When it comes to the CRYORIG A40 Ultimate, there is much to like. First, performance with its thicker-than-average radiator allows the A40 Ultimate to nip at the heels of the far more expensive expandable AIO coolers. Overall, it tied the Alphacool Eisbaer 240 and fell just 2% behind the EK Predator 240 and Swiftech H220x2. Its unique design even allows for cooling of other components, such as the motherboard VRM, GPU, or memory, yet clearance is still perfect around the socket. Build quality is good, which is par the course for Asetek-based units these days. When it comes to installation, CRYORIG's Multi-seg mounting hardware makes it extremely easy on the end user. Meanwhile, the 3-year base warranty and 6-year warranty with product registration also offers some peace of mind. In general, the unit offers what I expected it to and performed as it should.

A few aspects can still be improved upon. Number one would be a more competitive price since there are other options that perform similarly but cost less. Next is the fact that the unit is somewhat loud at 100% PWM. Hitting 50 dBA, it's at a point where if it had been any louder, it would have started becoming obnoxious. The airflow fan, while unique and interesting, still feels a bit gimmicky. This was reinforced by the fact that it only lowered motherboard temperatures by 1°C. Then again, Skylake doesn't use much power so that is to be expected. Finally, the pump and fan design just seems rather ugly. It lacks that sleek premium feel of CRYORIG's traditional heatsinks. While by no means a bad design, it just doesn't feel right to me, but that's a personal opinion. When it comes to the airflow fan, its appearance and performance will make it a love-it or hate-it feature. Price-to-performance is also somewhat lacking; however, if it's found on sale, it does become an attractive option.

Overall, I am impressed by what CRYORIG offers with the A40 Ultimate. Nothing feels inherently bad or wrong, my biggest gripe being that the airflow fan doesn't actually seem to do much. Granted, I have no doubt it may prove useful with an overclocked X99 system or in cooling overclocked memory or even the backplate of a high-end GPU. It is a unique feature that sets the CRYORIG option apart from the competition. Still, in the end, it will be up to the end user to decide if it is useful or not. The only other thing that springs to mind is the lack of software control. While I myself find such software unnecessary, some might miss the feature.

If you are in the market for an all-in-one liquid cooler with a unique spin and exceptional performance, the CRYORIG A40 Ultimate is a solid option.