Introduction

I would like to thank Viako for supplying the review sample.

Viako may not be a big name in the EU or US, but apparently the brand is quite popular in Asia. I myself have never heard of it before this review, so I was quite eager to get my hands on their product. Unlike most case manufacturers, Viako does not only offer ITX cases in different sizes and colors, but also offers them as a barebone or full system. Their Fusion based system which we have on the test bench today ships with a mainboard from Gaia along with a b/g/n wireless card using dual antennas.


The case is called ML-55, which stands for "Mini Letter" and 55 mm in height. Due to the compact dimension the chassis does not have an optical drive slot. For those who want an even thinner case, the ML-40 would be the best choice, while the ML-80 can also hold a slimeline optical drive.


Important note:
Some of the specifications above are based on the mainboard used as part of the offered barebone system. Due to the fact, that it is a traditional ITX board, the specifications may be different if Viako decides to switch models or manufacturers.
The MI-E350 in this review is from Giada. The specification can be found here.

Packaging

In terms of marketing, Viako has done quite a good job. Their compact cases with the name "Mini Letter" ships in a brown cardboard box which looks like a letter. This is a simple but effective way to transport that image to the outside.


Since we have received their barebone kit and not the mere "power kit", the extras are packed separately on top of the actual unit.

Contents

You will receive a wireless antenna along with a limited set of screws, which are enough to install a hard drive within the system. Since the MI-E350 board from Gaida does not offer wireless functionality, Viako has gone ahead and added it, thus making the antenna a necessary accessory. You will also receive the normal, unaltered mainboard CD and manual. This is good, as you will always know what is within the chassis, simply by looking things up in the manual. Last, but not least, there is a simple frame, which is intended to hold your hard drive.


Viako also includes a 120W power supply, which is fairly compact for the given capacity. It is manufactured by "Li Chin International". I have never heard of the company, but the unit works and does not emit any electrical noises during use.