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Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition vs SilverStone AR12: Comparison
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition vs SilverStone AR12 noise level compared
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is noise level, Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition 26 dBA against SilverStone AR12 29 dBA. Add airflow to that, 42 CFM on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition versus 68.9 CFM on the SilverStone AR12, and the pattern holds. They differ on base material too, Direct-Touch Copper on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition versus Nickel-Plated Copper on the SilverStone AR12.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition vs SilverStone AR12: which one fits your build
Buy the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition for all-black budget builds and locked mainstream CPUs, though it is the wrong buy for RGB-themed builds and High-TDP or overclocked CPUs. The SilverStone AR12 suits mainstream non-overclocked builds where 95W of headroom is genuinely enough, though it is not the pick for buyers wanting RGB lighting, since this stays unlit. It is equally the pick for SFF and HTPC builders who need the shortest possible cooler height. Avoid it for overclocked or high-TDP builds, where the thermal ceiling runs out quickly. Our rating of the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition (7.2/10): the same dependable 212 performance in a cleaner all-black finish, a safe budget pick. Our rating of the SilverStone AR12 (7.3/10): A purpose-built low-profile cooler whose entire value proposition is fitting where taller coolers cannot.
What Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition and SilverStone AR12 have in common
Everything else lines up. Cooler type, tower type, tower layout, fan count and rgb lighting read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 4 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition and SilverStone AR12 differ on max speed?
Yes. Max Speed reads 2000 RPM on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition versus 2200 RPM on the SilverStone AR12.
Is the Heatpipe Count the same on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition and SilverStone AR12?
It is. Both are listed at 4, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Cooler Master
- SilverStone AR12
- SilverStone
Cooler Type
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Air Tower
- SilverStone AR12
- Air Tower
Series
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- SilverStone AR12
- SilverStone Argon AR12
Tower Type
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Single-Tower
- SilverStone AR12
- Single-Tower
Model Number
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- RR-212S-20PK-R2
- SilverStone AR12
- SST-AR12
Height
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 158.8 mm-3%
- SilverStone AR12
- 154 mmBest
Socket Compatibility
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200/115X
- SilverStone AR12
- AMD AM4/AM3/AM2/FM2/FM1, Intel LGA115X/1366/2011/2066
Tower Layout
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Single-Tower
- SilverStone AR12
- Single-Tower
Fan Count
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 1
- SilverStone AR12
- 1
Noise Level
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 26 dBABest
- SilverStone AR12
- 29 dBA
RGB Lighting
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- No
- SilverStone AR12
- No
Cooler Width
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 123 mm
- SilverStone AR12
- 128 mm
Heatpipe Count
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 4
- SilverStone AR12
- 4
Base Material
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Direct-Touch Copper
- SilverStone AR12
- Nickel-Plated Copper
Fan Size
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 120 mm
- SilverStone AR12
- 120 mm
Max Speed
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 2000 RPM-9%
- SilverStone AR12
- 2200 RPMBest
Airflow
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 42 CFM-39%
- SilverStone AR12
- 68.9 CFMBest
Static Pressure
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 2.9 mmH2O
- SilverStone AR12
- 2.7 mmH2O-7%
PWM Control
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Yes
- SilverStone AR12
- Yes
Fan Connection
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Standard 4-Pin PWM
- SilverStone AR12
- Standard 4-Pin PWM
Which one should you pick?
Choose Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition if you want the higher fan count (1 vs 1), the lower noise level (26 dBA vs 29 dBA) and the higher static pressure (2.9 mmH2O vs 2.7 mmH2O).
Choose SilverStone AR12 if you want the lower height (154 mm vs 158.8 mm), the higher max speed (2200 RPM vs 2000 RPM) and the higher airflow (68.9 CFM vs 42 CFM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition | SilverStone AR12 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
7.2 / 10 Expert Rating
The same dependable 212 performance in a cleaner all-black finish, a safe budget pick.
SilverStone AR12
7.3 / 10 Expert Rating
A purpose-built low-profile cooler whose entire value proposition is fitting where taller coolers cannot.