We all know if we try to build a small form factor PC, then there is a very big challenge to find a decent card at a good price that can fit in our small PC and give a good performance. So that’s why we’re looking at four slim cards that fit in compact cases, from budget-friendly entry models all the way up to mid-range cards. And performance-wise, these cards will run the game at both 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
Which One to Pick?
- If you’re on a tight budget and just need basic 1080p, go with the Arc A380 LP.
- For modern 1080p gaming and a small bump into 1440p, the RTX 3050 LP at $200 is hard to beat.
- If you want high‐refresh 1080p or solid 1440p in a tiny build, the RTX 4060 LP is the sweet spot.
- And if you’re chasing top‐end SFF performance with next-gen features, the RTX 5060 LP is the way to go.
No matter which you choose, make sure your case supports a 163–182 mm length and has at least a single 8-pin power cable for the 4060/5060 models. That’s your low-profile GPU guide for 2025
Intel Arc A380 LP (≈$150–$180)
So first of all, let’s talk about the cheaper option, the Sparkle and ASRock’s Arc A380 is about as cheap and compact as it gets, running around $150–$180. With its 6 GB of GDDR6, it tackles casual 1080p gaming at low→medium settings—think 60 FPS in lighter titles like Fortnite or CS:GO.
However, this card is not made for heavy games, but you can play triple-A titles on low to medium graphics, and you’ll be closer to 30–45 FPS, so it’s not the best, but it’s good ground its price and size. And if we are talking about size, this card only takes around 75 W and keeps thermals in check (around 60 °C under load), and the small dual-fan cooler stays quiet, which is surprising. So Perfect if you just want basic 10 80p gaming and video playback in a tiny case.
Nvidia RTX 3050 LP (≈$200–$230)
Now, if you really want to play triple-A games with decent framerates, then Gigabyte’s RTX 3050 Low-Profile card is a great option, and it sells for under $200. They step up to high 1080p with DLSS support, typically pushing 60–80 FPS in modern AAA titles. You can even dip into 1440p at medium settings if you’re okay with 50–60 FPS and DLSS cranked up. With a 75 W PCIe-only design, the single or dual-fan heatsink keeps temperatures in the 60–65 °C range.
It’s a solid all-rounder for 1080p gaming in a slim small form factor build, and you get hardware ray tracing if you want to experiment. I’ll also recommend that you find this card in the used market because it’s now a bit old.
Nvidia RTX 4060 LP (≈$320–$360)
Stepping up with the RTX 4060, Gigabyte and ASUS are the only brand that gives you a low-profile 4060 means you’re going to have some problems finding one at a decent price.And as you know, this comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 V RAM, and finally, this card needs an 8-pin for power, and it takes 115 W of total power, which is good enough if we look at the performance. In practice, you’ll get 100+ FPS in esports at 1080p and a smooth 60–80 FPS in AAA titles at 1440p when you lean on DLSS.
It averaged about 63 °C under full synthetic stress in the ITX case with a fan speed under 1,000 RPM—so it stays quiet and cool. The 4060 is the first low-profile card that comfortably handles high-refresh 1080p and some good 1440p gaming, making it perfect for serious small-form-factor gamers at around $280.
Nvidia RTX 5060 LP (≈$400–$450)
Gigabyte’s RTX 5060 OC LP 8 GB is hovering around $400–$450 now that it’s broadly available. It outperforms the 4060 by roughly 20 %, so expect 120 + FPS at 1080p ultra and 80–100 FPS at 1440p high with DLSS 4. Its GDDR7 memory and 8 GB frame buffer give you headroom for texture-heavy games, and you can even try light 4K at medium settings. Thermals land in the 70–75 °C range under load, so good case airflow is a must. If you want flagship-level SFF performance, this is your card.
And that wraps up our pick of the best low-profile GPUs for compact builds. Whichever card you decide on, I highly recommend checking out the full, in-depth review video for that specific model, and this is my personal suggestion to all watch ETA Prime Videos because they are always building small PCs and will give you the right recommendation. I’ll link them all in the description below. And don’t forget to keep an eye on the used market, too—sometimes you can snag these low-profile GPUs at significant discounts.
