{"id":11521,"date":"2009-09-29T05:19:56","date_gmt":"2009-09-29T05:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=11521"},"modified":"2009-10-01T04:19:54","modified_gmt":"2009-10-01T04:19:54","slug":"high-performance-gaming-on-a-budget-building-a-value-pc-with-cooler-masters-hyper-n212-plus-cpu-cooler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/high-performance-gaming-on-a-budget-building-a-value-pc-with-cooler-masters-hyper-n212-plus-cpu-cooler\/","title":{"rendered":"High Performance Gaming on a Budget: Building a Value PC with Cooler Master’s Hyper N212 Plus CPU Cooler"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The\u00a0 CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper N212 Plus<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome to our Value series, part 5.\u00a0 This review covers the CPU cooler of our new value build that we introduced here<\/a>.\u00a0 The second part of our \u201cHigh Performance Gaming on a Budget\u201d series of reviews, reviewed an extraordinary value case, \u201cBuilding a Value PC with Cooler Master\u2019s Gladiator 600<\/a>\u201d. The third part jumped ahead to the benchmarks<\/a>, comparing our new value PC\u2019s AMD Athlon II X2 and Phenom II X2\/X3 platform verses the much more expensive Intel Core2Quad setup.\u00a0 The latest part 4<\/a>, covered Cooler Master\u2019s Silent Pro 600 M PSU which proved to be very underrated, silent and stable at only $80 for a 600 watt unit.<\/p>\n

However, as important as saving money on hardware is, this editor believes that the choice of a CPU cooler is critical to any PC build. The cooler should never be cheap or retail. Too much depends on it if you value keeping your CPU cool or plan to overclock. I would recommend that you instead look for sales and perhaps even rebates to save money.\u00a0 At the time of writing this article, Cooler Master\u2019s Hyper N212 has been on sale at NewEgg.com for the last few weeks for only $29.99.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.newegg.com\/Product\/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065<\/a><\/p>\n

In the following image you can see that the copper heatpipes come into direct contact with the CPU \u2013 hence the name, \u201cDirect Heatpipe Contact\u201d.\u00a0 It promises to transfer the heat much more efficiently when the copper heatpipes are in direct contact with the CPU plate than if they are encased fully in the aluminum cooling block.\u00a0 Clearly Cooler Master had to cut some corners to achieve this for under thirty dollars.\u00a0 We explore.\u00a0 Or did they promise more than they can deliver?\u00a0 We shall see.<\/p>\n

\"DirectContact\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You also need to remember that a quality universal CPU cooler will likely last through several builds if you plan ahead. Another thing to consider is \u201cnoise\u201d \u2013 ideally you do not want your CPU\u2019s cooling fan adding much noise.\u00a0 Here we see Cooler Master taking a different approach to the CPU cooler that we reviewed a few months ago \u2013 the Hyper N520 which uses two much smaller 92 MM fans in push-pull configuration for quiet and effective cooling for about $45.00 on NewEgg.<\/p>\n

\"hyperN520\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In contrast, for Hyper N212 Plus, Cooler Master uses a single, slower-running 120 MM fan to keep noise down while still doing effective cooling.\u00a0 In fact, they allow for some even further more extreme cooling by allowing for another second (optional; not included) 120 MM fan in a push-pull configuration much like the Hyper N520 \u2013 except these fans are much bigger!\u00a0 Cooler Master even tosses in another set of clips that are useful mostly for their own 120 MM fans.\u00a0 In this testing, we also found a simple and effective \u2013 but very inelegant \u2013 way to attach cooling fans to difficult-to-clip CPU coolers that may also surprise you.<\/p>\n

\"2_Fans.11\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We are not out of order by insisting on Cooler Master\u2019s Hyper N212 Plus.\u00a0 We are helping to get the word out that retail and cheap CPU coolers will perhaps even shorten a hot-running CPU\u2019s life; and they will certainly limit your overclocking potential.<\/p>\n

