Getting hold of a graphics card throughout 2020 was almost impossible due to the increased demand for PC hardware and the scarcity of chip supply. This continued throughout early 2021 and is expected to last longer than initially thought.
However, if you aren’t interested in high-end gaming, this shortage likely won’t be an issue as you are probably looking for something in the affordable GPU price range—specifically, low profile graphics cards.
These tiny GPUs are a superb option because of their nearly quiet running, economical price tag, and low power draw.
If you are uncertain which one you should get, we have compiled a list of some of the best low-profile graphics cards.
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MSI AMD Radeon RX 6400 Aero ITX
Specifications:rn• Core clocks – 2321MHz (Boost)rn• Interface: 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPortrn• VRAM: 4GB GDDR6rn• Power Consumption: 53Wrn• Dimensions: L: 172mm H: 112mm W: 39mm
The Pros:
- One of the best single slot LP GPUs for gamingrnSingle slotrn
The Cons:
- Needs PCIe 4.0 to reach its full potentialrn
Like most other LP GPUs, this MSI RX 6400 Aero ITX is not worth the cash compared to other complete-size GPUs.
However, we’re here to look at LP GPUs specifically, and when we compare the RX 6400 with other competitors in this category, this AMD GPU might be the swiftest LP card for gaming available at present.
This GPU has a TDP of 53W, so naturally, it comes with active cooling. The single fan helps this card stay around 70-degree Celsius while RPM stays around 1700 and noise levels at 26 dBA. The solitary fan aids this card in maintaining approximately 70-degree Celsius while RPM remains around 1700 and sound levels at 26 dBA.
Here are Hardware Unboxed’s thermal measurements of PowerColor’s RX 6400.
As you can see, MSI’s thermals and acoustics are notably better.
Performance-wise, the RX 6400 is comparable to a full-size GTX 1650, the RX 6500 XT, and the RX 570. But, you can only get this kind of performance if you pair the card with a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. Otherwise, FPS will plunge.
In conclusion, MSI’s RX 6400 has drawbacks like only 4GB of VRAM and worse performance with PCIe 3, but it’s an outstanding low-profile, single-slot GPU with adequate power to handle most of today’s games.
EVGA GeForce GT 1030 SC Passive
Specifications:rn• Boost core clock – 1544 MHzrn• Interface: 1 x DVI-D, 1 x HDMIrn• Total Power Draw – 30 Wrn• Dimensions – L: 169mm H: 68.8mm W: Dual-slot
The Pros:
- Passive coolingrnMinimal throttling during heavy loads
The Cons:
- It is a dual-slot card
What does it mean to have a low-profile card? It could mean several different things, but the most significant attribute of something low profile should be the lack of sound. The most silent graphics card you can get is one that doesn’t have any fans at all, one that relies on a heatsink alone.
If you’re looking for that, you should get EVGA’s GeForce GT 1030 SC. It is a dual-slot GPU but still compact compared to almost any other “typical card.”
Even with a heatsink, it maintains the temperature well enough to prevent significant throttling. Temperatures may rise to 83 degrees Celsius, but if you have sufficient airflow in your case, this won’t be a problem.
ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
Specifications:rn• Boost core clock – 1468 MHzrn• Interface: 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI 2.0brn• Total Power Draw: 30Wrn• Dimensions: L: 172mm H: 111mm W: Single-slot
The Pros:
- Single-slot rnThe fan keeps thermals stable during light gaming
The Cons:
- High-pitched fan noise
ZOTAC’s GeForce GT 1030 is another excellent contender for the best low-profile GPU as it is single-slot, has only one fan and has that same 30W power consumption.
Based on user reviews, this GT 1030 is an excellent card that can deliver 4K@60Hz video output, and most people are pleased with how it handles its temperatures.
Unfortunately, there is one major flaw with ZOTAC’s card. The single fan creates a noisy, piercing sound that can get quickly become unbearable. Low-profile cards are supposed to be quiet. If you want a silent PC, this might not be the right GPU for you.
