Best Mini and Low Profile graphics Cards (AMD & NVIDIA)
In the early days of small-form-factor systems, there weren’t many options for low-profile components. However, nowadays there are many high-resolution graphics cards that can be found in smaller sizes.
There are still not a huge number of low-profile or mini graphics cards on the market, but they are definitely more available now than they have ever been. Thus, if you’re looking to build a small-form-factor gaming PC, you have more options than ever before to build a high-end system within such a small case.
Our guide will review seven of the best low-profile video cards across a variety of price points and performance levels. In other words, regardless of whether you have a higher or lower budget, you can still find compact graphics card options below that will fit your needs if you’re planning to build a smaller system.
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ASUS Phoenix RTX 3060~The best mini graphics card
ASUS Dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 V2 OC Edition 12GB GDDR6 Gaming Graphics Card (PCIe 4.0, 12GB GDDR6 Memory,
ASUS Phoenix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 V2
Mini Style Card
12GB GDDR6 VRAM
Length: 177mm
Height: 128mm
As one of the most powerful mini graphics cards on the market, the ASUS Phoenix RTX 3060 proves big things come in small packages. You can also build a high-end mini gaming PC with the ASUS Mini RTX 3060 that supports games on 4K or 1440P 144Hz monitors.
Considering the Mini RTX 3060 is over $400, it’s not a cheap graphics card. However, if you have a larger budget and want the most powerful small graphics card you can find, then the ASUS Phoenix might be for you. It is the largest card on this list at 177mm long and 128mm tall, making it the largest on the list. Additionally, this card (and any other mini-style card) won’t be able to be used if the GPU clearance height is an issue inside a slim-designed case.
However, this RTX 3060 is still compact enough to fit in several popular mini-ITX cases, such as the Lian Li Q58, the Phanteks Evolv Shift 2, the NZXT H210i, and many others. A mini graphic card like ASUS’s Phoenix RTX 3060 is among the most powerful available right now.
You may be able to fit a higher-end GPU into your build since a lot of mini-ITX cases are being designed to hold larger graphics cards. These include RTX 3070s, 3080s, and 3090s with Ti variants. For people looking for a compact graphics card, the ASUS Phoenix is the right one.
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GIGABYTE GTX 1650 Low Profile~The best low profile graphics card
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 D6 WINDFORCE OC 4G (rev. 2.0) Graphics Card,
Low Profile Card
4GB GDDR6 VRAM
Length: 167mm
Height: 69mm
The GTX 1650 is the most powerful GPU available in a low-profile form-factor if you need a graphics card that is shorter in height. However, there aren’t many higher-end GPU options available in a low-profile form-factor if you need one. Even so, if you use a budget-friendly 1080P monitor and a GTX 1650, you should be able to play most games at least at medium settings. Read more on Best graphics cards for every multi–monitor setup
The GTX 1650 is available in a variety of low profile configurations, but GIGABYTE’s stands out as the best of the available models. In addition to being $20 cheaper than the other low profile GTX 1650s, it has a dual fan cooler, which the others don’t have. Due to its length of 167mm and its height of only 69mm, it will also work well in slim mini cases. If you’re just looking for a solid gaming experience on a 1080P monitor, you can get away with the GTX 1650 even though it isn’t capable of ultra-high-resolution gaming or being able to push a 1440P 144Hz monitor.
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ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super Compact~A solid mid-range mini video card
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Gaming Dual Fan Graphics Card – 6 GB
Mini Style Card
6GB GDDR6 VRAM
Length: 174mm
Height: 112mm
It would be nice to upgrade from the GIGABYTE GTX 1650 listed above to the ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super 6GB for about $40 more if you have room for one. Due to its 174mm length and 112mm height, the ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super doesn’t fit in a lot of ultra slim PC cases, but it will fit in quite a few of the “boxier” mini-ITX cases.
Using the GTX 1660 Super on a 1080P monitor, you can max out any game (even today’s top titles). The AMD RX 6600 might be a better option for budget-oriented gamers since it pairs with an affordable 144Hz FreeSync monitor at a similar price-point to the GTX 1660 Super 6GB, but the mini RX 6600s are unfortunately not available. The RX 6500 can be paired with a FreeSync monitor in our first Honorable Mentions section, however.
However, this build does not work with FreeSync monitors, it works with NVIDIA G-Sync monitors. Although true G-Sync monitors are quite expensive, we have compiled a list of reasonably priced G-Sync displays for you, and you can always choose a G-Sync-compatible monitor. Although you may not have the budget to get the mini RTX 3060 (or mini RTX 3050), this mini GTX 1660 Super 6GB video card would be a worthwhile option for you if you want to max out games on a 1080P monitor while having a case that can fit it.
