{"id":11307,"date":"2021-04-21T17:41:12","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T15:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=11307"},"modified":"2023-08-12T14:56:27","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T12:56:27","slug":"best-low-profile-graphics-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Low-Profile &#038; Compact Graphics Cards (GPU) for your needs [2024 Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684464c1c9e5\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684464c1c9e5\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684464c1c9e5\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#What_are_low-profile_GPUs\" title=\"What are low-profile GPUs?\">What are low-profile GPUs?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#Identical_performance_worse_thermals_and_noise_levels\" title=\"Identical performance, worse thermals, and noise levels\">Identical performance, worse thermals, and noise levels<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#Slightly_lower_performance_good_thermals_and_low_noise\" title=\"Slightly lower performance, good thermals, and low noise\">Slightly lower performance, good thermals, and low noise<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#Downsides_of_Low-Profile_and_compact_GPUs\" title=\"Downsides of Low-Profile and compact GPUs\">Downsides of Low-Profile and compact GPUs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#Who_needs_a_low-profile_or_compact_GPU\" title=\"Who needs a low-profile or compact GPU?\">Who needs a low-profile or compact GPU?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#Choosing_the_right_GPU\" title=\"Choosing the right GPU\">Choosing the right GPU<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#Disclaimer\" title=\"Disclaimer\">Disclaimer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#The_Best_Compact_and_Low-Profile_GPUs_You_Can_Buy_Today\" title=\"The Best Compact and Low-Profile GPUs You Can Buy Today\">The Best Compact and Low-Profile GPUs You Can Buy Today<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#MSI_Aero_ITX_RTX_3060_Compact_Graphics_Card_Full_Height\" title=\"MSI Aero ITX RTX 3060 Compact Graphics Card (Full Height)\">MSI Aero ITX RTX 3060 Compact Graphics Card (Full Height)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#PowerColor_Radeon_RX_5600_XT_ITX_Full_Height\" title=\"PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT ITX (Full Height)\">PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT ITX (Full Height)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#MSI_GeForce_GT_1030_LP_OC_Low_Profile_Supported\" title=\"MSI GeForce GT 1030 LP OC (Low Profile Supported)\">MSI GeForce GT 1030 LP OC (Low Profile Supported)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#PNY_RTX_A2000_6GB_Low_Profile_Graphics_Card_Low_Profile_Supported\" title=\"PNY RTX A2000 6GB Low Profile Graphics Card (Low Profile Supported)\">PNY RTX A2000 6GB Low Profile Graphics Card (Low Profile Supported)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#XFX_Speedster_Swift_105_RX_6400_Low_Profile_Graphics_Card_Low_Profile_Supported\" title=\"XFX Speedster Swift 105 RX 6400 Low Profile Graphics Card (Low Profile Supported)\">XFX Speedster Swift 105 RX 6400 Low Profile Graphics Card (Low Profile Supported)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#MSI_Ventus_2X_RTX_4070_12G_OC_Graphics_Card_Full_Height\" title=\"MSI Ventus 2X RTX 4070 12G OC Graphics Card (Full Height)\">MSI Ventus 2X RTX 4070 12G OC Graphics Card (Full Height)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-low-profile-graphics-card\/#Conclusion_-_is_a_low-profile_or_compact_GPU_worth_it\" title=\"Conclusion \u2013 is a low-profile or compact GPU worth it?\">Conclusion \u2013 is a low-profile or compact GPU worth it?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to build a compact PC, whether it\u2019s for gaming, work, or to use as a home theater (or a server), low-profile GPUs a must-have.<\/p>\n<p>These more compact variants of their full-sized brethren though usually come with a performance sacrifice.<\/p>\n<p>The GPU market is crazy at the moment, with heavy price-inflations being the norm and stock being hard to come by.<\/p>\n<p>But that shouldn\u2019t stop you from building a PC, even if it means you\u2019ll have to work extra hard to find a new GPU that you can afford.<\/p>\n<p>With that in mind, let\u2019s dive into the details of the best low-profile GPUs out there.<!--more--><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_low-profile_GPUs\"><\/span>What are low-profile GPUs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As pointed out by a reader we updated this section with some more in-depth info on:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>what low-profile GPUs are<\/li>\n<li>how they differ from standard GPUs <em>and<\/em> compact GPUs<\/li>\n<li>what they are intended for<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Often misused as a catch-all definition for smaller \/ more compact GPUs, Low-Profile GPUs are in fact Graphics Cards with a maximum height of 2.536 inches and, depending on the <a href=\"https:\/\/knowledge.ni.com\/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000P6BQSA0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MD1 or MD2 dimension specifications<\/a>, a maximum length of 119.91mm (4.721 inches) or 167.64mm (6.6 inches) respectively.<\/p>\n<p>Here's what a Low-Profile Graphics Card looks like compared to a Standard (Full-Height) GPU:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-11994 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu.jpg\" alt=\"low-profile gpu overview comparison to standard sized gpu\" width=\"1836\" height=\"764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-1024x426.