Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
A legacy recommendation coasting on a decade-old reputation, outclassed in its own budget segment by the Thermalright dual-towers the specialists now crown. Buy the Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Peerless Assassin 120 SE instead.
Consolidated from 40 cited sources across 34 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 1 enthusiastic source
- 9 positive sources
- 2 mixed sources
3 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.
A legacy recommendation coasting on a decade-old reputation, still suggested in beginner build threads on name alone. The expert recommendation has moved decisively to Thermalright's dual-towers, which the retrieved coverage shows outperforming entire AIO classes. Buy the Phantom Spirit 120 SE or Peerless Assassin 120 SE instead.
Flagged 10 September 2026
2 earlier flags predate the point where runs began recording their reasoning, so their grounds were never written down.
Pros & cons
- ✓ Still a functional, reliable air cooler
- ✓ Nothing mechanically wrong with it
- ✗ Outclassed in its own budget segment by Thermalright's dual-towers
- ✗ Recommended in beginner threads on reputation alone rather than current performance
- ✗ Decisively beaten on cooling and noise by the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE for roughly the same money
- ✗ Coasting on a decade-old reputation
- ✗ Simply outclassed at its own price point
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
Evidence 3 articles and 37 video reviews
9 positive sources
Nesse vídeo nós fizemos a análise do Cooler Master Hyper 212, que o melhor air cooler custo benefício do mercado, aqui você confere seu unboxing, itens inclusos, como instalar o RGB nesse modelo e testes de temperaturas.Watch T
Sebastian Peak and Patrick Norton talk about Cooler Master's excellent Hyper 212 Black Edition coolers, which feature Direct Contact Technology and a 2-year warranty.Watch M Machines & More Review unit from Cooler Master Machines & More · 45.9K subscribers · Nov 2023
This version is called the Hyper 212 Black, and it is 152 mm. And boy, not only does it fit the NR200P, it's actually an awesome cooler in its own right. But, really, really, I think this is going to be the game changer cooler for the NR200P.Watch S
This is my 3rd Annual How to install the Hyper 212 Black Edition. I have this cooler in 3 of my gaming PC's and I couldn't be happier. The price per performance is worth the upgrade in my opinionWatch M
The COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 EVO 2 is new, no wait it's from the past, but how can it be here now? The COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 EVO 2 CPU air cooler has been a legend for over a decade. With its simple design but great performance.Watch G
We are using this fan with the Intel i5-9600K, which does not come with a fan. This fan seems to be the best bang for the buck and it looks great too! We're installing it on a Gigabyte Z390 UD motherboard.Watch G
I am using this fan with the Intel i7-4790K, which came with Intel box fan. This fan seems to be the best bang for the buck and it looks great too!Watch T Tech Visionary2 Tech Visionary2 · 1K subscribers · Jul 2026
But for a standard gaming PC or workstation that needs to stay cool under normal load, this machine is a workhorse. It's reliable. It looks elegant. And she does the job without any unnecessary dramaWatch C
Today, I'm taking a look at the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black RGB, and it's a great value for the price! I outline how to install it on the Intel LGA-1151 Socket, as well as tag on some of my thoughts on how it's improved my CPU temps and made my life with video editing a whole lot less frustrating and more efficient.Watch
2 mixed sources
I bought the Evo 212 black edition for 33.99 back in 2019 from amazon. It was the first cooler I ever bought for a PC and it cooled both my FX chip and my current Ryzen 3800X. I was getting worried about it's performance with the Ryzen chip even with dual cooling fans so I've since moved to liquid AIO cooling but, I still have the trusty 212 in the closet in case I need it for anything.Watch P
Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB and Hyper 212 HALO BLACK aren't bad whatsoever, but not intended for high-end CPUs.Watch
28 stance not read sources
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo White is an ideal choice of CPU cooler for those on a budget. If you've equipped your system with a sensible four to eight-core CPU with a TDP of 105W or less, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X , it has enough cooling power to keep these mid-range chips in check while remaining quiet and costing very little.Read G
We're revisiting and benchmarking the Cooler Master Hyper 212, specifically using the Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition (a more recent, but still many-years-old successor) to see how the 212 does against more modern coolers. Newer alternatives include the Deepcool AK400, Thermalright Assassin Spirit 120, and Vetroo V5.Watch T
There are two variants of the Cooler Master Hyper 212 3DHP, the main variant with ARGB LED-illuminated fan, and the Hyper 212 3DHP Black, which comes with a black, non-illuminated fan. Besides lighting, both variants offer identical specs. The cooler measures 133 mm x 86 mm x 158 mm (WxDxH), the company didn't disclose weight.Read H
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 is an iconic CPU cooler that has been around for more than 10 years.Watch K
super in depth and just what I was looking for as I wait for my 212 black edition to arrive. Even better because I was worried about ram clearance but luckily we have the same RAM. Love the video. I definitely suggest getting a new mic though.Watch H
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO might be the best CPU cooler from the last 10 years and its certainly the most popular. So let's fast forward to 2021 for a new Hyper 212 EVO review with new heatsink comparisons, temperature and noise testing, benchmarks and some installation instructions you absolutely need to know about. But this might still be the best budget CPU cooler on the planet!Watch H
