Buying Guide
The Best Low-Profile Graphics Cards
Four half-height graphics cards for slim desktops and office PCs, compared on VRAM, power plugs and outputs.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 products evaluated
Slim desktops and many office PCs only take half-height cards, which rules out most gaming GPUs. Low-profile cards swap in a short bracket and a smaller cooler, and several now use current chips.
This short list is based on research into maker specifications and listings; we have not fitted these cards ourselves. Check your PC's slot width and power supply before ordering.
Quick Picks
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Low-Profile Card
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 LP BRK 8GB OCAn RTX 5060 with GDDR7 and IP5X dust resistance.
Best for: Gaming in a slim desktop.
Check price for ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 LP BRK 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Documented Low-Profile
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Low ProfileA two-slot width, one 8-pin plug and four outputs.
Best for: Builders who need to confirm fit and power.
Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Low Profile on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Previous-Generation Pick
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8GAn RTX 4060 with three fans and a dual BIOS.
Best for: Slim PCs where an RTX 5060 costs too much.
Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Cheapest Low-Profile Card
MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OCThe lowest price here with two HDMI 2.1a outputs.
Best for: Light gaming and multi-monitor office PCs.
Check price for MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| An RTX 5060 with GDDR7 and IP5X dust resistance. | Gaming in a slim desktop. | Check price for ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 LP BRK 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A two-slot width, one 8-pin plug and four outputs. | Builders who need to confirm fit and power. | Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Low Profile on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An RTX 4060 with three fans and a dual BIOS. | Slim PCs where an RTX 5060 costs too much. | Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price here with two HDMI 2.1a outputs. | Light gaming and multi-monitor office PCs. | Check price for MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Low-Profile Card1 of 4
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 LP BRK 8GB OC
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK brings the current mainstream GeForce to half-height cases, with GDDR7 memory and IP5X dust resistance.
Best for
- Gaming in a slim desktop.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
The maker doesn't give thickness or power needs, so check those on the ASUS spec page. On video memory it ties with the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile at 8GB. It shares an RTX 5060 gpu with the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile; the MSI RTX 3050 LP goes with an RTX 3050 gpu.
It also offers dual-ball fan bearings. No dimensions are published for the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK with the maker. Half-height cases need the low-profile bracket; confirm it ships with the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Boost clock
- 2580MHz (OC mode)
- Low profile
- Yes
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Low-profile design for slim desktops
- IP5X dust resistance
- Dual-ball fan bearings
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the MSI RTX 3050 LP at the time of writing
Best Documented Low-Profile2 of 4
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Low Profile
Zotac's RTX 5060 Low Profile offers a two-slot width, one 8-pin plug and three DisplayPort 2.1b outputs plus HDMI.
Best for
- Builders who need to confirm fit and power.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
It uses 40mm fans with composite heatpipes. It matches the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile on video memory (8GB). It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK; the MSI RTX 3050 LP goes with GDDR6 memory.
It also comes with a metal backplate. The Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Half-height cases need the low-profile bracket; confirm it ships with the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Low profile
- Yes
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Low-profile design for slim desktops
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the MSI RTX 3050 LP at the time of writing
Best Previous-Generation Pick3 of 4
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G
Gigabyte's RTX 4060 Low Profile is the previous generation, with DLSS 3 rather than DLSS 4.
Best for
- Slim PCs where an RTX 5060 costs too much.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Three WINDFORCE fans and a dual BIOS make it a solid fallback if the RTX 5060 cards are out of stock. The low-profile 4060 pairs three WINDFORCE fans with 8GB of GDDR6, and it supports DLSS 3 and ray tracing. It matches the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK and the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile on video memory (8GB).
It is the only pick here with an RTX 4060 gpu; the MSI RTX 3050 LP has an RTX 3050 gpu instead. It shares GDDR6 memory with the MSI RTX 3050 LP; the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile goes with GDDR7 memory. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its price falls between the MSI RTX 3050 LP and the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Low profile
- Yes
Pros
- Low-profile design for slim desktops
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- Dual BIOS
- DLSS 3 support
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the MSI RTX 3050 LP at the time of writing
Cheapest Low-Profile Card4 of 4
MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC
MSI's RTX 3050 LP is an entry card with 6GB of memory, fine for older games and esports titles.
