Selecting a low profile graphics card is not a premium hardware offering, but it’s still in the game. Many people want the best high end graphics card, but they also want a smaller-sized GPU that can fit into literally any case with all the power to run AAA games with good FPS. Therefore, if you are looking for a low profile graphics card, don’t worry; we have got your back in finding a lowprofile GPU.
Related: How to overclock your Graphics Card?
Related: Pairing Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600, Ryzen 5 3600, Ryzen 7 3700x
Many people don’t exactly know and search about what is a low profile graphics card? In simple terms, a low profile graphics card is a GPU having a smaller PCB (printed circuit board), reduced height, and less thickness as compared to the standard cards. Typically, a card with a maximum height of 64 mm and a maximum length of 168 mm is considered a low profile GPU. You might also know these cards as half-hight video cards. Now that you understood the low profile graphics card meaning, let’s move forward.
Pros and Cons OF Low Profile GPU
Standard tower PCs have ample room for add-on components like graphics or audio cards. Slim form-factor PCs sacrifice extra component space in exchange for a smaller total size. Low-profile graphics cards are roughly half as tall as a standard graphics card, allowing them to fit into the smaller component space in low-profile PCs.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| These mini GPUs fit into more minor PC cases. | Usually, these half-height cards are less powerful compared to regular GPUs. |
| Being smaller in size and hardware means low power consumption. | Sometimes, it might never fit in a typical case unless you have an adaptor. |
| Less heat is generated as low power is being consumed. | You might have to get a Low Profile bracket as it is not always included outside the box. |
| With the decrease in size, these mini graphics cards are very quiet or even silent. | It can be more expensive to get the same specs of standard video cards as you’re paying for a smaller compact card. |
| Usually, no power connector is required. | |
Best Low Profile Graphics Card – Know Your Needs
Suppose you found the best low profile graphics card or you can say half hight video card that met your requirements, but what about the budget? Do you have it? It’s the main reason for which we have classified these mini graphics cards according to your budget and needs.
Cheap Low Profile Graphics Card: ASUS GT 710
Best Budget Low Profile GPU for Gaming: Gigabyte GTX 1650 Super OC
Best Mid-Range Low Profile GPU for Gaming: ASUS GTX 1660 Super Phoenix
Best High-End Low Profile GPU for Gaming: Zotac Gaming RTX 2070 Super Mini
Cheap Low Profile Graphics Card: ASUS GT 710
Specs
Memory: 2GB DDR3 | Core Clock: 954 MHz | Video Output: 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x D-Sub | CUDA Cores: 192 |
Summary
ASUS GT 710 low profile GPU has solid-state capacitors and can hold 10 years of a lifetime under full load. Packed with extremely low ESR, it consumes lower power. It’s a 2GB low profile graphics card in which memory and GPU are covered with large heat sinks providing good gaming and multimedia experience. It has a good low profile design to build a remote and more petite system.
In terms of gaming, you can run games like Fortnite, Hitman Absolution, Mafia 2, and Crysis 3 etc. at an FPS ranging from 35-55 FPS. If you want an average gaming experience, this low profile GPU is a good option to make. It is our recommended cheap graphics card for cheap pc builds in 2023.
PROS | CONS |
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Our Verdict
The ASUS GT 710 provides three display outputs for your PC in an expensive way. HDMI, DVI-D, or D-Sub display supports the Nvidia driver. Compatibility with most PC hardware and its silent nature seems a good half-hight GPU, but it is not recommended for above-average gaming purposes.
Best Budget Low Profile Graphics Card for Gaming: Gigabyte GTX 1650 Super
Specs
Memory: 4GB GDDR6 | Core Clock: 1755 MHz | Video Output: 1 x HDMI, 1 x Display Port | CUDA Cores: 1280 |
Summary
Gigabyte GTX 1650 Super is a 4GB graphics card and has a unique cooling feature. It’s famous in public and even some people consider it the best budget low profile video cards for gaming. Two cooling fans spin in the alternate direction to dissipate more heat than standard fans. Also, the semi-passive cooling works like a charm.
Fans will remain off under normal conditions until you play some heavy games on it. The heat sink is directly touched with GPU to cool down. 1280 CUDA cores represent the power of parallel processing. Having many cores, this GPU is impressive in terms of price.
If we talk about gaming, you can run games like Far Cry: New Dawn, Gears Tactics, Total War: Warhammer 2, Battlefield V, and The Witcher III etc. at an FPS ranging from 40-60 FPS.
GTX 1650 low profile is our top recommended best budget low profile graphics card for gaming.
PROS | CONS |
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Our Verdict
Twin fans of Gigabyte GTX 1650 Super are better than the non-Super GTX 1650, having a solid number of CUDA cores. It gives budget-focused 1080p gamers a better option against competing for AMD cards in the same price bracket.
