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MAINGEAR Element Series Gaming Laptop

Element 2 and Element 3 Models

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The MAINGEAR ELEMENT is a boutique, hand-built gaming laptop series produced by the U.S. system integrator MAINGEAR across three distinct gaming generations: the original 15.6-inch ELEMENT (2019, 9th-gen Intel), and the two 17.3-inch ELEMENT 2 (EL2) and ELEMENT 3 (EL3) models (2020, 10th-gen Intel) that share the same GM7MPHP alloy chassis. All three pair a minimalist, "un-gamer" black design with NVIDIA RTX graphics, and because MAINGEAR let buyers hand-configure each unit at checkout, your exact combination of screen size, processor, and graphics card determines its resale value. Select your components using our tool above to view an instant cash offer, or read on to identify precisely which ELEMENT you own. When you're ready, we make it easy to sell your gaming laptop for cash.

Which MAINGEAR ELEMENT do you have?

MAINGEAR's naming is easy to mix up, so match your laptop to one of the three gaming models below before requesting a quote. The quickest tell is screen size: the original is a 15-inch laptop, while both later models are larger 17-inch machines.

ELEMENT (Original) — 2019

  • 15.6-inch screen, 144Hz
  • 9th-gen Intel Core i7-9750H (6-core)
  • NVIDIA RTX 2070 Max-Q (8GB)
  • Magnesium-alloy chassis, ~4.07 lb
  • Opto-mechanical RGB keyboard

ELEMENT 2 (EL2) — 2020

  • 17.3-inch screen, 144Hz
  • 10th-gen Intel Core i7-10750H (6-core)
  • NVIDIA RTX 2060 Max-P (6GB)
  • GM7MPHP alloy chassis
  • Chiclet RGB keyboard with numpad

ELEMENT 3 (EL3) — 2020

  • 17.3-inch screen, 240Hz
  • 10th-gen Intel Core i7-10875H (8-core)
  • NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super Max-P (8GB)
  • GM7MPHP alloy chassis
  • Chiclet RGB keyboard with numpad

Not the ELEMENT Lite

MAINGEAR also sold an ELEMENT Lite (2021, 11th-gen, 15-inch). It uses integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics with no dedicated gaming GPU, so it is a thin-and-light productivity laptop, not part of this gaming series. If yours has no NVIDIA RTX/GTX card, it's the Lite — quote it as a standard laptop instead.

EL2 and EL3 look identical from the outside because they share the same 17-inch GM7MPHP chassis. The only reliable way to tell them apart is by the internal parts: the EL3 has the faster 8-core i7-10875H, the RTX 2070 Super, and a 240Hz screen, while the EL2 has the 6-core i7-10750H, an RTX 2060, and a 144Hz screen.

Core hardware configurations

Processor (CPU)

  • Intel Core i7-9750H — 6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.5 GHz boost (Original 15")
  • Intel Core i7-10750H — 6 cores, 12 threads, up to 5.0 GHz boost (ELEMENT 2)
  • Intel Core i7-10875H — 8 cores, 16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz boost, 16MB cache (ELEMENT 3)

Graphics (GPU)

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q — 8GB GDDR6 (Original 15")
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-P — 6GB GDDR6 (ELEMENT 2)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-P — 8GB GDDR6 (ELEMENT 3)
  • The 2020 17" models use higher-power "Max-P" graphics, which perform noticeably better than the thin-and-light "Max-Q" card in the original 15" model.

Memory (RAM)

  • Original 15": DDR4-2666, up to 32GB
  • ELEMENT 2 / 3: DDR4-2933, commonly shipped at 16GB or 32GB
  • Two SO-DIMM slots — user-upgradable up to 32GB total

Storage

  • M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive (SSD)
  • Common shipping capacities: 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB
  • Supports dual M.2 drives for expanded storage
  • No bloatware — MAINGEAR ships a clean Windows install

Display & audio

Display

Narrow-bezel IPS panels at Full HD (1920 × 1080). The original 15.6-inch ELEMENT and the 17.3-inch ELEMENT 2 run at a fast 144Hz, while the flagship 17.3-inch ELEMENT 3 steps up to a competitive 240Hz refresh rate. The original 15" model also supports NVIDIA G-SYNC.

