Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Review – Simple And Effective

Unboxing

Another of Cooler Master’s classic has been remastered in the form of Hyper 212 Black – not to be confused with the similarly-named Hyper 212 Black Edition, of which the new model is based on. Like the Hyper 212 Halo Black we previously reviewed, it’s got a refreshed look as seen in the packaging here.

All the items you need for installation are laid out here, and compared to the Halo Black, the Hyper 212 Black comes with the new Cryofuze thermal paste and an extra pair of cooler brackets, for when you need to install a push-pull fan configuration.

Walkaround

The Hyper 212 Black’s heatsink is the classic tried-and-true 4-heatpipe design that has served the lineup very well for many years, and it’s no exception here. The heatsink is considerably slimmer than the likes of Cougar Forza 85, for example. A pair of screw holes next to the contact area is used to install appropriate brackets depending on which CPU you use.

The single fan used here is the SickleFlow 120 Edge, a variant of the SickleFlow 120 series that we haven’t seen as an individual model. Perhaps this is a bespoke design for this particular cooler, given its more powerful airflow characteristics compared to standard SickleFlows. Also, since it lacks RGB – you’ll only find one 4-pin PWM connector that connects to the host motherboard.

Specifications

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black

Full specifications available on the product webpage and datasheet.

CPU socket compatibility		Intel: LGA1700/1200/1151/1150/1155/1156 AMD: Socket AM5/AM4
Heatsink dimensions		120 x 74 x 152 mm (fan installed)
Fan(s)	Model	1x Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 Edge (120 mm)
	Size	120 x 120 x 25 mm
	Speed	690-2500 (±10%) RPM
	Max Airflow	70.7 CFM / 120 m³/h
	Max Pressure	3.61 mmH₂O
	MTTF	>160,000 hours
	Max Noise	32.8 dBA
Included accessories		Cooler Master CryoFuze thermal paste Heatsink mounting screws Intel/AMD mounting brackets Intel socket backplates Fan mounting brackets

Test System

CPU	Intel Core i9-13900K
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Cooler Master MasterGel Maker
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 HERO
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Founders Edition
Memory	Kingston FURY RENEGADE RGB DDR5-6400 CL32 (2x16GB)
Storage	Samsung SSD 980 PRO 256GB (Boot) Kingston NV1 1TB
Power Supply	Cooler Master MWE Gold 1250 V2 Full Modular 1250W
Case	VECTOR Bench Case (Open-air chassis)
Operating System	Windows 11 Home 23H2

Installation

The installation process of the Hyper 212 Black is pretty much identical to that of the Hyper 212 Halo Black we recently reviewed, as it features the same simplified process as seen here. In our case, we’re installing the cooler on an Intel motherboard, so we need the backplate to be aligned first. On the heatsink, make sure to install the correct bracket before proceeding.

Remove the label (we removed it beforehand), apply the thermal paste onto the CPU, and align the screws to the bracket. Keep in mind the spring-loaded screws have a small bit of wiggle room to accommodate both 75 x 75 mm and 78 x 78 mm sockets – you can nudge the screws inward or outward if it gets slightly misaligned out of the box. Insert the metal fan bracket into the fan edge (you may need to exert some force), then pull the bracket until it secures onto the heatsink. Pro tip: make sure to align them on both sides and avoid squeezing the heatsink fins, as they’re fairly malleable.

Performance

In terms of fan performance, we can see the Hyper 212 Black surpassing both the Halo Black and the much older Turbo ARGB model on both 180W and 120W test runs in a 10-minute OCCT CPU stress test. Cooler Master claims the Hyper 212 Black is capable of dealing up to 225W TDP, and the data here does show there’s a fair bit of thermal headroom available before the cooler gets overwhelmed.

In terms of noise, we find it mostly identical as the Halo Black, though it’s slightly louder at the top end due to its higher maximum fan speeds. While Cooler Master’s specs say the SickleFlow 120 Edge is rated for 2500 RPM, in practice the sensor data gives us a range of 2260 – 2320 RPM when it’s cranked to the max. Still, the noise level is hardly noticeable, especially when case fans are more likely to drown it out in a typical tower PC configuration.

Verdict

So, we’ve established that the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black is a fairly capable air cooler, but how much it’s going to cost you? The answer is RM159 for MSRP – value-wise, it’s a pretty solid one, especially if your CPU demands a bit more power than the 65W ones. However, as of this writing we’ve seen the price dropped to RM131, which makes the deal even sweeter.

If your PC build is all about that dark-colored stealthiness and none of the RGB rainbows, the modernized look of this cooler is certainly going to serve that purpose very well.

Our special thanks to Cooler Master Malaysia for providing the Hyper 212 Black for this review.