Best Mid-Range Low Profile Graphics Card for Gaming: ASUS GTX 1660 Super Phoenix
Specs
Memory: 6GB GDDR6 | Core Clock: 1530 MHz | Boost Clock:1830 MHz | Video Output: 1 x HDMI, 1 x Display Port, 1 x DVI-D | CUDA Cores: 1408 |
Summary
ASUS GTX 1660 Super Phoenix has a fast GDDR6 memory for high-speed gaming. It’s a 6GB graphics card and has a wind blade fan design that reduces fan drag. Having IP5X dust resistance and Auto-Extreme technology to enhance reliability, GPU Tweak II also provides performance tweaking. This good low profile video card is a real boost packed in small size.
In terms of gaming, Mount and Blade 2, F1 2019, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, Crysis 3, Doom Eternal, and Just Cause 4 etc. can be played at an FPS ranging from 70-160 FPS which is good enough to enjoy the high-resolution gaming experience.
One thing to note that it comes overclocked right out of the box which is a plus point and the temperature of the GPU Boost limits sometimes. Compared to simple GTX 1660, it’s 10% improved in performance and 2% – 4% faster. We can recommend 1080p gaming at the highest settings. ASUS worked good on the pricing but cheaped out on the heatsink.
It is authentic to say that it’s the best mid-range low profile graphics card for gaming.
PROS | CONS |
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Our Verdict
ASUS GTX 1660 Super Phoenix is a successor and an updated version of GTX 1660 which used GDDR5 memory, but with an update, memory is replaced with GDDR6 with some other improvements. Though ray-tracing and DLSS are still missing, they are not the most important things to have right now, especially in a market where every dollar matters.
Best High-End Low Profile Graphics Card for Gaming: Zotac Gaming RTX 2070 Super Mini
Specs
Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Core Clock: 1605 MHz | Boost Clock: 1770 MHz | Video Output: 1 x HDMI, 3 x Display Ports | CUDA Cores: 2560 |
Summary
Zotac Gaming RTX 2070 Super Mini has a unique IceStorm 2.0 cooling feature, making this low profile video card quieter and more remarkable for sustained performance. It’s a good low profile video card. This mini graphics card has GDDR6 memory for a faster gaming experience, wraparound metal backplate, OC scanner, and lit lighting. NVLINK SLI provides the smoothest gameplay at maximum resolutions.
It doesn’t come with an overclock out of the box. The overall performance at 1080p is good. In fact, it’s 10% faster than the AMD RX 5700. In terms of performance, this super RTX 2070 uplifts by 12%-15%, giving 14%-16% higher FPS compared to non-Super RTX 2060. With outstanding performance, we can easily recommend the card for gaming at 1440p.
It’s worth gaming at the extreme using this high-end GPU. Games like Far Cry, Just Cause 4, The Witcher III, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Crysis 3, Doom Eternal, and Wolfenstein etc. can run at an FPS ranging from 120-200+ FPS smoothly.
For high gaming performance, it’s the best high-end low profile graphics card for gaming.
PROS | CONS |
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Our Verdict
Zotac Gaming RTX 2070 Super Mini’s thermal solution is relatively compact, which makes the card shorter, so it can fit into more cases. It doesn’t come with an overclock out of the box. However, It’s a 1440p capable card, quiet and has a good cooling feature. All of the high-end features in a compact size at a cheap price.
Best Nvidia Low Profile Nvidia Graphics Card
This section will get to know the list of the best low profile Nvidia graphics cards. These Nvidia low profile video cards are good to go if you want gaming, streaming, multitasking, video editing, or rendering. You can even run games at 1080p/1440p gaming in highest settings. Nvidia geforce 2gb low profile half height pci express x16 video graphics card is good option if you want a regular PC.
Cheap Low Profile Nvidia Graphics Card – BIOSTAR GeForce GT 710
What’s Included: 2 GB DDR3 | DVI | HDMI | VGA | HDCP | Direct x12 | OpenGL 4.6 |
- Cheap Price
- Good for Average Gaming
- 3 Display Outputs
Cheap Low Profile Nvidia Graphics Card – Gigabyte GeForce GT 710
What’s Included: 2 GB GDDR3 | DVI | HDMI | VGA | HDCP | Direct x12 | OpenGL 4.5 | Single Fan |
- Cheap Price
- Good for Average Gaming
- 3 Display Outputs
Good Low Profile Nvidia Graphics Card – Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030
What’s Included: 2 GB GDDR5 | PCIe 3.0 | HDMI | VGA | HDCP | Direct x12 | OpenGL 4.5 |
- Fair Price
- Good for Above Average Gaming
- Can Run High-End Games at Lower FPS
- PCIe Compatible
- Good Memory (GDDR5)
Good Low Profile Nvidia Graphics Card – ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030
What’s Included: 2 GB GDDR5 | DVI | HDMI | HDCP | Direct x12 | PCIe 3.0 |
- Best Price
- Good for Above Average Gaming
- Can Run High-End Games at Lower FPS
- Good Memory (GDDR5)
Best Low Profile Nvidia Graphics Card – MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super
What’s Included: 6 GB GDDR6 | DP | HDMI | VR Ready | Direct x12 | PCIe 3.0 | Dual Fan |
- Reasonable Price
- Good for High-End Gaming
- Recommend for 1080p Gaming
- Better Performance
- Good Cooling Feature
- Good Memory Capacity(GDDR6)
Best Low Profile Nvidia Graphics Card – Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super
What’s Included: 8 GB GDDR6 | DP | HDMI | VR Ready | Direct x12 | PCIe 3.0 | 3x WindForce Fan | Ray Tracing Turing Architecture |
- Over Priced
- Best for High-End Gaming
- Recommend for 1440p Gaming
- Best Performance
- Best Cooling Feature
- Best Memory Capacity (GDDR6)
Best AMD Low Profile Graphics Card
In this section, you will get to know the best AMD low profile graphics card.These low profile AMD graphics cards are suitable for gaming and overall user experience. These mini graphics cards can perform any task you want even can run 1080p/1440p gaming at highest settings. Feel free to check the list.
