Scythe's Ninja 4 is a solid cooler that delivers acceptable performance compared to the similarly priced competition. The cooler's versatile fan-mounting system allows for some creative ways to improve compatibility, which makes it readily adaptable to the different cooling designs inside niche cases. Another big plus in favor of the Ninja 4 is the fact that it is silent. With the fan at 100% RPM, it hit just 43 decibels. If you think that's loud (it's not), you can use a switch to limit the fan's RPM to 1150 or 800 for that ultra-quiet experience. The MSRP may be $55, but it can be found in retail for about $7 less, which makes it a more competitive offering in that crowded market segment. One thing many users will be pleased with is the fact that the Ninja 4 is easy to install. For those seeking even greater performance, Scythe includes an additional set of fan clips for a dual-fan configuration. Overall, there is a lot to like about the Ninja 4.

A few things do keep it from being exceptional. First, the cooler is very large for the performance it offers compared to the competition. Granted, it's a trade-off in favor of lower noise levels. Another issue with its size is that the fan and heatsink loom over the four DIMM slots in the default configuration. So if you have taller memory modules, stay clear of the cooler. The only other issues I have with the Scythe Ninja 4 are its two year warranty and lack of protection while inside its packaging. Many other brands are easily pulling ahead in those regards.

Overall, I like the Scythe Ninja 4: It's an interesting cooler with a bit of flair in a crowded market segment. While it does perform well, the increasing number of memory kits using tall heatspreaders make it a tough sell. Still, it is a versatile cooler in its own right that should be a perfect fit for many mid-range systems where solid performance and quiet computing are needed.

The Scythe Ninja 4 is a versatile monolithic single tower that performs well while being nearly silent, making it a solid option for mid-range systems.