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-768x320.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-1536x639.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1836px) 100vw, 1836px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-11994 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201836%20764%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"low-profile gpu overview comparison to standard sized gpu\" width=\"1836\" height=\"764\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201836%20764%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1836w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1836px) 100vw, 1836px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-1024x426.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-768x320.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu-1536x639.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/low-profile-gpu-overview-comparison-to-standard-sized-gpu.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>True Low-Profile GPUs come with a Low-Profile Bracket, as seen in the image above.<\/p>\n<p>They are intended for placement in either 2U cases (e.g. Server Rack Cases) or slim desktop cases.<\/p>\n<p>So why are there Low-Profile GPUs with Full-Height Brackets? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of Low-Profile GPUs?<\/p>\n<p>Not necessarily: Whether you need a Low-Profile or Standard Height Bracket will depend on your PC case and the &#8220;location&#8221; where you're limited in space. In a 2U Server Rack, there's no question that you'll need a Low-Profile GPU with a Low-Profile bracket, because the entire length of the case is just 2U (Units) in height.<\/p>\n<p>In a SFF multi-media PC, though, you might have space constraints where the PCB of the GPU will later reside (space is used by a PSU, cables HDD, etc.), but still have room at the back side of the case for mounting the GPU on a full-height bracket.<\/p>\n<p>Here's an old-school Image from a Dell server, showing the difference in case- and bracket-heights:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11995\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11995\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-11995 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case.jpg\" alt=\"Dell Server GPU Bracket Heights on 2U Chassis Case\" width=\"450\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case.jpg 450w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11995\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-11995 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20448%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Dell Server GPU Bracket Heights on 2U Chassis Case\" width=\"450\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20448%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case.jpg 450w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case-150x150.jpg 150w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Dell-Server-GPU-Bracket-Heights-on-2U-Chassis-Case.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-11995\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Source: Dell<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This brings us back to what I said first: Low-Profile GPUs are often a catch-all for &#8220;compact&#8221; GPUs, also because many of them have full-height Brackets. This tells us another thing: There has to be more than just a dimensional difference to Low-Profile GPUs, otherwise why would there be full-height bracket low-profile GPUs?<\/p>\n<p>And there is. Low-Profile GPUs have many of the benefits (and drawbacks) that you generally find in &#8220;compact&#8221; GPUs. So, let's take a look at what compact GPUs entail and why they are so popular nowadays.<\/p>\n<p>Well, they are made to fit into a smaller case. Here's what a &#8220;compact&#8221; GPU looks like. It's full height, but a lot shorter than standard-sized GPUs.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11315\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11315\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11315\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1.jpg\" alt=\"Low Profile GPU 1080 Mini\" width=\"550\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1-1024x816.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1-768x612.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11315\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11315 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20550%20438%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Low Profile GPU 1080 Mini\" width=\"550\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20550%20438%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1-1024x816.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1-768x612.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/81A9t-ohaaL._AC_SL1500_1.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-11315\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Credit: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Small form factor builds have become popular in the past couple of years, and low-profile and compact GPUs are your best bet if you\u2019re building one. There are a few things to keep an eye on in greater detail when shopping for a low-profile or compact GPU \u2013 noise levels, power draw, and thermals.<\/p>\n<p>With a low-profile GPU, you usually get one of two scenarios.