Best High-End AMD Low Profile Graphics Card – XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition
What’s Included: 8 GB GDDR5 | 3x DP | HDMI | VR Ready | Direct x12 | DVI | Dual BIOS | 1386MHz OC+ |
- Over Price
- Best for Heavy Gaming
- Stable Performance
- Dual Fan Design
- Good Cooling Design
Best AMD Low Profile Graphics Card – MSI VGA Graphic Cards RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC
What’s Included: 8 GB GDDR5 | 3x DP | HDMI | VR Ready | Direct x12 | DVI | OpenGL 4.5 | 1366 MHz OC | PCIe
- Over Price
- Best for Heavy Gaming
- Stable Performance
- Good Cooling Design
Best Budget AMD Low Profile Graphics Card – VisionTek Radeon RX 560
What’s Included: 4 GB GDDR5 | 4K Graphics Card | 4 Mini DisplayPort | 7.1 Surround Sound | PCI Express | ATX & SFF |
- Reasonable Price
- Good for Heavy Gaming
- 4K Supported GPU
- Simplistic Design
Best Budget AMD Low Profile Graphics Card – PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 550
What’s Included: 4 GB GDDR5 | HDCP | Direct x12 | DisplayPort | DVI | HDMI |
- Reasonable Price
- Mini Design
- Good for Heavy Gaming
- Better Cooling Design
Best Budget AMD Low Profile Graphics Card – ASRock Phantom Gaming D Radeon RX 570
What’s Included: 4 GB GDDR5 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | HDCP | Direct x12 | DisplayPort | DVI | HDMI |
- Fair Price
- Dual Fan Design
- Good for Heavy Gaming
- Better Cooling Design
Frequently Asked Questions
Most people have confusions and there are some questions regarding low profile GPUs or mini graphics card which are answered briefly.
Is Low Profile GPU good for gaming?
It depends on the GPU model, VRAM and clock speed of the low profile GPU you are using for the gaming.
GPU Model: Before looking at the graphics card specifications, it is best to check its GPU model. The reason is simple. For example, high-performance GPU models such as Nvidia GTX 1650 are much more powerful than lower-performance GPU models.
VRAM: Even if you choose a specific GPU model, they may not provide the same performance because they usually have different amounts of video memory. Although a 1 GB or 2 GB GPU is sufficient for basic video output, you need 4 GB of VRAM to play modern PC games.
Clock Speed: Another factor that seriously affects graphics card performance is clock speed. Like computer processors, GPUs with clock speeds higher than 1500 MHz or similar will perform much better than GPUs near 1200 MHz, even with the same amount of video memory and the same GPU model.
Why are low profile graphics cards so expensive?
This is basically achieved by reducing the size of the card and ensuring that the thing does not boil the remaining PC. Maintaining similar performance on a smaller enclosure is much more difficult than just making the enclosure slightly larger. You need to get the reference mark and recreate it to work properly.
The same is true in the middle area of the GPU. It is also worth noting that the motherboard and graphics card consist of 4-6 layers. If you remove the area, you need to create a new layer to compensate for the loss. Then, you need to add tracing and circuits, which changes everything from engineering to manufacturing costs.
Does a low profile GPU use less power?
Many low-profile GPUs consume less power because their performance is so poor that they are not really passionate/gaming GPUs. The power consumption of the Low Profile 2060 will not be much less than the conventional 2060, unless it becomes too hot and the temperature rises.
Helpful Material – Do You Know It
We also have sorted the best CPUs on the basis of performance and budget. To pair the best motherboard with your low profile video card, you can check the authentic list of the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600, Ryzen 5 3600, or Ryzen 7 3700x.
M Hamza Malik is a writer, blogger, and engineer who loves to create, write, and share his insights about computers, products, and technology. Hamza has spent the last years reading books, tech, and computers, which brings him to writing, giving his character a spark! Therefore, PCFIED is where he started his journey professionally.
