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The best low profile GPUs in 2023 – our top LP graphics cards
Our best recommendations for gamers looking to build in a small form factor PC case
Updated: Jul 24, 2023 3:00 pm
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There are many reasons why you might want to consider the best low-profile graphics card for your present or future build. But the main reason, ultimately, is their ability to fit into literally any case. This makes the low-profile graphics card not only versatile but space-saving as well.
Even though we don’t necessarily class the low-profile graphics card as a premium hardware offering, it’s still seen its fair share of technological advancements. It’s not just top-tier GPUs that get all the attention – consumers now have the option to purchase a half-size GPU with all the punching power required to play AAA games titles with a decent FPS output.
So we go through a list of the best low-profile cards currently available to the consumer public. Both AMD and Nvidia feature in this best of guide, bringing their flagship low-profile offerings to the table. Which will ultimately take the top spot? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about LP GPUs.
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Best low profile GPU for gaming
Best low profile GPU for gaming
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1650 LP 4GB
Clock Speed
1590 MHz (Boost)
VRAM
4GB GDDR6
Memory Bus Width
128 bit
Pros
- Ability to perform 1080p gaming at 60FPS
- 75 Watt power consumption
- Great dual fan cooling solution
Cons
- On the expensive side
ZOTAC’s GeForce GTX 1650 LP GPU has been rated as the best and fastest low profile GPU in this guide, and for good reason. It comes to the table boasting the ability to perform lower intensive AAA game titles in 1080p at 60FPS. Pretty decent when you consider the overall size of this card.
It has a 1590 MHz boosted clock speed out-of-the-box which makes it, by far, the fastest in this guide and perfect for any gamer looking to build a small form factor PC. The 1650 is part of GeForce’s 16 series from Nvidia and is based on the Turing GPU architecture we’re used to seeing in more premium GPUs.
With 896 CUDA cores and 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM, this graphics card is no joke. It’s around 25% faster than its next closest rival, the 1050 Ti.
ZOTAC has equipped this card with its dual-fan thermal design which is said to cover more of the heatsink leading to a much more efficient cooling solution.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for the absolute best low-profile GPU money can buy, look no further. The GTX 1650 will make the perfect light gaming small form factor PC for any beginner looking to get into the gaming scene.
Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti OC LP
Solid performance and versatility
Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC Low Profile 4GB
Clock Speed
1328MHz Base, 1442MHz Boost
CUDA Cores
768
Memory Size
4GB GDDR5
Dimensions
37mm x 167mm x 69 mm
PSU Required
300W
Pros
- Small form factor with compact cooling system
- Low power consumption
- Extremely quiet
Cons
- Considered quite pricey
- Hindered performance from lower coooling potential
Contrary to what many will likely believe, the Gigabyte 1050 Ti, which comes equipped with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM, is a fantastic option for those out there looking to build a small form factor PC that is capable of handling games.
The 1050 Ti from Gigabyte supports up to four display outputs which include; dual-link DVI-D ports, one DisplayPort, and two HDMI ports, making it extremely versatile, to say the least. The 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM makes gaming extremely viable, and achieving playable FPS on some lesser intensive AAA titles is certainly not out of the question. Think Fortnite, CS:GO, and so on.
Even though it only has a single fan thermal design, it still provides excellent cooling during heavy graphical processes and is near silent. The card is fairly long – sitting at 167mm – but we’ll let it off as it offers the second-highest clock speed on this list.
This card comes OC’d right out-of-the-box, meaning you don’t have to stress over the BIOS menu to gain extra performance out of this thing. It’s already done for you! Using Gigabyte’s Xtreme engine utility, you can simply turn on OC mode boosting the clock speed from 1328Mhz to a tasty 1442Mhz.
The Gigabyte 1050 Ti Low profile graphics card gets our second spot in this best of guide and for good reason. Top performance, decent aesthetics, and robust cooling are all factors that make this LP GPU a great one.
