The instructions are very basic but enough for install the cooler in the proper way and with less time possible. You don’t need remove the motherboard, so, this can be a plus for people that only want better temps compared with the stock cooler but don’t want the “problem” of remove the motherboard.

The installation is very easy, just take two or three minutes including remove the stock cooler and apply the new TIM. As you can see in the picture, the cooler isn’t big and we have enough space for install RAM with high profile in all RAM lines of our motherboard. The cooler comes without TIM pre-applied, so, we have to apply that to the CPU and fill the gaps in the cooler for better performance and heat transfer.

As we said before, this cooler need a little more of work for install. Comes with back plate and if your case doesn’t have access panel to the back side of the mobo you will spend a little more time install this product. The installation on our test rig took me around two minutes, but that probably was because few years ago I had the Hyper 212+ that uses the same installation method.

 3.       CM V6GT

We can say that this is the big and bad boy of the “budget” coolers, comes with two fans in push/pull configuration and six heat pipes for heat dissipation as fast as possible. This cooler also include a “custom” LED on the top with different color options and the possibility of have it disable for those that doesn’t like this type of “adds”. Let see some picture before start with the results.

 All the included with the package (big package) but enough for install and use in any platform that we can build today. Quick installation guide as the TX3 Evo and Hyper 212 Evo, but the installation process isn’t as fast as the guide is.

The contact surface with the CPU is build on copper and totally uniform for maximum heat transfer from the CPU to the cooler.

Test setup

We will test the three cooler with the same platform components, we tested this coolers at similar time of the day for try to keep the conditions very similar to all and get better results at the end. The rig is configured as follow:

• Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Gene-z/GEN3
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2500k, overclocked to 4500MHz @ 1.4V
• RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2 x 2GB @ 1333MHz
• GPU: XFX 8600 GT 256MB
• Power Supply: Corsair AX1200W
• SSD: Crucial C300 64GB
• OS: Windows Professional x64 Service Pack 1
• MSI R7970 Lightning (for space test not bench)
• Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB  (for space test not bench)

All tests were done outside of a case and at similar hours in night trying to get the most similar conditions to all coolers. We also used an MSI T7970 Lightning for see the space between the GPU and cooler; also, we used low profile and high profile RAM to see which better option is.

Test methodology

Our test method was simple but always focused on get the better results according to what we need of the product, in this case, air coolers. All the power saving options in BIOS was disable as well as the “OS Power Options” for avoid wrong reads on our study. We used the following programs to stress the rig and see the performance of it:

• wPrime 32M
• wPrime 1024M (test 1)
• PCMark 05
• PCMark 7
• wPrime 1024M (test 2)
• prime95 for 15 minutes using “In place large FFTs”

We started with the rig on idle for 5 minutes, after that, used our 1^st program for stress our CPU and see what can do our cooler in load. After each test we waited 2 minutes to stabilize the temps on our CPU and start with the next program. The Hyper 212 Evo was tested with single fan configuration and in dual fan mode always looking for gives you the best results and advice possible. We run 2 wPrime 1024M for maximum stress after finish those PCMark programs and finally prime95 “In place large FFTs” for maximum heat and power use on our rig.

Each cooler was tested two times, for make us sure that reading is average and we are seeing the correct temps on our program. The chosen program for read the temps was Core Temp 1.0 RC3 x64

The results

We test each cooler individually under very similar conditions, non case, but similar time and same components for all the three coolers. Each cooler was tested two times for avoid wrong data on temps, we don’t tested the stock cooler since was not enough for keep our CPU cool enough.

1.       CM Hyper TX3 Evo

For a budget cooler that doesn’t need back plate and is very easy to install we are seeing good average temps, idle temp is very similar to the other coolers with only a 2ºc difference. In load using prime95 we saw temps above 70ºC that is a little “high” compared with the other contenders but good enough if we keep in mind that maybe you never stress the CPU as prime95 does.

RAM high profile isn’t a problem here; you have enough space to install any kit high profile as the Corsair Vengeance or Kingston HyperX. Keep in mind that we used a mATX motherboard, an ATX model can have a little more space.

2.       CM Hyper 212 Evo

The successor of the famous Hyper 212+ is showing us that Cooler Master still want be on the list of manufactures of excellent products. The temps on idle aren’t something amazing, the average looks more better and the max temp on load was always under 70ºC, even, never touched the 66ºC on our overclocked CPU. Good work of Cooler Master here.

