there are several other links in the story that were put there to add context about what MG-RC actually is and looks like. For this story, I only had the images that MSI provided, which were of the sides of their systems, not the back where all the connectors are. But yes, the primary point of this is to hide all or nearly all of the desktop's cables, by moving most of the connectors to the back.

    https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/i-built-a-pc-with-msis-project-zero-motherboard-moving-all-the-ports-to-the-back-for-a-cleaner-quicker-build-with-better-airflow
    Reply
  • cyrusfox
    dutty handz said:
    It's not form over function, quite the opposite. It's specifically designed to streamline the building process by making all connections happen behind the motherboard tray, which is objectively simpler for the builder, especially those with large hands and stubby fingers.
    True, ease of install is a welcome function. IF done right perhaps it would work out for better for small SFF as well.
    Reply
  • TechLurker
    cyrusfox said:
    Form over function... Only benefit to function is air path channeling, but if we wanted to get serious on that we could add customized ducting solution...
    I wonder how long until we get air ducts with a screen on the top side that faces the tempered glass and aRGB strips along the edges? Moreso with a 120mm or 140mm fan mount point at the front of the duct to permit mounting to frontal fan mounts in most cases. The fan itself could even help cool the screen down should it have some vents to the screen inside the air duct path.

    It'd be fancy versions of the ducted systems seen in professional PCs that are normally used to separate the CPU/peripheral chamber from the GPU chamber (which may or may not share a duct with keeping the HDDs/SSDs or newer NVMe PCIe cards cool). Heck, they can sell ATX-sized ducts that is one giant screen with ducting behind it splitting it between CPU and Cards, that fits over the entire motherboard somehow.

    cyrusfox said:
    Is there any benefit outside of hiding unsightly cables? Does it lower the PCB layer count of the mobo or reduce the complexity in any meaningful ways? If we aren't shrinking it to make it smaller or streamlining (Like 12VO), its an art project.
    The main benefit I see (more for PSU makers) is shortening the PSU cables; at the very least, less wiring used depending on the case itself, and maybe even integrating 90-degree plugs at the ends or at least 90-degree plug adapters to allow for more flush wiring down the back.

    Given that not many people still use Full ATX or E-ATX cases compared to the 2010s and earlier, where big cases were more common in order to shove in more SSDs, HDDs, and extra cards (audio, but maybe a TV tuner card or a second GPU), the vast majority of cases on the market are Mid Tower ATXs and smaller. Most PSU makers could take advantage of that by cutting down on the wiring and just including extension cables on high-output PSUs (say 800w and up, which are more likely to be used in larger PCs running more peripherals). Moreso since many high-end PC builders tend to run custom cabling anyway, or at least buy premade cables compatible with their PSUs.
    Reply
  • jaquith
    Personally I prefer my cables they provide that "Motorhead" look and add style and flair, and for many that like RGB can certainly add an incredible light show. I've seen the ASUS prototype HERO boards and geez what an incredible rats nest mess on the backside! Still with all the power cables on the back you're still left only to see the ugly fan, USB, HSF / AiO cabling in front. You might as well buy a Full Metal Case...
    Reply