Gigabyte GTX 1050 OC LP
Good performance all round
Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 OC Low Profile 2GB
Clock Speed
1392MHz – 1506MHz
VRAM
2GB GDDR5
Memory Bus Width
128 bit
Pros
- Small form factor with compact cooling system
- Very low power consumption
- Cooling system very quiet
Cons
- Quite bulky for a low profile card
- Only 2Gb of VRAM
Next, comes the 1050 Ti’s little brother, the 1050. This one, once again, has been manufactured by the excellent Gigabyte.
The great thing about Gigabyte is the quality with which their hardware components come to the table with. Whether it’s their latest flagship motherboard or a budget GPU offering, you know when purchasing Gigabyte, you’re effectively getting a product that is going to last. The 1050 is absolutely no different.
The 1050 has pretty much everything the 1050 Ti has to offer, but with half VRAM. The 1050 comes to shelves with 2GB of GDDR5 instead of 4GB – and even though that doesn’t sound like a great deal, it has a real impact on this card’s performance. This being said, the 1050 is still able to produce playable FPS in some games if the settings are tweaked just right.
The length of this card is identical to the Ti, measuring 167mm, and it comes with the exact same overclocking software for extracting extra performance at no additional cost. Whereas the Ti can be boosted to 1442Mhz, the 1050 OC can actually be boosted to 1506Mhz which is seriously impressive considering its price tag.
EVGA GT 1030 SC
Nice design with decent performance to boot
EVGA GeForce GT 1030 SC 2GB GDDR5
Clock Speed
1290MHz – 1544MHz
VRAM
2GB GDDR5
Memory Bus Width
64 bit
Pros
- Nice aesthetic design
- Efficient cooling system that doesn’t require a great deal of power
- Good price point
Cons
- Only 2GB of memory
EVGA is another brand I’m sure everyone will be familiar with and gives us our fourth offering -the excellent GT 1030 2GB graphics card.
The first thing that struck me with this card was how aesthetically pleasing it was right out of the box. Having said that, unless you plan on buying a fairly elaborate case, you probably won’t get the chance to enjoy the aesthetics all that much.
The HSF thermal design sits at 68mm tall and 169mm long, meaning it’s quite wide, but nothing that’s going to cause your small build any problems. The fan does work very well in keeping this card cool, especially when in OC mode, which boosts the internal clock speed from 1290Mhz to an impressive 1544Mhz.
The 1030 isn’t the greatest card in the world as far as gaming is concerned, but it does have enough juice to be able to play some games efficiently and works great for most photo editing and design purposes.
Ultimately, the 1030 is a great little card if you’re looking for an all-around option. It’s affordable while still being able to achieve some solid performance results.
Sapphire Pulse RX 6400
Good all-round performer
Sapphire PULSE RX 6400
Core Clock Speed
1923 MHz base, 2039 MHz game, 2321 MHz boost
Stream Processors
768
Memory Size
4 GB GDDR6
Dimensions
170 x 56.2 x 17.2 mm
PSU Required
250 W
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Pros
- Current gen tech
- Access to enhancement tech
Cons
- Poor performance
We come to the AMD offerings, and the first comes in the shape of Sapphire’s Pulse AMD Radeon RX 6400. Giving a new entry into the smaller market option.
The new addition is the lowest offering from the Radeon RDNA 2 RX 6000 selection. Meaning even though the current cards keep growing in power, there are some low TBP options. With a smooth sleek design that keeps the thickness of the card down.
If you’re wondering about the RX 6400 specifications we outline the key features. It comes with 768 processors. With 16 MB of infinity cache and 12 RT cores. With a 6 nm process size, it creates a 107 mm² sized die with 5.4 billion transistors. It also has a base clock of 1923 MHz, a game clock of 2039 MHz, and a boost clock of 2321 MHz. For VRAM it has 4GB of GDDR6 memory with a bandwidth of 128 GB/s.