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Packaging<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cooler Master\u2019s Hyper N212 Plus arrives in a cardboard box packed with everything necessary to cool any CPU that you may buy.\u00a0 Here is the box with all of the hardware laid out next to it.\u00a0 As you can see, the specifications and features are printed right on the box.\u00a0 The Hyper N212 plus is pictured and we can see that it is \u201cuniversal\u201d \u2013 engineered to fit any modern Intel or AMD CPU\u2019s cooling needs \u2013 overclocked or stock.<\/p>\n

\"theworks\"<\/a> \"hyperN212_box\"<\/a> \"hyperN212_boxSide\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The cooler is safely packaged in a plastic shell inside the box.<\/p>\n

\"packaged\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And now everything without the box.<\/p>\n

\"theworks1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The instructions are adequate.\u00a0 We had no difficulty following them for installing Hyper N212 Plus on either an Intel or AMD CPU platform.<\/p>\n

\"Instructions\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the next photo, you can see that the backplate on the Hyper N212 Plus is reversible \u2013 as pictured, it is for AMD; reversed, for Intel platforms.\u00a0 It is a very clever design and a way for Cooler Master to save money on the manufacturing of it.<\/p>\n

\"BackplateAMD\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This CPU cooler is beginning to look like quite a bargain for only $30.\u00a0 But is it quiet?\u00a0 Let\u2019s look at the specifications.<\/p>\n

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Specifications and Features<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus Heat Pipe Direct Touch CPU Cooler<\/p>\n

\"contactplate\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here we have a good look at the direct contact copper cooling pipes that are soldered securely into its aluminum cooling block.\u00a0 The machined finish is not terribly smooth, but well within tolerances for an inexpensive cooler and the minor grooves and imperfections can easily be filled with thermal paste.\u00a0 That said, this editor is going to recommend a thermal paste like Arctic Silver over Cooler Master\u2019s own supplied (thick and hard to spread) paste.<\/p>\n

\"ArcticSilver\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We do NOT recommend lapping this cooler\u2019s base.\u00a0 A little polishing might be fine but if you start to lap, you may damage the thin copper pipes that carry the heat away from your CPU and completely defeat its purpose.<\/p>\n

Here are the specifications right off of the box:<\/p>\n

\"hypern212_specs\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It looks like Cooler Master has a value winner by the specifications and the \u201cfeel\u201d of this solidly built CPU cooler.\u00a0 Especially attractive are the very low noise levels, 13-32 dBA. We like Hyper N2122 Plus so far, so let\u2019s install it.<\/p>\n

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A <\/strong>Closer Look<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"R&R_HSF\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here you see the stock AMD CPU cooler removed from the motherboard and sitting next to Gladiator 600.\u00a0 Gladiator 600 has an access port so you can change out any CPU or CPU cooler without removing your motherboard and we love this feature.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s prepare for installing the Hyper N212 Plus.<\/p>\n

\"PC_Everything\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As you can see the backplate is installed easily.<\/p>\n

\"BackplateAMD1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Now to install the cooler onto the CPU:<\/p>\n

\"no_room\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When installing the cooler make sure to tighten down the screws only a few turns at a time and then go on to the next screw in an \u2018X\u2019 pattern.<\/p>\n

Oops.\u00a0 Here we have an issue with a lack of room.\u00a0 You can only tighten the cooler down with the fan unclipped from the cooler.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So now we have to install the fan onto the cooler installed on the motherboard with the clips – and it is damn near impossible, even using a long nose screwdriver and other tools because of the extreme lack of room on an AMD motherboard and especially coupled with an overhead case fan, as in Gladiator 600.\u00a0 So two things are really working against us having an easy installation; until we found the easy button, that is.<\/p>\n

