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Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition vs Thermalright Assassin X 120: Comparison
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition vs Thermalright Assassin X 120: the noise level difference
These two are close on paper, and noise level is the only measure that separates them at all: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition 26 dBA against Thermalright Assassin X 120 25 dBA. On height there is little in it, 158.8 mm on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition versus 155 mm on the Thermalright Assassin X 120. Cooler type is not the same on both, Air Tower on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition versus Air on the Thermalright Assassin X 120. They differ on socket compatibility too, AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200/115X on the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition versus AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200 on the Thermalright Assassin X 120.
Who each one is for
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is the one to take for all-black budget builds and locked mainstream CPUs, though it is not built for RGB-themed builds and High-TDP or overclocked CPUs. The Thermalright Assassin X 120 suits extreme-budget builds and locked mainstream Ryzen/Core CPUs, though it is not the pick for overclocked or unlocked CPUs and RGB-focused builds. 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 Thermalright Assassin X 120 (7.5/10): exceptional price-to-performance for a locked mainstream build.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: tower type, fan count and rgb lighting are identical here.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Cooler Master
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Thermalright
Cooler Type
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Air Tower
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Air
Series
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
Tower Type
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Single-Tower
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Single-Tower
Model Number
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- RR-212S-20PK-R2
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- Assassin X 120 SE
Height
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 158.8 mm-2%
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- 155 mmBest
Socket Compatibility
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200/115X
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200
Fan Count
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 1
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- 1
Noise Level
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- 26 dBA
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- 25 dBABest
RGB Lighting
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- No
- Thermalright Assassin X 120
- No
Which one should you pick?
Choose Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition if you want the higher fan count (1 vs 1).
Choose Thermalright Assassin X 120 if you want the lower height (155 mm vs 158.8 mm) and the lower noise level (25 dBA vs 26 dBA).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition | Thermalright Assassin X 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on 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.
Thermalright Assassin X 120
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Exceptional price-to-performance for a locked mainstream build.