Enermax deserves credit for trying something new in regards to the ETS-T50 AXE ARGB and its extra features, like Air Guide and the rotatable grill. The ability to more efficiently direct heat towards the rear exhaust fan in the case is a nice touch and something new, even if a bit gimmicky. That said, the biggest surprise was the overall build quality, which is exceptional from fit and finish to the mounting hardware. The white coating used had no nicks or marks, none of the fins were bent, and all the little details were incredibly well thought out, such as mounting the cooler, an incredibly easy process due to the simplified mounting hardware. All of this makes the cooler great for first-time builders. It is also worth noting that there were also no issues in regards to memory or graphics card clearance, which is nice to see.

In regards to the ARGB lighting, it was easy to set up as Enermax made the conscious decision to go with motherboard software support and eliminate the typical wire mess that comes with in-line controllers and various extras. Getting the ARGB lighting working on the ET-T50 AXE is thus as simple as plugging it into the designated 5-volt motherboard header. That said, while the ARGB lighting is well done, it won't appeal to everyone.

In terms of cooling performance, this latest offering from Enermax falls a bit behind in regards to price to performance. At $60, it competes with the stellar Scythe Fuma 2, which utterly dominates it when it comes to pure cooling while being 5 dBA quieter when the fans are at maximum RPM. Suffice it to say, overall performance in terms of cooling and noise output is acceptable; they just don't beat out other options on the market at this price range.

The ETS-T50 AXE ARGB would make more sense if it were priced closer to $50. At that price, its performance per dollar gets a much-needed boost, putting it in line with the ID-Cooling SE 224 RGB, which outperforms it by the tiniest of margins. Still, in the end, pretty lights and fancy coatings do add cost, and it's easy to see that looks and features took priority over performance with this design. That in and of itself is not a deal breaker but, rather, something users need to be mindful of.

Overall, the Enermax ETS-T50 AXE ARGB is a good-looking air cooler that offers acceptable noise levels and cooling performance while delivering mess-free ARGB lighting and numerous other features.