The card isn’t the biggest performer, it may be suitable for 1080p gaming but not much more. However, there are ways to further improve how well it does. With features like FSR and RSR available in games and driver wide for higher framerates.
Best Nvidia ITX graphics card
Best Nvidia ITX graphics card
MSI RTX 3060 Ti Aero ITX OC
Core Clock Speed
1410 MHz base, 1695 MHz boost
Stream Processors
4864
Memory Size
8 GB GDDR6
Dimensions
172 x 125 x 43 mm
PSU Required
600 W
Pros
- Compact design
- Modern hardware with good performance
Cons
- Limited cooling capacity
- Small overclock
Although not technically a low-profile card we turn to ITX graphics cards. They take up a full height instead of a lower size they can offer better performance cards. As with a bigger size, they can accommodate a higher TDP but the ITX size limits how big they can be and tend to be shorter and dual-slot only.
The 3060 Ti specifically is the best card available for the current Nvidia generation capable of a compact size. It is built on the Ampere architecture with the specific variant the GA104-200/202. With a Samsung 8nm process it creates a die 392mm² in size that holds 17.4 billion transistors.
It brings with it 4,864 shaders, 152 TMUs, 80 ROPs, and 38 RT cores. These then have a frequency of 1,410 MHz base clock and a boost clock of 1,695 MHz. Which is overclocked a whole two percent. Likely limited by the smaller thermal capacity of the size.
In terms of the video memory, it has 8 GB of GDDR6. Which is clocked at 14 Gbps, so across the 256-bit memory bus it gives a bandwidth of 448 GB/s. The whole package comes at a TDP of 200 W and is powered by one 8-pin power connector. Whilst at a size of 172 x 125 x 43 mm providing a small compact design for an ITX build.
The card should offer great 1080p performance whilst also pushing hard for 1440p. Although technologies like DLDSR and DLSS should offer even better performance. Although coming at the cost of quality but can make it easier to run overall.
Best AMD ITX graphics card
Best AMD ITX graphics card
ASRock RX 6600 XT Challenger ITX
Core Clock Speed
2589MHz Boost, 1968MHz Base
Stream Processors
2048
Memory Size
8GB GDDR6
Dimensions
179mm x 124mm x 40 mm
PSU Required
500W
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Pros
- Compact design
- Great performance enhancements available
Cons
- Limited cooling capacity
- Potentially loud design
For another ITX option, we have an AMD offering, with the ASRock RX 6600 XT Challenger ITX. A compact choice for team Red that can give a good 1080p and 1440p experience. Whilst it is also capable of using RSR and FSR, which is capable of improving the experience across the board. Although at the expense of the quality.
The RX 6600 XT is made from the RDNA 2 architecture. The precise variant is the Navi 23 XT. Made with TSMCs 7nm process creating a die 237mm² in size, with 11.06 billion transistors. Which only has 160 W TDP powered by an 8-pin power connector. In a size of only 179 x 124 x, 40 mm able to fit in those more compact builds.
Its package is comprised of 2,048 stream processors with 128 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 32 RT cores, and a 32 MB infinity cache. These have a base clock of 1,968 MHz, a 2,359 MHz game clock, and a 2,589 MHz boost clock. The memory is comprised of 8 GB of GDDR6, clocked at 16 Gbps which across the 128-bit memory gives it a bandwidth of 256 GB/s.
How to choose the best low profile graphics card
Like any hardware component, choosing the best low-profile graphics card can sometimes be tricky – and let’s face it – a pretty stressful task. However, thanks to our team of hardworking PC enthusiasts, we have the most up-to-date hardware options the internet has to offer.
There will be plenty of people reading this right now, scratching their heads in confusion, wondering why they would ever choose a low-profile GPU. Well, below, we’ve outlined some of the main benefits of purchasing a small form factor product.
