How close is too close for CPU cooler clearance?

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Iffy. Some case measurements are not exact.
For instance, the Antec ONE lists cooler clearance at 155mm. However, the CM 212+ at 158mm fits with a teeny bit of room to spare.
All depends on which way it was actually measured.

But..at 1mm reported difference, I probably wouldn't risk it unless I had seen someone else with that exact combo, and it actually fits.
 
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Whether it fits or not is kinda moot. It either fits or it doesn't. 1mm clearance is enough in most cases. However, some case sides are a real p.i.t.a to close and require some pressure in the center of the side to get all those stupid little tabs to enter their respective slots. In that case, you can say goodbye to that 1mm of clearance as the case side will flex inwards. It's also possible to use the heel of your palm just like an 'English wheel', from the inside of course, and actually flex the case side outwards, giving 2-3mm of clearance above the cooler.
'Iffyness' aside, the better option would be not to get the Hyper212, very good and very popular budget cooler btw, but to shop around for alternatives such as the Enermax T40, Raijintek Aidos, Cryorig H7 (better by far than the hyper212) all of which are smaller in height for around the same price.
 
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+1. That's the one I was trying to remember for recommendation.
 
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Looks like Cryorig H7 is out of stock at Newegg and not shown on pcpartpicker.com, is this part difficult to find in the US?
 
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How does the Cryorig H5A compare to the H7?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UF1W87430&cm_re=cryorig-_-9SIA4UF1W87430-_-Product
 
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The H7, while slightly better than a hyper212 is still in the good but budget cooler range. Then you have full twin towers like the Cryorig R1's and Noctua nh-d14/15 etc. The H5 fills in the performance gap right in the middle of these 2 styles, however, it uses an offset 140mm fan and with heatsink is still 160mm tall. You'd be in the same boat as the hyper212, except with much better performance.

The Raijintek Themis (not evo) would be a good substitute at 157mm
 
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I guess you can't see that the Hyper 212 fits, you let all the iffies cloud the truth when It's right in front of you.
http://pcpartpicker.com/builds/by_part/nzxt-case-cas21w2b1#h=5
 
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And those pics are exactly what I meant earlier, with : "unless I had seen someone else with that exact combo, and it actually fits. "
 
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That is the exact combo of case and cooler.
 
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Agreed.
 
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have you thought of putting in a window mounting the plexy glass on the out side will give you that tad bit you mit need other wise you mit get a vibration noise that you don't want
 
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Personally I'd go with the Raijintek Aidos. It's a 92mm fan vrs the 120mm of the 212, is much smaller in stature, usually either cheaper or the same as a 212 evo and either beats it by @1°C or equals the 212 in either idle speed or OC tests.

Raijintek is a newer company, but is made up primarily of ex CoolerMaster and Xigamatek employees, so they aren't exactly clueless wannabees. The Raijintek Aidos has exactly 1 drawback. The fan is red/white which is sometimes a hard sell since red/white isn't a common color scheme.

So, recap, performance = hyper212, price = hyper212, fitment = smaller height than hyper212, and let's face it, reality check, the mounting system of the hyper212 royally sucks, whereas the Aidos is simple and easy.

Enough is enough, the CoolerMaster Hyper212 EVO has had its 15 minutes of fame, there is now better or at least equal options to be had, let's move on shall we?
 
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