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You get a GPU that performs identically to the full-size model but will heat up more and make more noise.<\/li>\n<li>You get a GPU that performs slightly worse but may or may not be quieter and will be less demanding when it comes to keeping it cool.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11829\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan.jpg\" alt=\"Single Fan vs Dual Fan GPUs\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11829 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Single Fan vs Dual Fan GPUs\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Single-Fan-vs-Dual-Fan.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at both options.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Identical_performance_worse_thermals_and_noise_levels\"><\/span>Identical performance, worse thermals, and noise levels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The first option is usually a dual-fan version that is more compact than the conventional GPU.<\/p>\n<p>The performance is identical, but those two fans will need to work harder to keep it cool because there is less surface for heat dissipation.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturers often deal with this by using a different fan design that moves more air but makes more noise.<\/p>\n<p>These GPUs may use slightly less power than a conventional model, but the difference is usually negligible, and you\u2019ll still need <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-modular-power-supplies\/\">a good PSU <\/a>to keep them satisfied. You do, however, get the performance of a full-size model.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Slightly_lower_performance_good_thermals_and_low_noise\"><\/span>Slightly lower performance, good thermals, and low noise<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The other solution is a single fan GPU, which is known as a true low-profile model.<\/p>\n<p>These single-fan GPUs are very compact, which means that there is less surface area for heat dissipation, and in addition, they only have a single fan, making cooling even more difficult.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re also almost always clocked lower than their full-size counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>And with single-fan GPUs, one of two things can happen:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You can have a high RPM (Revolutions-per-minute) fan that does a better job at cooling but makes a lot of noise.<\/li>\n<li>You could have a fan that spins at normal speeds and noise levels, but that also struggles with temperatures.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In the first scenario, the higher RPM, and the lower clock speeds compensate for the lack of surface area, and you still get decent performance.<\/p>\n<p>In the second scenario, the fan is quiet, but since it can\u2019t do too much in terms of cooling, you get higher temperatures, and the clock speeds are limited, and you\u2019ll see occasional performance throttling.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of which kind of low-profile or compact GPU you decide on, you will have to compromise.<\/p>\n<p>This is to be expected, though, when building a compact system. But let\u2019s take a look at what those compromises mean in day-to-day use.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Downsides_of_Low-Profile_and_compact_GPUs\"><\/span>Downsides of Low-Profile and compact GPUs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a GPU for professional workloads that can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nvidia.com\/en-us\/studio\/software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">take advantage of GPU acceleration<\/a>, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-computer-for-video-editing\/\">video editing<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-hardware-for-gpu-rendering-in-octane-redshift-vray\/\">3D rendering<\/a>, the most notable downside you\u2019ll need to deal with is the performance hit.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, how much of a performance hit you take will depend greatly on what type of low-profile or compact GPU you opt for.<\/p>\n<p>If, for example, you don\u2019t mind the extra noise, and do have room for a dual-fan GPU, the performance hit is going to be negligible in most scenarios. On the other hand, if you need the absolute smallest GPU, you\u2019ll be dealing with low clock speeds and temperatures that might be uncomfortable in some cases.<\/p>\n<p>GPU accelerated workloads depend on<a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-much-vram-do-you-need\/\"> the GPU memory capacity<\/a> as well, which is identical between a low-profile model, and a full-sized one. But the clock speeds are just as important.<\/p>\n<p>To add to this, while gaming on a low-profile or compact GPU is certainly possible, you\u2019ll struggle to get the performance of a full-size GPU.<\/p>\n<p>These things aren\u2019t all due to the lowered clock speeds \u2013 the thermal design takes a hit due to lower surface area, which, in turn, <em>can <\/em>affect clock speeds or how long the GPU can sustain higher clock speeds.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve probably heard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techspot.com\/article\/1638-what-is-thermal-throttling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">of thermal throttling<\/a>, which occurs when your GPU is reaching temperatures that are higher than the manufacturer would like them to be and underclocks the GPU to cool it down.