Best for
- Light gaming and multi-monitor office PCs.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Two HDMI 2.1a ports and a DisplayPort make it useful in a multi-monitor work PC. On video memory it trails the group at 6GB, while the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK offers 8GB. You get an RTX 3050 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile and its an RTX 4060 gpu.
Like the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK uses GDDR7 memory. No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 3050 LP; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the MSI RTX 3050 LP with the maker.
Half-height cases need the low-profile bracket; confirm it ships with the MSI RTX 3050 LP. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile was closest.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 3050
- VRAM
- 6GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 1492MHz
- Low profile
- Yes
- Outputs
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 2 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- Low-profile design for slim desktops
- 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus
- Two HDMI 2.1a outputs
- RTX 3050 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK (8GB)
The catch
Video memory is its weakest area, and the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK covers it better at 8GB.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side four cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and boost clock and outputs are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK to the MSI RTX 3050 LP, state GPU, video memory and memory and share low profile.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile give no boost clock; the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile give no outputs.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the MSI RTX 3050 LP ($250 to $500) to the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a Low-Profile GPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK tops video memory at 8GB and the MSI RTX 3050 LP sits lowest at 6GB; 3 picks share the top figure. The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK is the pick for video memory.
Memory
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK and the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile list GDDR7; the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile and the MSI RTX 3050 LP list GDDR6. Settling memory first narrows 4 picks to 2 or 2.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Boost clock
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK lists 2580MHz (OC mode); the MSI RTX 3050 LP lists 1492MHz. Settling boost clock first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Features beyond the spec table
The Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile: a metal backplate. The Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile: a dual BIOS. The MSI RTX 3050 LP: two HDMI 2.1a outputs.
How to Choose a Low-Profile GPUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming in a slim desktop | ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK | An RTX 5060 with GDDR7 and IP5X dust resistance |
| Builders who need to confirm fit and power | Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile | A two-slot width, one 8-pin plug and four outputs |
| Slim PCs where an RTX 5060 costs too much | Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile | An RTX 4060 with three fans and a dual BIOS |
| Light gaming and multi-monitor office PCs | MSI RTX 3050 LP | The lowest price here with two HDMI 2.1a outputs |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK leads on video memory at 8GB, ahead of the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile at 8GB. "Not listed" marks boost clock where the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | 2580MHz (OC mode) |
| Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile | RTX 4060 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| MSI RTX 3050 LP | RTX 3050 | 6GB | GDDR6 | 1492MHz |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the MSI RTX 3050 LP, sat in the $250 to $500 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile at $500 to $1000; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | MSI RTX 3050 LP, Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile, ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK |
| About $500 to $1000 | Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile worth paying more than the MSI RTX 3050 LP?
What it brings is video memory (8GB against 6GB). The MSI RTX 3050 LP sat in the $250 to $500 tier and the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, with 2 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
What makes the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile the Best Previous-Generation Pick?
It carries the badge for an RTX 4060 with three fans and a dual BIOS. It makes sense for slim PCs where an RTX 5060 costs too much.
Do the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile differ on GPU?
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK and the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile use RTX 5060; the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile uses RTX 4060; the MSI RTX 3050 LP uses RTX 3050.
What should I check before buying the MSI RTX 3050 LP?
No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 3050 LP; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the MSI RTX 3050 LP with the maker. In this guide it ranks fourth of 4, as our Cheapest Low-Profile Card pick, and fourth of 4 on video memory (6GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK and the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile apart?
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK: IP5X dust resistance. The Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile: 40mm fans with composite heatpipes. The Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile: three WINDFORCE fans.
Bottom Line
The ASUS RTX 5060 LP BRK is the pick for gaming in a slim case, and the Zotac RTX 5060 Low Profile is the better-documented alternative.
The Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile is a previous-generation fallback, and the MSI RTX 3050 LP suits light gaming and multi-monitor desks.
Related Guides
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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