Hello, "HardwareCanucks": How does this compare w/ the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO cooler? I've got that 1, & I wondered about any difference between these 2? Thanks for a GREAT! review. Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!Watch G
Today I'll be looking at what could be the BEST Budget CPU cooler of 2019, but it raises the question: has the Cooler Master Hyper 212 brand been taken too far? I dive into performance figures and pricing to see if this is really the CPU Cooler for your next build!Watch O
Watch as we unbox, install, and test the cooler master hyper 212 Black cooler on an AMD processor. See how this cooler performs in keeping your CPU cool and efficient!Watch G
This guy also applies to range of other Cooler Master Hyper 212 Coolers as well. This guide should also apply to AM5 when it launches as AMD has confirmed that mounting for AM5 will be the same.Watch G
I'm confused what to pick cooler master hyper 212 black edition, be quiet dark rock slim or cryorig h7.Watch G
This guide also applies to range of other Cooler Master Hyper 212 Coolers as well.Watch E
If you have to choose between "ARCTIC Freezer A30" & "Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO" .Watch D
Check out our review of the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo White!Watch K
I want to add a second fan here, so to improve the cooling on my CPU. To do this, you need the following items. Of course, you need a 120 mm PWM fan. So, here I got the Corsair ML120 LED Elite fan. And also, you need the two brackets that come with the accessory box of the Cooler Master Hyper 212.Watch B
The install guide will show you how to replace a socket 775 [stock] cooler with the Hyper 212 Black edition without removing the motherboard from the case.Watch H
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO looks almost physically identical to the Hyper 212 Plus with a few subtle but very effective changes. With a new wide range PWM fan and an updated Continuous Direct Contact ™ surface design, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO takes budget CPU cooling performance to another level.Watch P
Are the Cooler Master Hyper 212 LED and Hyper 212 EVO still good choices in 2020? See how these budget CPU coolers stack up!Watch D
Today I check out the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO after originally purchasing one of these coolers in 2013.Watch B
Now, I'm going to be installing this on an AMD AM5 motherboard, but the installation between Intel and AMD is very, very similar, so you can follow along. Now, chances are you might be installing this on a brand new build, which means you won't have to clean the thermal paste off. However, if you are just replacing an old cooler with this one, you're going to have to go ahead and remove your old cWatch T
I installed a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO onto an ASUS Z87-PRO LGA 1150 motherboard to keep my Xeon 1230 V3 nice and cool. Here are the steps you will need to follow to do the installation. The steps are very similar for other platform installations such as Intel 1155, 2011 and AMD FM2 / FM1 / AM3+.Watch T
Join us as we explore its innovative design, featuring the MF120 Halo² fan and dual-loop ARGB lighting.Watch W
This is Rich from Wellstech and today we are looking at the updated version of the legendary Cooler Master Hyper 212 3D heat pipes. Should you buy it? Let's find out, shall we? Okay, so we've got another cooler here.Watch B
We are going to be doing the benchmark using this new CPU fan, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum V3. So again, as I said, we're going to be using the same settings and uh yeah, let's go ahead and start the Bench Mark mode. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.Watch L
Check out this unboxing and installation of the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 CPU Cooler On the AMD 5600g and B550 Motherboard. See how easy it is to set up this high-performance cooler for your PC!Watch A
Today will be reviewing the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition and see on how well it performs and see If this Cooler can save my CPU from hitting 95C.Watch A
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo White is an excellent successor to the original Hyper 212 line that boasts good CPU cooling performance with nice aesthetics at a reasonable price.Watch T
This cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo Review video shows a close up view of the cooler and I give my thoughts on it in terms of performance and value.Watch
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #24 of 24 on our CPU coolers tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 40 cited sources across 34 outlets.
None of the 12 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Outclassed in its own budget segment by Thermalright's dual-towers. Recommended in beginner threads on reputation alone rather than current performance. Decisively beaten on cooling and noise by the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE for roughly the same money. Coasting on a decade-old reputation. Simply outclassed at its own price point.
On our cpu coolers board, Noctua NH-D15 (original, chromax.black) ranks #17 (D tier) ahead of Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition at #24 (F tier). Noctua NH-D15 (original, chromax.black): Superseded by the G2 but still sold and still recommended. A decade of proven field reliability and continued Noctua support keep it ahead of every AIO here.
Ranked nearby in CPU Coolers
S tier #1 Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360
S tier #2 Noctua NH-D15 G2
A tier #3 Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
A tier #4 Noctua NL-LC1-36
B tier #5 Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
D tier #19 MSI MAG CoreLiquid A13 360
D tier #20 be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3
D tier #21 1 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. DeepCool Assassin IV
F tier #22 4 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Corsair iCUE Link Titan 360 RX LCD
F tier #23 4 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.