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11834\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS.jpg\" alt=\"Downsides low profile GPUS - Temperature Throttling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11834 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Downsides low profile GPUS - Temperature Throttling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Downsides-low-profile-GPUS.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>And with a compact design, this is more of an issue than it is with a full-sized one.<\/p>\n<p>Why is this a problem? Well, because workloads like rendering will keep your GPU busy for extended periods of time.<\/p>\n<p>Temperatures will keep rising, and you\u2019ll likely see thermal throttling after a while. With workloads that only push your GPU for short periods of time, though, it\u2019s not that much of an issue.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_needs_a_low-profile_or_compact_GPU\"><\/span>Who needs a low-profile or compact GPU?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A low-profile or compact GPU means compromise. We recommend that you only buy a low-profile or compact GPU when the situation calls for it. What are some of those situations?<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11831\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS.jpg\" alt=\"Who needs low profile GPUS\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11831 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Who needs low profile GPUS\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Who-needs-low-profile-GPUS.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>The first situation \u2013 building a small form factor PC. We\u2019re talking about systems that use mini ITX or micro ATX motherboards, are packed inside a <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-smallest-atx-cases\/\">small form factor case<\/a>, and don\u2019t have that much room for components.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11316\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11316\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11316\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011.jpg\" alt=\"MSI Aero Low Profile GPU in SFF Case\" width=\"500\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011.jpg 1985w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-1024x658.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-768x493.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-1536x987.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11316\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11316 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20500%20321%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"MSI Aero Low Profile GPU in SFF Case\" width=\"500\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20500%20321%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011.jpg 1985w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-1024x658.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-768x493.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011-1536x987.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/sampleAERO011.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-11316\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Credit: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n<p>These builds are seldom recommended for professional purposes, but some of you who just want a good day-to-day system for general use will love them.<\/p>\n<p>The reason is simple \u2013 they don\u2019t take up a lot of space and can be hidden away easily.<\/p>\n<p>The second situation is building a home theater PC. These are systems that usually go in a cabinet, or sit next to your TV, and don\u2019t do much except for storing content and playing it on demand. What\u2019s nice about these workloads is that usually, they aren\u2019t too demanding in terms of hardware.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11828\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads.jpg\" alt=\"GPU workloads utilization\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11828 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"GPU workloads utilization\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/GPU-workloads.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Your GPU will only need to render the content you\u2019re playing, at the resolution you need. Of course, if you\u2019re watching high bitrate, 4K content, you want at least some performance from that GPU.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re only building it for full HD content consumption, any budget low profile GPU will do the job.<\/p>\n<p>Last but not least, you can compromise some portability for good performance.<\/p>\n<p>This is why, rather than opt for a laptop, you can build a small PC that you can carry with you. In these situations, what you use the PC for will dictate what the best low-profile or compact GPU for you is.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_the_right_GPU\"><\/span>Choosing the right GPU<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to choosing the best low-profile or compact GPU for your needs, there are a couple of factors to consider. The two most important ones are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Size constraints you\u2019re dealing with, and<\/li>\n<li>Your workloads.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The use case is arguably more important, especially if you\u2019re using your system to get some work done.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, a more powerful GPU helps you get more work done, so the investment will be worth it.