A Closer Look

The Hyper 212 Halo Black is comprised of 50 black aluminium fins, making for a clean design that doesn't attract fingerprints like a bare aluminium version would. Beyond the clean aesthetic, there really is little new to see here, as is the case with most single-tower coolers. Then again, that is because this tried and true design has proven its worth over multiple decades.


Every fin of this heatsink has a folded edge to help maintain proper spacing, along with a semi-offset design that increases the space between the fins for a short distance. In practice, that design element should improve airflow through the heatsink as there will be less immediate resistance.


The top plate is a black-on-black design where the pattern and Cooler Master logo are visible but only barely so, making for a stealthy look while still featuring the company's branding. A small heatsink sits above the heat pipes where the mounting brackets are attached and should provide extra cooling.


As for the heat pipes, four of them transfer heat via the direct contact base to the 50 aluminium fins. The test sample is relatively flat compared to solid copper base designs, which tend to skew towards a convex shape. However, since this is a heat pipe direct contact design, the base is only partially flat. As a result, variations across the surface are noticeable along with the machining marks. Thankfully there are no gaps between the heat pipes or the rest of the base, meaning no large voids for thermal paste or air to get trapped.


The fan Cooler Master uses is a redesigned Halo series offering, with a PWM RPM range of 650–2050 and a CFM rating of 51.88. As for the design itself, it has two diffuser rings on the outer frame with ARGB LEDs along with more LEDs in the fan hub, if ARGB lighting is something you must have, CM has you covered.