The official Vinga website allows you to explore a diverse range of devices sold under this brand. Mice, TVs, media players, UPS – this is just the beginning of the list. However, in this material, we will focus on computer components – the main specialization of our portal.

The Vinga Black Widow case has inherited features from some popular models from well-known brands, which can already be considered an advantage. But no matter how loud the name "Black Widow" may hint at some intricate trap...

With a price tag of $90, the novelty is designed for building a computer with powerful components. Let's see if they can fit inside and if the necessary conditions are provided to ensure their proper temperature regime.

Specification

Packaging and Delivery Set

The Vinga Black Widow case comes in a simple cardboard box featuring an image of the device and a brief specification.

Inside the packaging, you can find the following necessary and useful components:

• a set of screws and standoffs for motherboard installation;
• a set of screws for securing the power supply and drives;
• blanks for front ports;
• cable ties.

There was no usual user manual in the box. Apparently, everything is so obvious that it simply isn't necessary.

Appearance

"Something familiar," was the first thought that flashed upon a quick glance at the novelty. Yes, it somewhat resembles the Fractal Design Define S Window, but there are actually quite a few differences. Similarities include a solid front panel with decorative brushing and ventilation holes on the sides. However, here they are not along the entire length, but only at the level of the front propellers.

An advantage of the Vinga Black Widow over the pedigreed Swede is the presence of front doors with sound insulation, behind which are two 5.25-inch bays. There is also a ventilation grille covering the mounting locations for a pair of 140- or 120-mm propellers. The lower one will cool the hard drives located in the trays. There are no pre-installed fans here – their purchase falls on the user's shoulders and wallet. However, this allows for selecting solutions that best meet individual requirements.

The plastic grille is equipped with a synthetic dust filter with softening rubber pads - everything you need is in place. Nearby is the manufacturer's name - the inscription "VINGA" can be found on the front part of the plastic leg.

Behind the doors are also two fan speed switches. Each has three positions: 12 V power supply (upper), off (middle), and 5 V power supply (lower). Up to five fans can be connected to them, allowing for very flexible separate cooling with the ability to completely turn off additional fans under low loads. However, not all fans can operate at an input voltage of 5 V, which should be considered when selecting them.

The interface connectors are located on the top panel of the Vinga Black Widow, providing convenient access to them. There are four USB ports (a pair of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0), as well as two audio jacks and a power button. A pleasant bonus is the presence of a card reader, which can communicate with the most common memory cards in SD and microSD formats. Thanks to this, constant searches for an adapter can now be forgotten. However, the data transfer speed here is limited by the bandwidth of the internal USB 2.0 interface, to which the reader is connected - up to 480 Mbps.

To prevent the connectors from becoming dust accumulation points, a number of plugs are included. Undoubtedly, their practicality will depend on the degree of use of the front panel interfaces. However, it is already pleasing that the manufacturer offers a solution to the dust problem.

The reset button is gradually disappearing from the front panels of cases, and this novelty also follows this trend. However, both indicators are in place, and their brightness is quite comfortable for working in a dark room.

Looking at the top panel without parallels with the Define S is simply impossible. However, instead of three soundproof plugs, there is only one, under which are also hidden mounting places for fans.

Its place can be taken by a metal mesh filter, which is attached to the case with magnets - a simple and reliable way of fixation.

The bottom of the "black widow" is already unique. The legs are made of plastic, and to protect the surface from scratches, they are carefully equipped with soft pads in the corners.

The latter are made of rubber and have a height of 2 mm. Under them are hidden screws, with which the legs are attached to the chassis of the case. There is also a dust filter - a friend and brother of the power supply.

The rear panel is a place for installing another fan, this time only 120 mm, the height of which can be adjusted in a fairly wide range. Below are seven expansion slots with reusable perforated plugs and a mounting place for the PSU.

The side panels are represented by rather thick (0.9 mm) steel sheets without windows or perforations, but with stiffening ribs and soundproof material. They are installed in the traditional way - by sliding to the front of the case. For fixation, screws with knurled heads are provided. 

Internal Structure

Looking at the internal layout of the Vinga Black Widow, associations with the Swede almost do not arise. In particular, there is also no side rack for drives here, but a tunnel has appeared at the bottom of the case.

It provides a mounting place for a long power supply (equipped with elements for vibration absorption) and a pair of 3.5" drives. The first can reach an impressive length of 232 mm, but given the need for additional space for output cables, we would advise limiting to 190 mm models.

For hard drives, there are special plastic trays with tool-free mounting, and their fixation in the case is accompanied by a light click. In addition, with the help of screws, 2.5" drives can also be placed here.

