If you are creating any device in a field where there are already a number of specialists with vast experience, then imitation (not to be confused with plagiarism) is unavoidable. And whom to imitate? Correct - those who are already doing well!

Therefore, there is nothing surprising in seeing some well-known features of the Vinga Black Fish case reminiscent of the Fractal Design Define S. But there are indeed plenty of differences, and some of them are in favor of the tested device. This is quite important since the cost of these cases is almost the same, around $110-115.

Specification

Packaging and Delivery Set

In this case, the device description on the box matches that on the official website (although in one point it is far from reality). The handles are also in place. The case itself is placed in cellophane, and polystyrene blocks are used for safe transportation.

The included screws, washers, and stands are complemented by disposable ties, a speaker, and interface plugs. The latter will be very handy here.

Appearance

Although the front panel of the Vinga Black Fish vaguely resembles brushed metal, it is merely stylized plastic. But what is more important: the material or its appearance? We have no complaints about the latter. A slight asymmetry is introduced by the line on the right and a small recess that allows you to open the front magnetic door. On the reverse side, there is sound-absorbing material, and it covers two 5.25" device bays and as many fan slots. To mount and dismount the fans, you will have to get under the side panel, but for cleaning the front dust filter, it is enough to open the door and press the tab. However, cool air will hardly penetrate here, at least with the door closed.

The slider on the right is designed to adjust the rotation speed of the installed fans. There are three positions of the switch: high speed (1250 RPM in the case of the included fans), low speed (750 RPM), and off (middle position).

On both sides and almost the entire height of the front panel, cool air is drawn in through openings with a fine metal mesh. Given the solid front panel, this is perhaps the best option that could be devised. Next to it is a charming design element - a strip with blue (not without a slight gradient) LED lighting. It is unlikely to disturb your vision even in the dark, but if desired, it can be turned off with a single press of a button on the interface panel.

A few more words about the practicality of the materials used. Despite the complete absence of glossy surfaces, plastic and metal excellently collect fingerprints. Fortunately, they are noticeable only at certain angles, and removing them is not difficult.

Interfaces are located on the top edge of the front panel. The usual set of four USB ports (two each of versions 3.0 and 2.0), audio jacks, power and reset buttons, and a red HDD indicator is complemented by a card reader for full-size SD and small TF cards (compatible with microSD). However, even if you have the fastest memory card, its potential will be limited by the USB 2.0 port's bandwidth (up to 480 Mbps).

The wide case (237 mm) allows for the installation of a rear fan with a diameter of up to 140 mm. But in practice, a 120-mm fan with a sleeve bearing is chosen as the installed solution. By the way, not without a hint of Fractal Design - the black and white combination is present.

Since this is a Full Tower case, we have eight expansion slots with perforated reusable covers. Larger cutouts are provided on the right and left of them, including for the space behind the tray. And at the very bottom... that's right, the usual place for the power supply unit.

The bottom of the novelty inspires boredom - the only noteworthy thing here is the removable dust filter with dimensions of 110 x 134 mm. That is, a source with a 135-mm fan will not be able to capture air with the entire useful area. And we advise against purchasing solutions longer than 160 mm - you probably wouldn't want to drill perforation yourself, would you?

The height of the 20-mm feet should be enough to capture cool air. Rubber pads to protect the surface on which the system unit will be placed are also in place.

The most attentive readers have probably noticed when reviewing the back part that there is no place for a radiator at the top of the case. And the top panel itself is made of a solid steel sheet, without any mounting points or perforations.

The rigidity of the Vinga Black Fish definitely deserves praise. The use of thick steel is felt - the chassis, tray, and other internal components are made from sheets over 1 mm thick. And only the side panels are satisfied with a thickness of 0.77 mm, which is still a good indicator.

Both side panels are made of solid sheets, without any perforation. This is not surprising - the emphasis here is clearly on sound insulation, as evidenced by the presence of appropriate materials. The side panels are attached with shaped screws and are removed by the usual sliding towards the back.

Internal Structure

The internal layout once again revived memories of a pedigreed Swede in our minds. Similar to the Fractal Design Define S, there is no tunnel at the bottom. That is, the power supply will be in full view, requiring more careful selection. And the mounting of drives is similarly done on the plane of the tray, rather than in the usual basket at the bottom.