Even so, it’s a reliable card if noise is not a factor you are concerned about.
MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT LP OC
Specifications:rn• Boost core clock – 1695 MHzrn• Interface: 1 x DVI, 1 x HDMI 2.0brn• VRAM: 4GB GDDR5rn• Total Power Draw: 75Wrn• Dimensions: L: 168mm H: 105mm W: 37mm (default bracket)rn• L: 168mm H: 69mm W: 37mm (low profile bracket)
The Pros:
- 4GB of VRAMrnSubstantial gaming performance for an LP card
The Cons:
- It is dual-slot
Not every low-profile GPU is aimed at the lowest possible power consumption. There are some models out there that (try to) adhere to the form factor while attempting to deliver sufficient or even high-end gaming performance.
Take, for example, MSI’s GeForce GTX 1650 4GT LP OC. It may be a dual-slot card because the plastic shroud is equipped with two fans, but the performance gap between this and a GT 1030 is massive, especially as it has 2GB more VRAM.
The gaming performance of this GTX 1650 is comparable to Pascal’s GTX 1060, and that can deliver 1080p@60FPS at elevated-quality settings. Remarkable!
Still, if you aren’t planning to do any hardcore gaming on your PC, this probably isn’t the card for you. Look for something smaller and with lower power consumption.
MSI GT 710 2GD3H LP
Specifications:rn• Core clocks – 954 MHzrn• Interface: 1 x DVI-D, 1 x HDMI 1.4, D-Subrn• VRAM: 2GB GDDR3rn• Total Power Draw: 19Wrn• Dimensions: L: 146mm H: 69mm W: 19mm
The Pros:
- Only 19W power consumptionrnSingle-slot with passive cooling
The Cons:
- Outdated architecture with GDDR3 memory
The GT 710 is a card that dates back to 2014. It is getting older but is still in production because of its small form factor and exceptionally low power consumption. This is suitable for office computers and any basic video output. You could probably grab one for less than $50.
With 19W TDP and a quiet cooling solution, MSI’s GT 710 2GD3H LP, you won’t have to worry about your card making any sort of noise.
As this is such an old card, it has GDDR3 memory, which is significantly slower than today’s GDDR5 or GDDR6. You won’t be able to do much gaming on this GPU or anything more demanding than 4K@30Hz browsing.
PowerColor Radeon RX 5600 XT ITX 6GB
Specifications:rn• Core clocks – 1620 MHz (Boost)rn• Interface: 1 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPortrn• VRAM: 6GB GDDR6rn• Total Power Draw: 190Wrn• Dimensions: L: 175mm H: 110mm W: 40mm
PowerColor’s RX 5600 XT ITX might seem like it doesn’t fit into this compact category based on its specifications, but it does.
With a length of 175mm, a height of 110mm, and a width of 40mm, it should effortlessly fit inside nearly all ITX cases. The power consumption is also significantly greater than a few other options in this guide, but the overall performance is exceptional.
If you want a GPU to handle basic tasks but also want to do some gaming now and then, this ITX RX 5600 XT is the way to go. With clock speeds boosting up to 1650 MHz, you can effortlessly game at 1080p@60FPS. You might even go higher than that in fast-paced titles.
Of course, it also comes with a heftier price tag. This card can cost you anywhere between $250 and $300. Keep that in mind.
Which Low Profile Graphics Card Should You Get?
Even narrowing down the options to just four cards, this still won’t be a simple choice. So, which one of these four should you get?
Well, your response will depend on what precisely you require.
The MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4GT LP OC receives our Elite Selection recognition. It offers exceptional performance for a compact GPU, despite being a dual-slot card. Furthermore, it consumes 75W of power in contrast to the 30W (or lower) GPUs listed here.
Our Budget Pick is the GT 710 2GD3H LP by MSI. It’s an economical graphics card with very low power consumption and suitable for basic video output. It’s among the least expensive options available.
ZOTAC’s and EVGA’s GT 1030 are superb alternatives, but remember that the EVGA is dual-slot while the ZOTAC has a known flaw of a loud fan.