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, some of the more powerful GPUs just aren\u2019t available in a small form factor, such as a single fan design. If you\u2019re limited in terms of size, you\u2019ll need to see what the most powerful GPU is that you can fit inside your case, and work from there.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11832\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing the right low profile GPU to fit into a sff pc case\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11832 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Choosing the right low profile GPU to fit into a sff pc case\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/Choosing-the-right-GPU.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Then there\u2019s the power draw situation.<\/p>\n<p>Small form factor power supplies aren\u2019t readily available at high wattages, so you might need to get a GPU that draws less power to be able to run it without issues.<\/p>\n<p>All factors considered, here\u2019s what we recommend:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Check your workloads to see whether you can benefit from a powerful model.<\/li>\n<li>See how much case space you\u2019re working with, and what the biggest GPU is that you can fit in it.<\/li>\n<li>Consider your <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/power-supply-guide\/\">power supply<\/a> constraints and see what kind of GPU you can run with the PSUs available to you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve done all of this, you can see what the most powerful GPU is that satisfies all of the above and fits your budget and pull the trigger on that purchase.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disclaimer\"><\/span>Disclaimer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Low profile GPUs, as a product, are a compromise. They aren\u2019t meant to be the most powerful option out there, and they\u2019re oftentimes budget oriented.<\/p>\n<p>This is why you won\u2019t find a single-fan RTX 3000 series or an RX 6000 series GPU. This is also why there are still many low-profile or compact GPUs that use GDDR3 memory \u2013 more powerful models moved on from that type of VRAM a long time ago.<\/p>\n<p>Low-profile and compact GPUs aren\u2019t a bestseller for any manufacturer, which is why they're put on the back burner when it comes to new GPU releases.<\/p>\n<p>In the list below, we include some modern options, but there are some older ones, too. Let\u2019s take a look at them.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Best_Compact_and_Low-Profile_GPUs_You_Can_Buy_Today\"><\/span>The Best Compact and Low-Profile GPUs You Can Buy Today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MSI_Aero_ITX_RTX_3060_Compact_Graphics_Card_Full_Height\"><\/span><a title=\"MSI Aero ITX RTX 3060 Compact Graphics Card\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/msi-aero-itx-rtx-3060-compact-graphics-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">MSI Aero ITX RTX 3060 Compact Graphics Card<\/a> (Full Height)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Although the RTX 3060 launched a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (feels like it), it's still quite a capable card with decent performance at lower power draw.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 907px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71meBsU3uES._AC_SL1500_.jpg\" alt width=\"907\" height=\"910\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20907%20910%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt width=\"907\" height=\"910\" data-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71meBsU3uES._AC_SL1500_.jpg\" class=\" lazyload\"><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: MSI.com<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It gives you 12GB VRAM along with a relatively compact form factor with a single fan that's perfect for small form factor PCs. However, it doesn't support low-profile or slim cases, so you'll need a case that supports full-height GPUs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Similar Alternative: <a title=\"ASUS Phoenix RTX 3060  Graphics Card\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/asus-phoenix-rtx-3060-graphics-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">ASUS Phoenix RTX 3060  Graphics Card<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PowerColor_Radeon_RX_5600_XT_ITX_Full_Height\"><\/span><a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT ITX 6GB (AXRX 5600XT ITX 6GBD6-2DH)\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/powercolor-radeon-rx-5600-xt-itx-6gb-axrx-5600xt-itx-6gbd6-2dh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT ITX<\/a> (Full Height)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>PowerColor\u2019s ITX variant of the RX 5600 XT is truly a great choice. Yes, it might produce more heat than you\u2019d like it to, but that isn\u2019t much of an issue unless you keep it under load for extended periods.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11319\" style=\"width: 715px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11319\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11319\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/51k6zA-zkdL._AC_SL1000_1.jpg\" alt=\"PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT ITX\" width=\"715\" height=\"636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/51k6zA-zkdL._AC_SL1000_1.jpg 715w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/51k6zA-zkdL._AC_SL1000_1-300x267.