\"Contact_clips\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It is very easy to install the fan onto the fins with the supplied clips when it is out<\/em> of the case, however.\u00a0 This lead us to some inventiveness.\u00a0 We first installed the cooler without the fan remembering to tighten the screws in an X-pattern, each screw was tightened a little bit at a time and then we moved on to the next one, until all were completely locked down.\u00a0 After the screws were down as far as they could be tightened, there was still some play between the cooler and the CPU and it could be twisted a little.\u00a0 This is normal as long as there is a tight fit between the CPU and the cooling block.<\/p>\n

With the cooler screwed down, we used superglue to affix the cooler\u2019s rubber pad at each corner to a single aluminum fin of the cooler. All it takes is one drop of super glue on each corner and hold tight for 30-60 seconds.\u00a0 When you want to take off the fan from the cooler (to remove it), just pry it loose.\u00a0 Of course, if you do it dozens of times, as we did to test it for you, then you will begin to damage the rubber anti-vibration pads which are installed on each of the fan\u2019s four corners.<\/p>\n

We later found a much better way to install the cooler with the fan attached by using a very long and thin Philips head screwdriver.\u00a0 We used one with a blade that is 6 inches long with a blade width of 3\/16 of an inch and we could now easily tighten the screws with the fan clipped to the cooler!\u00a0 You will note in the above picture that there is a grove cut into the cooler\u2019s face; into the aluminum fins all the length of the cooler that makes use of this screwdriver almost mandatory if you do not want to use glue \u2013 or struggle with fastening the clips inside of the case.<\/p>\n

\"tool\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Another view:<\/p>\n

\"tool_close\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We mentioned our difficulties to Cooler Master who quickly responded with a redesign of the clips to be featured in their new models!\u00a0 We like what we see and it should simplify installation. In the meantime, feel free to\u00a0 use a long thin screwdriver to get your cooler in and out quickly.\u00a0 We believe that you will not have the extreme difficulty that we encountered if you are using the Hyper N212 Plus with an Intel CPU as there is more room to install the cooler than with an AMD CPU and mother board.<\/p>\n

Here it is finally installed:<\/p>\n

\"installed\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here it is with the side case panel on:<\/p>\n

\"no_room_sideP\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As you can see, the case side panel will not accommodate a fan inside your case although you could install it on the outside of your case (for a rather ghetto look).<\/p>\n

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Noise & the Test<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, we have been living with Hyper N212 Plus inside our case for weeks and we love it for all of our needs including extreme overclocking.\u00a0 It does not matter how hot your CPU gets, you will not hear your CPU cooler over your videocard fan, especially if you choose a GTX 280 or HD 4870-X2.<\/p>\n

The last time we ran a comparison, we got our Phenom II 720 X3 to 3.5 GHz with +.1V overvoltage.\u00a0 In contrast, we managed to get our Phenom II 550 X2 to 3.9 GHz with the same amount of extra voltage applied to its core.\u00a0 We also found that the Hyper N212 Plus tamed its dual core\u2019s heat rather easily, allowing us to breeze past the stock AMD cooler which left us \u2013200 MHz lower on the overclock and at the same time over +20C hotter.\u00a0 In fact, at only 3.7 GHz we were getting concerned that our temperatures with the stock cooler were becoming dangerous.<\/p>\n

With our Hyper N212 Plus, cooling our hot dual-core Phenom II 550 X2; our maximum temperatures only rose 3-5 C over the idle temps and there was no temperature difference we could discern between 3.1 GHz and 3.9 GHz at idle.\u00a0 There is really no comparison between overclocking with the stock AMD cooler and overclocking with Cooler Master\u2019s Hyper N212 Plus – only contrasts.<\/p>\n

However, this time we wanted to give our Hyper N212 Plus a better workout.\u00a0 So we went for a much more extreme overclock on our tri-core Phenom X2, this time raising our voltage +.2V; somewhat dangerous to its chances of having a long life but definitely raising the core temperatures for our tests.\u00a0 This time, we managed to remain stable all the way to 3.9 GHz \u2013 almost+400 MHz more than with our more conservative +.1V, overvolt.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look at our setup:<\/p>\n

The Test and Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Test Configuration \u2013 AMD Hardware<\/strong><\/p>\n