Physical size
The first and most obvious area which needs to be addressed when referencing low-profile graphics cards is their size. Ultimately, this is the number one reason why someone might consider LP GPUs as a real hardware option.
Low profile, in the graphics card universe, usually refers to the overall height of the GPU itself. As many will know, the top GPUs in today’s market are seriously hefty pieces of kit that take up a large amount of space thanks to their impressive heatsink and thermal designs. However, you won’t have this problem with a low-profile graphics card.
An LP GPU is a stripped-back, half-height (usually) graphics card, which is custom-designed to fit in much thinner cases. They typically come with subtle cooling systems that offer average levels of cooling, meaning they aren’t ideal for excess overclocking. This being said, in some cases, they might be your only option, especially if you have a really small case.
Ultimately, a low-profile graphics card won’t be everyone’s first choice, but they certainly have a part to play in the PC world. Where they will usually take up only a single slot PCI express lane.
Power consumption
Power consumption is another big plus for low-profile graphics cards as they can run on much lower wattages than regular-sized GPUs. This is thanks to a number of different factors which include thermal design, additional features, and overall makeup.
What this means for your build is:
- A smaller overall PSU is required
- The total cost of the build will be reduced
- PSU power can be utilized elsewhere
In most cases, the LP GPU won’t physically draw any power from the power supply but will get enough wattage directly from the PCI-e 16x slot it’s plugged into. So doesn’t require any power connectors. Saving your power supply Watts is sent to different components thanks to their low power consumption.
Noise output
Noise output may or may not be something that concerns you when looking at purchasing hardware. This being said, it’s certainly an area that we feel the low-profile graphics card excels in.
Due to the stripped-back, almost raw appearance of the LP GPU, most of them come with one solitary fan for their cooling needs. However, some of the entry-level, budget offerings actually come with passive heatsinks for their cooling requirements and consequently make no noise whatsoever.
This is especially good when you’re looking at building a small, inconspicuous build – as most of the time, smaller form cases don’t accommodate very good soundproofing.
Cost
Finally, and potentially most importantly, is the cost of these small form cards. As you can probably imagine, low profile graphics cards are naturally less expensive than regular-sized GPUs – and that comes down to several different factors:
- Performance
- Thermal cooling design
- Aesthetics
- RGB
This being said, low-profile graphics cards have been designed to target small form builds that usually aren’t built for gaming or highly stressful work tasks. That means performance isn’t high on their list of priorities. What is high on that list, however, is keeping costs to a minimum, a task that these hardware components seem to do very well indeed.
Low Profile GPU Vs. Standard GPU
A lot of people at this stage in the article might be wondering what the differences between a low profile GPU and a standard GPU actually are. Well, don’t worry, we’ve put together this short infographic that should make understanding the difference between the two a little bit easier.
What is a low-profile graphics cards?
Whether you’re an experienced gamer or researching how to successfully carry out your first PC build, you may have heard of low-profile graphics cards. In a nutshell, a low-profile graphics card is a type of video card that has been specially designed to be smaller than other graphics cards, and this is usually so that it can be used with a computer that has a smaller case.
Due to the fact that low-profile graphics cards are smaller in size, it usually means that they are able to operate at a much quieter sound than full-height graphics cards, although this isn’t always the case. In addition, low-profile graphics cards tend to use far less power than other types of graphics cards, which makes them a lot more energy-efficient. It’s also worth being aware that, due to their size, low-profile graphics cards tend to produce more heat than their larger counterparts and have smaller fan sizes, which runs the risk of them overheating. However, due to the fact that they have lower clock speeds, low-profile graphics cards are usually able to regulate their temperature well, without the need for an additional cooling system.
What is ITX GPU?
An ITX graphics card is built to a specific size. They aim to fit nicely into an ITX or mini ITX build, since they are much smaller the cases they use may also be smaller. And so ITX GPUs will be shorter and only take up a dual-slot and no thicker. Whilst also being no longer than 180 mm (7″) so as not to overlap the motherboard that may be squished in. This does compromise how much cooling can be used and limits the TDP of the card that can be used.
