RAIJINTEK PONOS Ultra MS4 Mid-Tower Review – Lots of features, lots of light and yet no real enlightenment

With the ULTRA, Raijintek updates its PONOS series and brings features such as E-ATX support, a glass side panel with hinges and support for large components (40cm GPUs and 23.5cm power supplies) to the mid-range. Read on to find out whether there is a catch or whether the case equipped with four ARGB fans can once again shine in terms of price-performance ratio.

Raijintek is known for its products, which always offer excellent value for money, and has often surprised us in the past with decent quality at a pleasingly low price. With its unusual aluminum cases and the extremely efficient Morpheus GPU cooler, the company has also proven time and again that it can do more than just “good and cheap”. The Ponos series attempts to close the gap between these two categories a little, and the fact that good cases can be produced in this price range was already proven at the end of 2022 with the Silenos MS (Pro). As time is certainly in short supply in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and not just for me, I want to jump straight into the unboxing.

Unboxing

The Ponos comes in a plain cardboard box.

The back is adorned with a list of the available models. The Ponos TG is available in several versions, with glass or steel sides, glass or mesh front and in black or white. We tested the black MS4 version – i.e. with a glass side panel and mesh front.

Unpacked, the MS4 makes a solid first impression.

The front is perforated over a large area and does not stand in the way of proper airflow. The pre-installed ARGB fans can be seen shining through slightly.

Let’s stay directly on the front. This can be pulled off with a firm tug, exposing the fans. There is no need to worry about torn cables, as the front I/O is located at the top of the housing.

There is also a fine-mesh dust filter behind the mesh, but this cannot be easily removed.

The lid is equipped with a magnetic dust filter and this is also where we find the front I/O. With 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type-C, the 3.5mm jack plug and reset and power button, the Ponos has all the important connections. Unfortunately, there is no ARGB controller.

Next, let’s take a look at the main chamber, where another 120mm ARGB fan awaits us. Cool: The glass side panel is equipped with hinges.

The aforementioned hinges in detail:

There is a small fabric flag on the front for easy opening of the side panel. The insert is also magnetic and keeps the side panel closed.

The obligatory power supply cover is equipped with a large “display window” so that you have a direct view of the expensive power supply unit.

Speaking of which: There is also a dust filter in the base for the power supply unit, but this is only accessible when the housing is laid on its side.

I also like the soft foam rubber buffers on which the power supply unit will later rest.

On the other hand, the break-out slot covers are less attractive. Please be extremely careful here if an expansion card is to be retrofitted – the slot covers have to be moved back and forth to break them out and can tear off small components from the mainboard in the process!