In other respects, there are more differences - let's not forget that our fish is large. That is, this is a Full Tower case, while the Fractal Design Define S is a simple mortal Middle Tower. Although in practice, the difference is only a few centimeters.

At the top of the chassis front, there is space for two 5.25" devices. But if you don't use them, you can remove this cage if desired. Below are a pair of 120-mm fans, completely similar to the rear solution. And for 2.5" format drives, three brackets are prepared on the tray. Their removal and attachment are done only with a shaped screwdriver, which is inconvenient.

Larger hard drives are fixed in plastic mounts located on the reverse side, under the right side panel. And again, a screwdriver is indispensable.

The lower SSD cage limits the PSU length to 310 mm, but we already mentioned why it is best to prefer relatively compact models. To prevent vibrations from the source from being transmitted to the case, there are four round pads at the bottom, and another cushioning element is placed on the wall. There is also an opening for output cables, the location of which speaks in favor of small sources.

The tray boasts a cutout for convenient replacement of a large CPU cooler, opposite which the rear fan is located with the possibility of slight height adjustment.

Additionally, you can set up a CPU cooler here, which you will find in online stores - its height can be 180 mm. And fans of beautiful images and stable FPS can count on support for video cards up to 430 mm in length. The large dimensions of the case ensure compatibility even with a pair or trio of graphics accelerators if needed.

The cables coming from the front panel are long, so there should be no problems with connection. The length of the fan wires is also quite sufficient.

Testing

The "All System Load" chart shows the heating of components after 30 minutes of 3DMark Fire Strike in Ultra mode (4K resolution). The "System Component Burn" mode demonstrates temperatures under load with AIDA64 applications (Stress CPU and FPU) and MSI Kombustor for 15 minutes. The case was tested with three installed fans in two operating modes: high speed (1250 RPM) and reduced rotation frequency (750 RPM).

As can be seen, the advantage of free space inside is negated by solid panels and weak overall airflow, but this is compensated by the trio of fans. Therefore, the components here will not suffocate, although increased heating compared to more ventilated systems is to be expected.

We liked the presence of two fan operation modes. Even at nominal speed, they won't disturb the owner's hearing. And at reduced rotation frequency, an increase in the temperature of the main components by a couple of degrees can be expected with almost silent operation.

Conclusions

Although the Vinga Black Fish case in many ways resembles a more well-known solution, it has enough originality. Firstly, it is a device in the not-so-popular Full Tower format. And that's a shame - for "hot" components, such giants are just right. Secondly, the strict front panel hides a couple of still relevant 5.25" bays and a fan speed mode switch. Its upper edge provides connection for SD and microSD memory cards without any intermediaries. However, the transfer speed will be limited by the USB 2.0 interface bandwidth.

Other noteworthy features include the presence of sound insulation, which, together with three 120mm fans, is designed to provide a golden mean between acoustic comfort and component heating. We liked the use of thick steel sheets in the chassis construction, which is reflected in the final weight - about 11 kg. However, it is evident that savings were made on the fans - we have simple 120mm "sleeve" solutions. Although 140mm fans could easily fit in their place. A pleasant finishing touch to the design is the blue LED strip, which can always be turned off if desired.

Overall, the Vinga Black Fish is an interesting case that deserves the buyer's attention. But is it worth its $110-115? We await your opinion in the comments.

Advantages:

• strict recognizable design with a blue LED strip and magnetic front doors;
• high build quality;
• support for 430mm graphics cards and 180mm CPU coolers;
• support for liquid cooling radiators up to 280mm in length;
• three pre-installed 120mm fans;
• ability to control fan speed;
• card reader on the front panel;
• support for three 3.5" and the same number of 2.5" drives;
• two bays for 5.25" devices;
• removable brackets for drives and 5.25" devices;
• dust filter at the front and bottom, anti-vibration pads under the PSU, and soft feet;
• good cable management capabilities;
• presence of sound insulation on the front panel and sides.

Features:

• fans with sleeve bearings;
• it is advisable to use a PSU with a length of 140-160mm.

Author: Oles Paholok
Translation: Liliya Masyuk 

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