Audio & input

Stereo speaker setup with a glass Precision touchpad. The original 2019 ELEMENT is distinguished by its individually-lit opto-mechanical keyboard switches; the 2020 EL2 and EL3 use a full-size chiclet RGB keyboard with a dedicated number pad, adjustable through MAINGEAR's NODE Control Center software.

Ports & connectivity

Port selection is broadly consistent across the series, with the 17-inch GM7MPHP chassis (EL2/EL3) offering the fullest layout.

Data & Display
  • 1× USB-C with Thunderbolt 3 (supports high-speed data and external displays)
  • 3× USB-A 3.1 / 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A)
  • 1× HDMI output
  • 1× Mini DisplayPort (17" models)
Networking & Extras
  • 1× RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
  • 1× microSD / SD media card reader
  • 1× 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
  • 1× DC-in power connector

Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5 Thunderbolt 3 Gigabit Ethernet

Battery, build & more

Battery

MAINGEAR fitted the ELEMENT series with unusually large batteries for gaming laptops: roughly 94 Wh in the original 15" model and about 91 Wh in the 17" EL2/EL3, aimed at longer real-world runtime between charges.

Chassis & build

The original 2019 ELEMENT uses a magnesium-alloy shell weighing about 4.07 lb (1.85 kg). The larger 2020 EL2 and EL3 use the aluminum-alloy GM7MPHP chassis, all finished in a matte black, minimalist design.

Webcam

Integrated HD (720p) webcam positioned above the display, with a built-in digital microphone array for calls and streaming.

Cooling & software

Dual-fan cooling with copper heat pipes. The NODE Control Center lets you switch power/performance modes (e.g. Office, Game, and Beast modes) and control the RGB lighting.

Frequently asked questions

01 How do I find out exactly which MAINGEAR ELEMENT I have?
Start with the screen: if it's a 15-inch laptop, you have the original 2019 ELEMENT. If it's a 17-inch laptop, you have either the ELEMENT 2 or ELEMENT 3 — and since those two look identical on the outside, you'll need to check the internal parts. The easiest way is to press the Windows key, type "System Information," and open it: the "System Model" line often reads GM7MPHP on the 17" models, and the "Processor" line will tell you whether you have the 6-core i7-10750H (ELEMENT 2) or the 8-core i7-10875H (ELEMENT 3). To check your graphics card, right-click the taskbar, open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, and look at the GPU name. You can also flip the laptop over and read the sticker on the bottom panel. For a full walkthrough with screenshots, see our guide on how to find your laptop model number.
02 Can I sell a MAINGEAR ELEMENT with wear, damage, or system issues?
Yes. We buy these laptops in a wide range of conditions — whether yours runs like new or has a worn battery, loud fans, scuffed casing, a loose hinge, or a cracked screen. Just describe the condition honestly using the grading options above and you'll get a firm cash figure that reflects the actual state of your device. Being upfront about any faults helps us confirm your quote quickly once the laptop arrives.
03 Should I wipe my data or remove the SSD before shipping?
We recommend backing up any personal files or game saves to an external drive or the cloud, then signing out of your Windows and Microsoft accounts before you pack the laptop. You do not need to remove the M.2 SSD yourself — our team performs certified data sanitization on every drive we receive. You can read exactly how we handle this on our data erasure protocols page.
04 Did you know you can trade in your MAINGEAR ELEMENT for cash?
Many sellers don't realize this is an option — because MAINGEAR is a boutique brand, few buyback sites even quote it, so owners often assume their only choice is a risky marketplace listing. We take a different approach: our trade-in service gives you a direct cash offer, a free prepaid shipping label, and payment once your laptop is inspected, with no listing fees, no buyer haggling, and no meetups. It's a straightforward way to turn your used ELEMENT into cash. Because the graphics card is the single biggest driver of value, an ELEMENT 3 with its RTX 2070 Super will typically fetch more than an ELEMENT 2 with an RTX 2060. If you want more background first, our guide on where and how to sell a gaming laptop is a helpful read, and you can start a quote any time on our sell your gaming laptop page.
05 How does the process work and when do I get paid?
Once you accept your quote, we email you a free, insured prepaid shipping label. Pack the laptop, drop it off, and once it reaches our lab our team inspects and tests it. After that check is complete, payment is typically issued within two business days by your choice of PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, or a mailed paper check. You can see the full step-by-step flow on our how it works page, or reach out through our contact page if you have questions before shipping.