RAM clearance can be a problem here, we were able to install a Corsair Vengeance kit but in the “adjustment” way as we can see in the picture. Keep in mind that we used a mATX motherboard, an ATX model can have a little more space for use that kind of RAM.

3.       CM Hyper 212 Evo Push/Pull

We got weird temps here, same temp on idle that our single fan configuration and same average temp. The only change that we saw here was the max temp on load, with only a 2ºC change keeping the CPU under 63ºC in prim95. We have encountered feelings here, we was waiting a little more on this configuration than we saw here. Could be a wrong installation of the 2^nd fan? We prefer thought that.

4.       CM V6GT

As we saw in the above pictures, this cooler is big and comes from manufacturer in dual fan configuration mode. The temps on idle didn’t changed while our average temps was better for around 5ºC, finally our max temp was under 60ºC, more exactly on 59ºC. We have to say that we was waiting more from this cooler, the average temps seems good enough but for a cooler that comes from manufacturer in dual fan configuration and is a full copper base in direct contact with the CPU and without gaps, isn’t enough.

If you have high profile RAM, move on to another option, this cooler is big and won’t give you the option to use that kind of RAM with it. We only can use high profile RAM in channel B and second line of channel A. 1^st RAM slot isn’t accessible with this cooler on this mobo. Keep in mind that we used a mATX motherboard; an ATX model can have a little more space. Big GPUs are also a problem.

Conclusion

First that all, we would like thank to Cooler Master for provide us this samples for review. This three coolers did a good work, one better than others, but in average all the three are good options depending of your budget.

1.       CM Hyper TX3 Evo

This “entry” option from Cooler Master can be found on Google Shopping for around $43.71, a high price compared with the other two options. Doing the price to one side, the cooler is a good option for those users that just want better temps on their CPU and doesn’t have plans of overclock it at the same level that we did here. The 90mm fan is rated at 2800 rpm max, but it’s not totally loud at max speed, the 3 direct heat pipes does a good job keeping the CPU under dangerous temps but we thing that this cooler can do a little more.

The installation method is the most notable feature here, could be a “plug and play”.

2.       CM Hyper 212 Evo and CM Hyper 212 Evo P/P

This new model, with the contact surface re-designed for provide better performance keep the line of his predecessor the Hyper 212+. With single fan configuration this cooler is a very good option for those users that want overclock their CPU at a good level but at the same time keep the temps in the safe area. In dual fan configuration (P/P) the performance was not as good as we thought, in fact, we saw some temps more high that in single configuration.

The Hyper 212 Evo can be found for ~$39 on newegg, that’s much better price than the TX3 Evo. After test the cooler in single and dual fan, we only can recommend this cooler in single fan configuration since adding $7 more for a 2^nd fan is extend the budget to ~$46, in that budget, we can find other options which performs better.

The installation method is still difficult, for new users this can take more time that really need. We also suggest work a little more in the gaps of the contact surface, we still can see those gaps and that definitely affect the performance of the cooler.

3.       CM V6GT

About this cooler we have not much to say, for a cooler of this size and configuration (dual 120mm fan) the performance isn’t enough. The average temps are above our ambient temp (~18ºC) for almost 20ºC while the Hyper 212 Evo keep this at 25ºC with single fan configuration. The LED looks good, but doesn’t help in any way too cool the CPU, so, that’s just an “add” for the users.

This cooler can be found for ~$49 on newegg, for this price we move on to another options with similar prices and better performance.

The installation method was similar to the Hyper 212 Evo, but without too much “nuts and bolts”. Not the best installation method, but more easy than Hyper 212 Evo.

   

Awards:

• TX3 Evo: “Approved”. This renewed model is a little expensive compared with the Hyper 212 Evo but performs very good if you only want get better temps than stock cooler and not use too much space inside your case while keep the easy installation.

 

• Hyper 212 Evo: “Recommended”. This new model performs very good and keep the line of the Hyper 212+ for price/performance, adding a better (but not perfect) contact surface to the cooler.

• V6GT: We was waiting more from this model, for a big dual fan setup cooler the performance wasn’t enough compared with the new Hyper 212 Evo. Even that, we can give to this model an “Approved” award since can keep good temps on your CPU while add a good look inside your case with the custom LED colors.