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Gigabyte GT 1030 Low Profile~Affordable low profile graphics card
Low Profile Card
2GB DDR4 VRAM
Length: 150mm
Height: 69mm
When it comes to low-profile video cards that offer acceptable in-game performance on a 1080P monitor, the Gigabyte GT 1030 low-profile graphic card might be a good choice for you. With a length of 150mm and a height of 69mm, the MSI RX 560 is one of the smallest options on this list. With regards to performance, it’s not high-end. Although it is powerful enough to run most games on lower settings on a 1080P monitor, it shouldn’t have trouble with 1080P gaming. You may also be interested: Best GPU for Intel Core i5-13600K
With the GT 1030, you will have more than enough performance in games like Rocket League, League of Legends, Dota 2, and other non-demanding esports titles. Ultimately, you won’t get high-end performance in games with the GT 1030. The monitor will be affordable at 1080P, and it will be capable of handling more demanding games as well as less demanding ones. A good option for slim gaming PCs that require a low-profile form factor is the fact that it is pretty affordable.
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EVGA RTX 2060 SC GAMING
Mini Style Card
6GB GDDR6 VRAM
Length: 190mm
Height: 112mm
In addition to the ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super, this EVGA RTX 2060 offers raytracing functionality along with a small bump in performance. It costs only $10 more than the ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super.
As one of the larger cards on this list, it is not as compact as the ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super, which is 190mm long and 112mm tall. Therefore, if you’re looking for a card that isn’t as compact as possible, it’s probably not the best choice. You can use the EXGA RTX 2060 as a powerful alternative to the GTX 1660 Super if you’re choosing a smaller case with more space.
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ASUS Phoenix RTX 3050
ASUS Dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OC
Mini Style Card
8GB GDDR6 VRAM
Length: 177mm
Height: 128mm
The Phoenix RTX 3050 is a slightly cheaper alternative to ASUS’s Phoenix RTX 3060 if you don’t want to spend over $400.
While it won’t be as powerful as the RTX 3060, the RTX 3050 is no slouch, and will be able to play most games at 1080P resolution on high settings, while maintaining an average frame rate of 40 to 50 frames per second.
RTX 3050 might be the right choice if all you want to do is game on a 1080P display. And you can save nearly $100 over the more powerful Phoenix RTX 3060.
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PowerColor RX 6500 XT ITX
PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT ITX Gaming Graphics Card
Mini Style Card
4GB GDDR6 VRAM
Length: 165mm
Height: 125mm
It might be worth checking out the RX 6500 XT from PowerColor if you’re looking for a cheaper mini graphics card to replace the ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super. Although you won’t get as much performance in games, you will pay nearly $70 less. And, it should hold up well for 1080P gaming—especially if you play mostly non-demanding games.
In terms of length and height, it’s 165mm long and 125mm tall, a little short of the 1660 Super, but slightly taller. (In most cases, the extra height probably won’t cause any clearance issues, but it may make it incompatible for the case of your choice.)
Overall, if you’re looking for a cheaper and more reliable alternative to the GTX 1660 Super and don’t need a true low profile graphics card, the PowerColor RX 6500 XT is a great choice.
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XFX Speedster SWFT105 RX 6400
XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400 Gaming Graphics Card
Low Profile Card
4GB GDDR6 VRAM
Length: 156mm
Height: 69mm
This low profile graphics card (the GIGABYTE GT 1030) isn’t an extremely powerful option on our budget. You can expect it to serve well as an entry-level video card, but it won’t deliver ground-breaking performance. This XFX RX 6400 will offer slightly better performance.
While it will provide a small improvement in performance, we chose it as an Honorable Mention because the difference in performance is not large enough to justify the nearly 2x increase in price. The 1650 will provide quite a bit more performance, and it is only $40 cheaper than our pick for the best low profile video card. We recommend considering the other two low profile options on this list unless the RX 6400 comes down significantly in price.
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Is A Mini or Low-Profile Video Card Right for You?
It should work for you if you plan to build a gaming PC in a mini-ITX or micro-ATX case and you need to use a graphics card that is smaller than the case itself. We have two guides below that will provide you with more information on higher-end video cards, or even some standard-size cards.
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Final thoughts on Best Mini and Low Profile graphics Cards
When it comes to mini and low profile graphics cards, there are several options to choose from, depending on the desired performance and budget. Some popular options include:Nvidia GeForce GTX
It’s important to keep in mind that while mini and low profile graphics cards offer a compact form factor, they may still have specific power and cooling requirements. Additionally, some mini and low profile graphics cards may have lower performance compared to full-sized options. Be sure to check the specifications and requirements before making a decision.
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