The mounting place for the SSD drive is behind the motherboard tray, where it is attached using a tray. As you can see, all the trays for drives are white, providing a pleasant contrast to the eye. But, again, we've seen this somewhere before.

Two more 2.5" SSDs / HDDs will find shelter directly on the tray, near the front panel. In total, there are 5 mounting places for drives - enough for most users, but if you want to reward a RAID array of four 3.5" hard drives, you will need to look for another solution.

The left part of the mounting for 5.25" devices is very short (by the way, it is removable), so for reliable fixation, it is better to additionally use screws on the right side. There are disposable plugs here, which will have to be carefully broken out during installation.

As with the front panel, a pair of 140 mm or 120 mm fans can be installed under the top wall of the case. However, the installation of a radiator may be hindered by the proximity of the motherboard - the distance between them is only 25 mm. In the case of the front wall, such a restriction is absent.

Overall, we liked the case layout and build quality. The metal surfaces have a practical matte finish, and the plastic is not easy to stain. No rattling or shaking was observed during operation.

The length of the graphics card is actually limited by the dimensions of the case itself at 415 mm. In the case of using a front fan, the allowable value will be reduced to 387 mm. The owner will also be able to set up an air CPU cooler with a height of up to an impressive 180 mm, while the presence of a hole in the case tray will eliminate the need to dismantle the system board during this procedure. Aesthetes have nothing to worry about with wires - the case has enough space for their hidden laying.

The sufficient length of internal cables facilitates convenient connection of devices and connectors.

Assembling the system inside the Vinga Black Widow should not cause any difficulties, even despite the absence of a complete manual, although its presence would not hurt for inexperienced users. The case structure itself is distinguished by good rigidity, high-quality fitting of parts, as well as the absence of gaps, sharp edges, and rattling during operation.

Testing

We tested the case in two modes. The first, "2 fan", involves installing a pair of case fans: Noctua NF-F12 PWM (1500 RPM) on the top front panel and Noctua NF-S12A FLX (1200 RPM) on the rear. In the second mode, "no fan", the efficiency of the case out of the box, without additional fans, is reflected. In both cases, a sound-absorbing plug was installed on the top panel.

Without fans, this Vinga Black Widow case is difficult to recommend for powerful components. The temperature of the graphics card does not exceed permissible limits, but it noticeably increases. However, the processor's heating when using a cooler with a low rotation speed generally reaches values at which throttling occurs.

But as soon as you equip the novelty with a pair of fans, it immediately transforms into a comfortable haven for powerful components, demonstrating low temperature readings under full and partial load.

This leads to the following conclusion: the fact that the manufacturer did not install fans does not mean that you can safely do without them during assembly, as this will result in increased component heating and increased noise levels. However, in this case, the buyer has the opportunity to choose the appropriate models themselves, without harming their ears and wallet.

A few more words about sound insulation. If the fans installed inside the case are very quiet, thanks to noise absorption, they will be almost inaudible. However, if the noise level is medium or higher, then the insulation is not as effective - the sound changes its character, but is only slightly muffled.

Conclusions

We won't hide it: before getting acquainted with the Vinga Black Widow case, we were somewhat skeptical about the creation of a brand that was little known to us. After all, when creating such devices, you can save a lot on numerous small details, which manufacturers usually do (often even very renowned ones). But the "black widow" shattered this stereotype completely.

In many positive aspects, it resembles creations from Fractal Design, but the Vinga Black Widow has plenty of originality. Sound-absorbing elements, anti-vibration components, and dust filters are located where they are really needed - the most pleasant little things characteristic of truly high-quality solutions. It is also worth adding the presence of two very simple, but at the same time useful and convenient fan speed controllers and a card reader (although it is connected via USB 2.0).

The Vinga Black Widow can easily accommodate long graphics cards and large CPU coolers, allowing you to build a very productive system inside. However, in this case, it is essential to ensure the installation of additional fans. As testing has shown, even a pair of 120mm solutions is enough to organize active circulation and ensure good temperature readings.

Advantages:

• attractive design with practical materials;
• good build quality and structural rigidity;
• ability to install long graphics cards and tall CPU coolers;
• ability to install up to five fans and adjust their rotation speed (a pair of separate channels with 3 fixed modes);
• availability of dust filters, as well as vibration and noise-absorbing materials;
• availability of a pair of bays for 5.25" devices;
• availability of sufficient space for hidden cable management;
• SD / microSD card reader on the front panel;
• a complete set of plugs to prevent dust accumulation on the front panel.

Features:

• possibility to install only two 3.5" drives;
• card reader connection via USB 2.0.

Author: Oles Paholok 
Translation: Yuriy Koval

We express our gratitude to ASUS, Intel, Noctua, Sea Sonic Electronics, and TwinMOS Technologies for providing equipment for the test bench.