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11319\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11319 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20715%20636%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT ITX\" width=\"715\" height=\"636\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20715%20636%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 715w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/51k6zA-zkdL._AC_SL1000_1.jpg 715w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/51k6zA-zkdL._AC_SL1000_1-300x267.jpg 300w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/51k6zA-zkdL._AC_SL1000_1.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-11319\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Credit: PowerColor<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Spec-wise, you\u2019re looking at 6GB of GDDR6 memory, as well as 2304 stream processors.<\/p>\n<p>The boost clock isn\u2019t particularly impressive at a 1620Mhz maximum, but it gets the job done unless you need top-notch performance.<\/p>\n<p>You do get two DisplayPort connectors, and one HDMI, which is impressive for a GPU that\u2019s only 17.5cm in length and compact overall.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll need at least a 500W power supply to run it, though, and it requires you to plug in a single 8-pin connector for power. That sounds reasonable if you ask us.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MSI_GeForce_GT_1030_LP_OC_Low_Profile_Supported\"><\/span><a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"MSI Graphic Cards GT 1030 2G LP OC, Low Profile\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/msi-graphic-cards-gt-1030-2g-lp-oc-low-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">MSI GeForce GT 1030 LP OC<\/a> (Low Profile Supported)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not everyone needs a huge amount of performance from their low-profile or compact GPU. Sometimes size is the main constraint, which is where something like MSI\u2019s LP OC variant of the GT 1030 comes in. This GPU is a single-slot, low-profile model with a very compact cooler with an included full height bracket, making it perfect for an HTPCs, slim cases, and SFF systems.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11340\" style=\"width: 985px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11340\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11340\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1.jpg\" alt=\"MSI GeForce GT 1030 LP OC\" width=\"985\" height=\"695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1.jpg 985w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1-768x542.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11340\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11340 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20985%20695%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"MSI GeForce GT 1030 LP OC\" width=\"985\" height=\"695\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20985%20695%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 985w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1.jpg 985w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1-768x542.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/04\/61SbANSJCgL._AC_SL1024_1.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-11340\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Credit: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In terms of performance, you\u2019re looking at 2GB of GDDR5 memory and a clock speed of 1518 MHz. What\u2019s nice is that this kind of configuration can easily be used for 4K video playback on an external monitor or TV.<\/p>\n<p>There is a single HDMI and single DisplayPort at the rear, so you could potentially run two monitors if needed. The extremely compact fan is near silent, and there is no need for an external power connector either.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Similar Alternative: <a title=\"Gigabyte GT1030 LP Graphics Card\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/gigabyte-gt1030-lp-graphics-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">Gigabyte GT1030 LP Graphics Card<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PNY_RTX_A2000_6GB_Low_Profile_Graphics_Card_Low_Profile_Supported\"><\/span><a title=\"PNY RTX A2000 6GB Low Profile Graphics Card\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/pny-rtx-a2000-6gb-low-profile-graphics-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">PNY RTX A2000 6GB Low Profile Graphics Card<\/a> (Low Profile Supported)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you want the very best performance in a low profile, you'll have to look towards workstation offerings from Nvidia. This RTX A2000 is around the equivalent of an RTX 3050 and can handle 1080p gaming like a champ.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/314pnQXb14L._AC_.jpg\" width=\"528\" height=\"337\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20528%20337%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" width=\"528\" height=\"337\" data-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/314pnQXb14L._AC_.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>This PNY A2000 Graphics Card comes bundled with both full and half-height brackets for excellent compatibility with a broad range of SFF and slim PCs. The best part? No external power needed!<\/p>\n<p>Chuck it into your PCIe slot, and you're good to go.