How do I install a low-profile graphics card?
Before you purchase a low-profile graphics card, it’s important to make sure that your case is compatible with a low-profile graphics card and will be able to support it. However, if you do find that you’ve purchased a brand new low-profile graphics card, only to discover that it isn’t compatible with your PC case, you don’t need to panic! Nearly all low-profile graphics cards are designed to be compatible with standard brackets, which means that you may be able to purchase a different bracket that will allow you to connect the low-profile graphics card to the standard-sized PC case. However, you will need to be sure that the low-profile graphics card has been designed to support standard brackets.
As low-profile graphics cards aren’t too different from other types of graphics cards, so the good news is that installing one will be a straightforward process! To do so, all you will need is your low-profile graphics card, a screwdriver, and your computer setup. First, you’ll need to remove the GPU (if you have one) from your current PC setup, and then locate the long PCI-E x16 slot which is located on the heat sink side of your processor.
After you have done this, then ensure that there is nothing obstructing your access to the slot, and be sure to carefully remove the existing graphics card by unscrewing it from the back of its bracket. You should also check to see if your motherboard has a little latch situated on the end of the PCI-E slot (not all do) and carefully detach it from the old graphics card if so.
After you have completed this step and safely removed the old graphics card from the motherboard, you will now be able to go ahead and install your new low-profile graphics card. To do this, all you will need to do is simply insert the card firmly into the slot, and then attach the plastic latch to help hold it in place. Then, take your screwdriver and carefully secure the low-profile retention bracket into your computer’s case with the same screws that you used to attach your older graphics card.
Are low profile graphics cards less powerful?
Generally speaking, mini or low profile graphics cards will be less powerful than their larger counterparts, though that’s not to say that they can’t offer a respectable performance. In fact, many of the smaller graphics cards offer the exact same performance and power as the bigger graphics cards. However, the only difference to note is that the mini graphics cards will have slower clock rates and worse cooling abilities, which will ultimately affect the overall game performance power of the graphics card.
Is low profile the same as half height?
Low profile graphics cards are essentially the exact same as half-height graphics cards, and the two different names are often used interchangeably to describe the same type of card. Both utilize the low profile design of a card. However, before you make a purchase, you should make sure to double-check whether or not the card comes with an additional half-height or low-profile bracket, as this will ensure it is able to fit itself into your system without any issues. Of course, there is also a chance that your mini graphics card will be compatible with standard-sized brackets, though this isn’t always the case (depending on price and manufacturer) so be sure to check this before making a purchase to ensure the smooth installation upon arrival.
How tall is a PCI slot?
When it comes to figuring out the height of a PCI slot, the easiest indication is by first deciphering whether it is half-length, full-length, full-height, or low profile:
Half Length: Half-length PCI slots are up to 6.9 inches in length (175 mm).
Full-Length – Full-length PCI’s are usually up to 12 inches long (312 mm). Although, it’s very rare to come across full-length PCI slots, as many modern-day cases cannot support them.
Low Profile: Low profile cards have two standard lengths of MD1 (4.721 inches/ 119.91 mm) and MD2 (6.600 inches/ 167.64 mm).
Full-Height: Full-height cards are up to 4.7 inches (120 mm)
Final word
There you have it, our complete guide to the best low-profile graphics cards money can buy.
Ultimately, low-profile graphics cards really only cater to one kind of user, and that’s someone looking to build a really small, inconspicuous desktop computer. They have been purpose-designed to try and maximize performance out of the smallest package. Thanks to new movements in technology, we are finally being rewarded with decent products that actually have a purpose.
Other GPU guides
FAQs
What is a low-profile graphics cards?
Whether you’re an experienced gamer or researching how to successfully carry out your first PC build, you may have heard of low-profile graphics cards. In a nutshell, a low-profile graphics card is a type of video card that has been specially designed to be smaller than other graphics cards, and this is usually so that it can be used with a computer that has a smaller case.
