The ID-Cooling IS-60 EVO ARGB is not a great cooler compared to some of its peers—namely, tower coolers and larger top-flow designs; however, this is due to its niche nature. Its design targets SFF systems where a cooler's height truly matters. As such, while it's not a good option for a full-tower system, it does make perfect sense for more power-optimized SFF or HTPCs. For its size, it delivers solid performance, managing to beat out the CRYORIG C7, C7cu, SilverStone Argon AR11, and Scythe Shuriken 2.

The only cooler that slightly outdoes the IS-60 EVO ARGB in this segment is the Scythe Big Shuriken 3, which offers lower noise and better performance. That said, neither cooler could handle the Intel 8700K when overclocked. As such, it comes down to whether a modest bump in performance and a decent drop in noise are more important to you than ARGB lighting, as the Big Shuriken 3 hits a maximum of 42 dBA vs. the IS-60 EVO ARGB at 48 dBA. The noise level of the IS-60 EVO ARGB is its biggest weakness; at maximum RPM, it is loud, but at least not obnoxiously so, which is reserved for coolers pushing past the 50 dBA mark. Regardless, it becomes a battle of performance vs. aesthetics as both coolers are similarly priced and will fit different needs or wants.

In regards to build quality, the IS-60 EVO ARGB is quite good with no real issues to speak of, and the mounting hardware is extremely easy to work with even though I wish they would have opted for a backplate over simple thumbscrews. Regardless, it's a very easy cooler to install, so first-time builders can at least feel at ease in that sense. Where things tend to fall apart is overall socket clearance. The other SFF coolers offer perfect memory and GPU clearance, while the IS-60 EVO tends to get a bit close. Even if it doesn't conflict with the graphics card, you may encounter issues with M.2 PCIe SSD heatsinks instead. Thankfully, the cooler can be rotated, but if you are unlucky enough, you will be limited to roughly 40 mm for memory height and may encounter clearance issues with the motherboard heatsinks.

While ARGB lighting remains a divisive feature, ID-Cooling provides it. Those not interested can simply leave it off or pick numerous other options on the market. With that said, the only shortcoming with the IS-60 EVO ARGB is the lack of an ARGB extension cable. Not all motherboards have the 3-pin ARGB header at the top of the board. My MSI board is a good example, with the header in the bottom-right corner. An extension cable was necessary, and since they don't include one, you would have to order one if your motherboard is laid out similarly. On top of that, there is no SATA-powered ARGB controller included either—you must have a motherboard with said header or get a generic controller, which again adds further cost.

Overall, the ID-Cooling IS-60 EVO ARGB is a niche cooler that fills its intended role quite well, acting as a solid option that sits between the larger top-flow coolers and smaller SFF offerings while also giving users who want it ARGB lighting.