Performance Analysis

Despite multiple retests, we were unable to draw out a significant difference in temperature for either the CPU or the GPU between the high and low speed fan settings on the controller. This is a little puzzling since the airflow does actually increase noticeably. If we had to guess, we'd say the front fans are impeded a little too much by the solid front panel and that the closed roof is what keeps the CPU on the warm side. Also, two intakes and one exhaust creates positive pressure, so extra air from the front fans might be being lost through the porous side and bottom.

In the end, the middle-of-the-road results mean that provided your CPU and GPU coolers are halfway decent, you won't be in any danger of overheating with this case. It also means you can safely use the quieter low speed setting without worrying about temperatures going out of control, since it appears to be just as effective.

Conclusion

The £179 price on this case is somewhat misleading, given that this is effectively a bundle of multiple products (case, fans, and controller) rather than one. Now given that the case without RGB extras is set to cost £117 and that the equivalent Riing Plus controller and three 140mm fans cost around £90, the £179 price tag is clearly designed to look like good value. And it is, but only if the products within the bundle are themselves well designed and fairly priced, and it's here that the View 37 RGB starts to come undone. It's also worth noting that even the basic View 37 comes with two blue LED 140mm Riing fans, so the “core” case is closer to the £100 mark.

The Riing Plus controller, to our eyes, is not an elegant solution. It’s bulky, and the number and thickness of the cables also quickly becomes a bit overwhelming. The buttons for controlling things are not exactly ideal since the controller will remain internal, and the PCI bracket only makes them slightly more accessible – good luck remembering which button does what when you’re reaching around to change things. A much better solution would be to integrate the controller, pre-connect the fans, and have the controls built in to the front I/O panel. Yes, this would add cost, but it would also bring excellent cohesion to the chassis, and we don’t think it’s unreasonable for a total price of £180.

Then you have the View 37 chassis itself. Even if you do consider it a £100 case, it can be a bit undermining, failing to display the elegance in design of competitors like NZXT and Phanteks. The lower dust filter, stiff side panel, and lack of Velcro cables ties are evidence of this, and there are other minor niggles elsewhere.

That said, the design is unique, which is saying something in so crowded a market, and the ability to turn your graphics card (for extra cost) and even your radiator and fans to face the large clear side is likely to appeal to those who want to get flashy with their hardware. The flexibility when it comes to storage also impresses.

If you are pursuing a build with heavy RGB illumination and water-cooling (be that AIO or custom) that you want to show off, the View 37 RGB may well be compelling, as it’s strong when it comes to options for showcasing hardware. However, even then we think there are too many drawbacks – to the case, the Riing Plus solution, and the way they’ve been bundled rather than properly integrated – for us to award a recommendation more generally.