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatives: <a title=\"Gigabyte GTX 1650 4GB Low Profile Graphics Card \" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/gigabyte-gtx-1650-4gb-low-profile-graphics-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">Gigabyte GTX 1650 4GB Low Profile Graphics Card<\/a> (Slower than the RTX A2000)<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"XFX_Speedster_Swift_105_RX_6400_Low_Profile_Graphics_Card_Low_Profile_Supported\"><\/span><a title=\"XFX Speedster Swift 105 RX 6400 Low Profile Graphics Card \" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/xfx-speedster-swift-105-rx-6400-low-profile-graphics-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">XFX Speedster Swift 105 RX 6400 Low Profile Graphics Card <\/a>(Low Profile Supported)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you're shopping in the ~$150 price range, the RX 6400 is a decent choice for low profile graphics cards. Although it gets edged out by the GTX 1650 and thoroughly outclassed by the RTX A2000 above, the cost savings might be worth it for those who want to do some light gaming.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/61CwpbtclNL._AC_SL1500_.jpg\" width=\"998\" height=\"550\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20998%20550%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" width=\"998\" height=\"550\" data-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/61CwpbtclNL._AC_SL1500_.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>This RX 6400 doesn't require an additional PCIe power connector and can run off the PCIe slot without any issues. You can expect better performance with this card if you're on a more modern platform with PCIe Gen 4.0 support on your PCIe slots.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MSI_Ventus_2X_RTX_4070_12G_OC_Graphics_Card_Full_Height\"><\/span><a title=\"MSI Ventus 2X RTX 4070 Compact Graphics Card\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/msi-ventus-2x-rtx-4070-compact-graphics-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">MSI Ventus 2X RTX 4070 12G OC Graphics Card<\/a> (Full Height)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve got a bit of room in your case, and want the latest generation performance, MSI's GeForce RTX 4070 VENTUS 2X is a great choice. It sits around the $600~ mark and gives you access to all the latest NVIDIA technologies along with 12GB of VRAM for peace of mind.<\/p>\n<p>The VENTUS 2X OC comes equipped with 12GB of GDDR6X memory, as well as Nvidia\u2019s Ada Lovelace architecture with 3rd-generation Ray Tracing cores and 4th-generation Tensor cores.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71D017mxjxL._AC_SL1500_.jpg\" width=\"1029\" height=\"920\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201029%20920%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" width=\"1029\" height=\"920\" data-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71D017mxjxL._AC_SL1500_.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>This all results in an excellent performance, not just when gaming, but also when <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-gpu-for-editing-rendering\/\">editing and rendering videos<\/a>, and any kind of 3D design.<\/p>\n<p>This GPU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/gpu-core-clocks-memory-clocks\/\">boost clock<\/a> is an impressive 2505 MHz, which when paired with the 5888 CUDA cores and the 21 Gbps memory clock, ensures fast render times. In fact, it's the most powerful graphics card on this list!<\/p>\n<p>You'll need a 650W power supply to run it, and keep in mind that the Ventus 2X isn't the quietest GPU out there.<\/p>\n<p><em>Note that this is a dual-slot width GPU, so make sure you have enough room for it.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_-_is_a_low-profile_or_compact_GPU_worth_it\"><\/span>Conclusion \u2013 is a low-profile or compact GPU worth it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The compact GPUs we recommend in this article perform reasonably well in SFF (Small-Form-Factor) cases that are well-ventilated.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, though, low-profile and compact GPUs are a niche market for <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/pc-builder\/\">PC-Builders<\/a> that, first and foremost, have to work with size constraints and can live with performance hits due to thermal throttling or lower clock speeds.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>That\u2019s about it from us! What low-profile or compact GPU are you thinking of buying? Let us know in the <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"#post-11307-comments\"><strong><em>comments<\/em><\/strong><\/a> <strong><em>or our <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\"><strong><em>forum<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re looking to build a compact PC, whether it\u2019s for gaming, work, or to use as a home theater (or a server), low-profile GPUs a must-have. These more compact variants of their full-sized brethren though usually come with a performance sacrifice. The GPU market is crazy at the moment, with heavy price-inflations being the...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2343,"featured_media":11323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[74],"tags":[118,256],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11307"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2343"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11307"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23670,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11307\/revisions\/23670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}