On the performance front iBUYPOWER has much to be happy about when it comes to the AW4 360 mm AIO. For their first enthusiast focused all-in-one liquid CPU cooler it performs exceptionally well. On the AM5 test bench it managed to climb into 5th place or 253.1 watts of total heat load it was able to dissipate while avoiding thermal throttling. Meanwhile in the standard TDP tests it typically landed in the top 5 in both the max RPM and in the noise normalized tests. On the Intel LGA1700 test bench it does fall back a bit, but it still placed in the top 10 (placing 7th), handling a max heat load of 347 watts. During more realistic scenarios it was also quite good, regularly beating the majority of more affordable performance focused liquid coolers. In the higher TDP test it typically was just 1-2°C behind the best performing options. So while it did not steal the performance crown in any tests it still delivered fantastic results, proving iBUYPOWER is cognizant of what they need to offer in order to gain a foothold in the cut-throat liquid cooler market.

The hybrid fan design proved adequate, but this is where the majority of improvements can likely be made. At lower RPM levels the cooler remains fairly quiet but once you start to push the fans to 50% PWM and beyond, the noise level starts to ramp up quite quickly. Thankfully it is not the loudest cooler I have tested, and instead can be considered par the course really for where most liquid coolers end up. Still, a different design that scales better in terms of noise output while delivering similar performance would improve the AW4's appeal.

When it comes to build quality, I would say it is above average. But while the mounting hardware is easy enough to work with I am not a fan of using the AMD plastic motherboard brackets. They offer two points of contact vs the four used on Intel. While again it is easy to work with it's not a top shelf design and that lack of extra contact points does influence performance on many coolers. Furthermore, I find the three-year warranty, while acceptable, a bit lacking compared to the better warranties offered by some of the competition. Yet when you take into account the performance on offer and the $99.99 MSRP, I can at least consider the entire package fairly well-balanced. The only thing I would have liked to see here are daisy-chainable fans to further improve cable management. Other affordable options are now offering this and have been for some time, so it's a missed opportunity on iBUYPOWER's part.

In terms of visual design the unit does not stand out much. The radiator is plain and so are the fans which is fine considering the price. However, the pump design, while simple, does help keep it from being too boring. Its vortex design with chimera logo illuminated by ARGB LEDs gives it a nice visual pop, but it's the only element that has any real liveliness. What that means is if you dislike ARGB lighting you have an all black AIO with a pump that has a weird top that just isn't as attractive when compared to other all black or higher contrast but simplistic designs. On the flip side, if you do like ARGB you get a nice visual element without being excessive. Beyond that, if the 360 mm version is too big for your particular build, but you happen to like what iBUYPOWER has to offer here then a 240 mm option is also available for $79.99. Of course the smaller radiator does mean lower performance, so keep that in mind.

In conclusion, the iBUYPOWER AW4 360 mm all-in-one liquid cooler is a solid all-around performer that for a first release is better than I expected. It provided a good level of performance for the price. However, competition is fierce, and it doesn't do enough to distinguish itself from other higher performance, ultra affordable options. So while it doesn't quite earn a recommendation, it is still a good offering. Thus, if you like the design then it is absolutely worth considering