Low Profile Graphics Card

The 4 best low-profile graphics cards for SFF cases

best low profile graphics cards

SFF (small form factor) and HT (home theater) computers are becoming increasingly popular, and rightfully so. As technological improvements in hardware are steadily reducing physical size, it\'s possible to have a powerful computer in a fraction of the normal desktop size. Whether you want a desktop with multiple monitors, are constantly on the go and want a semi-portable desktop, or just like less clutter, SFF PCs offer several advantages over regular-sized PCs. Best low profile graphics card also have some advantages over their larger counterparts in that they use less power, are much less noisy, and are decently priced. In this article, we\'ll list some of the best low-profile GPUs for 2021 that you can get, depending on your budget and the intended use of your computer.

Related: Best Mini ITX cases

Related: Latest $2,000 ITX SFF 3900X build for 2020

The best low-profile graphics cards - our recommendations

Design Model Award

Best budget low-profile graphics card MSI AMD Radeon R7 240

Best low-profile HTPC graphics card MSI Radeon RX 550 4GT OC

Best Low Profile Gaming Graphics Card ASUS GTX 1650 Low Profile OC

Best overall low profile GPU MSI GTX 1650 Gaming LP MSI GeForce GTX 1650 for gaming

Best budget low profile graphics card

AMD Radeon R7 240

If you want a minimalist build, this is the best card you can find at this price point. Compared to Nvidia\'s GT 710 LP - which costs about the same - the AMD Radeon R7 240 performs much better in benchmarks. It has up to 67% more effective speed and can even play some competitive online games like Counter Strike: Global Offensive at nearly 60 frames per second at 1080p resolution.

Of course, this GPU is not designed for gaming, but for low-power work, web browsing and video streaming, where it can handle 1080p videos without stuttering or overheating. It has 2GB of GDDR3 V-RAM, a 64-bit memory interface, a 600MHz memory speed, HDMI, DL-DVI-D and VGA D-SUB outputs, and only requires a 300W power supply. Its best feature? The $55 price range at which it can currently be found.

The best low-profile graphics card for HTPCs

MSI RX 550 4GT LP OC

Why the Radeon RX 550, you ask? Well, now it looks like the Radeon RX 550 and GeForce 1050 Ti are the ideal GPUs available for HTPCs - given the hardware and the price - even in 2020.

First, the V-RAM is right for streaming 4K video. The 2GB of V-RAM in the GT 1030 is not supported by Netflix, as it requires a minimum of 3GB of V-RAM in a Pascal architecture-based GPU. So why not go for the RX 550 or 1050ti, or maybe the RX 570 or GeForce 1060? Well, the GeForce 1060 GTX doesn\'t have 10- or 12-bit VP9 support, while the 1050 Ti and RX 550 do. Now, of course, AMD\'s RX 560 LP GPU would also support 4K UHD streaming, but that model isn\'t currently available. The reason the Radeon RX 550 was chosen over the GeForce 1050 Ti is price. The RX 550 is currently about $40-50 cheaper than the cheaper GeForce 1050 Ti or GeForce 1650, yet it can still handle UHD streams without a problem.

The MSI RX 550 4GB OC features a dual fan, aluminum core design for lower temperatures and increased stability and performance. It can be overclocked to 1203MHz and comes with 4GB of GDDR5 V-RAM, a 320-bit memory bus, and HDMI 2.0b and DL-DVI-D ports. Considering that you can currently find the MSI Radeon RX550 for around $111, this is the best value choice for a dedicated HTPC.

Related: GTX 1650 vs 1650 Super vs 5500 XT

The low profile graphics card for gaming

ASUS GTX 1650 Low Profile OC

Nvidia\'s GeForce GTX 1650 is currently the most powerful low-profile graphics card available on the market. The reference GPU for the GTX 1650 has a base clock frequency of 1,485 MHz and a boosted clock frequency of 1,665 MHz, while this card, the ASUS GTX 1650 Low Profile OC, has a base clock frequency of 1,515 MHz and a boosted clock frequency of 1,740 MHz, so despite its low-profile size it is still significantly more powerful than the original reference GTX 1650 from Nvidia. It also has a dedicated hardware encoder that\'s optimized for OBS streaming software, so you can stream or record your gaming sessions.  It\'s IP5X certified for dust resistance, which provides cooling power and durability for the two fans, and a protective back panel to prevent bending and maintain structural integrity.

 In terms of software, GPU Tweak II is included which allows you to manipulate settings such as GPU core clock speeds, memory frequency, voltage settings and fan control. You can play most competitive online games at 1080p resolution on this card, and some at over 60fps. For a low-profile GPU, being able to play these low-intensity AAA games is quite a feat, which justifies the ASUS GeForce GTX 1650\'s price, which currently hovers around the $205 mark.

Best low-profile GPU.

MSI GTX 1650 Gaming LP.

Taking everything into consideration: the price, the ability to watch and stream 4K video, the ability to build a workstation capable of running more demanding programs , and even being able to play games from time to time, this card has the best overall value. If you\'re looking to upgrade the graphics card in your SFF computer, the MSI GTX 1650 Gaming LP is the perfect choice for that. It has a memory overclocking speed of 1665 MHz, 4GB GDDR5 V-RAM, standard 896 CUDA cores, two 40mm fans, and 8Gbps memory speed.

The beauty of the MSI GTX 1650 is the OC Scanner. This software automatically finds the most stable overclocking settings for your card, so you can increase the speed of your video card without worrying about overheating or having to dig through the settings to enable or change overclocking settings. If you want to manually change the settings, MSI\'s Afterburner software allows you to monitor and change system performance in real time. Like the ASUS GeForce GTX 1650, the MSI model also features Nvidia\'s proprietary G-Sync technology, which aims to eliminate screen tearing and FPS drops. It also has built-in software for video streaming and recording.

As for ports, it has 1 HDMI 2.0b output and 1 DL-DVI-D output. Buyer beware: it is not equipped with a display port. For its current price of $160, the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 LP is the how to overclock graphics card available on the market.

Sections: Graphics cards, Manuals, Small form factor

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