Due to the fact that low-profile graphics cards are smaller in size, it usually means that they are able to operate at a much quieter sound than full-height graphics cards, although this isn’t always the case. In addition, low-profile graphics cards tend to use far less power than other types of graphics cards, which makes them a lot more energy-efficient. It’s also worth being aware that, due to their size, low-profile graphics cards tend to produce more heat than their larger counterparts and have smaller fan sizes, which runs the risk of them overheating. However, due to the fact that they have lower clock speeds, low-profile graphics cards are usually able to regulate their temperature well, without the need for an additional cooling system.
How do I install a low-profile graphics card?
Before you purchase a low-profile graphics card, it’s important to make sure that your case is compatible with a low-profile graphics card and will be able to support it. However, if you do find that you’ve purchased a brand new low-profile graphics card, only to discover that it isn’t compatible with your PC case, you don’t need to panic! Nearly all low-profile graphics cards are designed to be compatible with standard brackets, which means that you may be able to purchase a different bracket that will allow you to connect the low-profile graphics card to the standard-sized PC case. However, you will need to be sure that the low-profile graphics card has been designed to support standard brackets.
As low-profile graphics cards aren’t too different from other types of graphics cards, so the good news is that installing one will be a straightforward process! To do so, all you will need is your low-profile graphics card, a screwdriver, and your computer setup. First, you’ll need to remove the GPU (if you have one) from your current PC setup, and then locate the long PCI-E x16 slot which is located on the heat sink side of your processor.
After you have done this, then ensure that there is nothing obstructing your access to the slot, and be sure to carefully remove the existing graphics card by unscrewing it from the back of its bracket. You should also check to see if your motherboard has a little latch situated on the end of the PCI-E slot (not all do) and carefully detach it from the old graphics card if so.
After you have completed this step and safely removed the old graphics card from the motherboard, you will now be able to go ahead and install your new low-profile graphics card. To do this, all you will need to do is simply insert the card firmly into the slot, and then attach the plastic latch to help hold it in place. Then, take your screwdriver and carefully secure the low-profiles retention bracket into your computer’s case with the same screws that you used to attach your older graphics card.
Are low profile graphics cards less powerful?
Generally speaking, mini or low profile graphics cards will be less powerful than their larger counterparts, though that’s not to say that they can’t offer a respectable performance. In fact, many of the smaller graphics cards offer the exact same performance and power as the bigger graphics cards. However, the only difference to note is that the mini graphics cards will have slower clock rates and worse cooling abilities, which will ultimately affect the overall game performance power of the graphics card.
Is low profile the same as half height?
Low profile graphics cards are essentially the exact same as half-height graphics cards, and the two different names are often used interchangeably to describe the same type of card. Both utilize the low profile design of a card. However, before you make a purchase, you should make sure to double-check whether or not the card comes with an additional half-height or low-profile bracket, as this will ensure it is able to fit itself into your system without any issues. Of course, there is also a chance that your mini graphics card will be compatible with standard-sized brackets, though this isn’t always the case (depending on price and manufacturer) so be sure to check this before making a purchase to ensure the smooth installation upon arrival.
How tall is a PCI slot?
When it comes to figuring out the height of a PCI slot, the easiest indication is by first deciphering whether it is half-length, full-length, full-height, or low profile:
Half Length: Half-length PCI slots are up to 6.9 inches in length (175 mm).
Full-Length – Full-length PCI’s are usually up to 12 inches long (312 mm). Although, it’s very rare to come across full-length PCI slots, as many modern-day cases cannot support them.
Low Profile: Low profile cards have two standard lengths of MD1 (4.721 inches/ 119.91 mm) and MD2 (6.600 inches/ 167.64 mm).
Full-Height: Full-height cards are up to 4.7 inches (120 mm)
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