iBUYPOWER, a company rooted in the U.S., has carved a niche for itself in the gaming market with its meticulously crafted custom gaming PCs and peripherals. Since its inception in 1999, the company has expanded its offerings to include a diverse array of self-branded products such as desktops, laptops, and gaming accessories. These are built to meet varying performance requirements, appealing to everyone from the casual gamer to the hardcore, competitive player. The brand stands out for its customizable gaming rigs, granting users the freedom to select the specific components they desire. Additionally, their peripherals—keyboards, mice, and headsets—are tailored to blend seamlessly with their gaming systems, ensuring a unified gaming experience.
Diving deeper into the cooling sector, iBUYPOWER encompasses an assortment of products focused on air and liquid cooling solutions. These offerings are designed to not only optimize thermal performance but also to enhance the aesthetic appeal of gaming systems. While many of these cooling products are sourced from other manufacturers, iBUYPOWER is making strides with its own creations, notably the new AW4 360 mm AIO liquid cooler. This review zeroes in on the AW4 AIO, assessing its design elements, cooling proficiency, and overall functionality under the rigorous demands of gaming and intensive computing tasks.
iBUYPOWER AW4 360 ARGB AIO Cooler Specifications
- Type: All-in-One Liquid Cooler
- Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 52 mm (with fan)
- Fans: 3 x 120 mm Hydraulic Bearing Fans, max 2000 RPM
- RGB: Yes, ARGB compatible
- Supported Sockets: Intel: LGA1700 / LGA 115x; AMD: AM5 / AM4
- Warranty: 3 Years
- Price: $99
Packaging & Bundle
The AW4 comes neatly packed in a long, robust cardboard box that reflects the cooler’s elongated dimensions. The box, sporting a black and red theme, features abstract designs and a depiction of the cooler. Inside, the cooler is nestled securely in tailor-made cardboard inserts, offering substantial protection during shipping.
In terms of contents, iBUYPOWER keeps it minimalistic, including only the essentials for getting the AW4 up and running: a basic manual, hardware for mounting, and a cable for powering the trio of fans. However, it’s worth mentioning that there’s no LED controller in the package—you’ll need a compatible motherboard to activate the LED lighting functionality.
The cooler comes with three 120 mm fans, each proudly bearing the iBUYPOWER emblem although their original manufacturer isn’t disclosed. These fans boast an advanced sleeve bearing technology, feature notched blades, and have soft anti-vibration pads along the frame’s periphery. They operate within a relatively narrow speed band, capable of running between 700 to 2000 RPM.
The iBUYPOWER AW4 360 mm AIO Liquid Cooler
Taking a glance at the iBUYPOWER AW4 360 mm cooler reveals a design synonymous with the typical 360 mm AIOs available today. It follows the classic setup of an AIO cooler, comprising a singular radiator, two hoses, and a unified block that combines a copper CPU contact surface with a contained liquid pump. The cooler utilizes black sleeved rubber tubing, which reduces permeation and enhances both its flexibility and aesthetic.
The hefty radiator, stretching 397 mm in length, mandates a case accommodating three 120 mm fans in tandem, plus additional room for the radiator’s dimensions. At 27 mm thick, the radiator reaches a total of 55 mm with its fans, necessitating ample clearance for fitting. Its design adheres to the dual-pass cross-flow standard with fine fins soldered to delicate, oval tubes, devoid of any logos or embellishments.
Center stage is the cooler’s main block, designed specifically to capture attention. It sports a sleek, circular form with a glossy, semi-transparent top adorned with the company’s logo. Beneath this cover, LEDs craft a delightful pseudo-3D effect. The hoses join the block via 90° fittings, and from the block’s side, two cables emerge—one for power and one for the RGB lighting.
At the core of the main block resides a squircle contact plate secured to its base by eight screws. Though not polished to a reflectively smooth finish, it remains adequately flat and smooth. The base comes with a pre-applied thermal paste.
The AW4’s RGB lighting is purely featured atop the main cooling block, offering a subtle yet attractive glow that beautifully syncs with any RGB-compatible components connected to the motherboard’s RGB controller. However, it’s worth noting that the AW4’s lighting feature won’t operate without a compatible RGB controller, which may be a drawback for some users.
