Buying Guide
The Best Compact RTX 4070 Cards
We weighed three graphics cards on video memory and GPU, and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A compact RTX 4070 fits small cases without losing performance. Every pick is an RTX 4070, ordered from the shortest card.
Rankings weigh GPU, VRAM and memory as the makers state them; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and if a maker skips outputs, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G
The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E1 12G OC
A triple-fan Ventus cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want triple-fan Ventus cooler.
Our take Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E1 12G OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 12GB Ventus 2X OC
The top of this price range, adding a dual-fan Ventus cooler.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 4070 12GB Ventus 2X OC (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G (opens in a new tab) |
| A triple-fan Ventus cooler. | Buyers who want triple-fan Ventus cooler. | Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E1 12G OC (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding a dual-fan Ventus cooler. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 4070 12GB Ventus 2X OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
This Gigabyte Windforce OC RTX 4070 adds a dual BIOS switch and an anti-sag bracket, and it was the least expensive RTX 4070 here at the time of writing.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It supports DLSS 3 frame generation, and third-generation RT cores give up to twice the ray tracing performance. Like the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X, it has GDDR6X memory, while the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 uses GDDR6 memory. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce with the maker. Another plus is 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6X
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Dual BIOS switch
- Anti-sag bracket in the box
- The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 3
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E1 12G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MSI's Ventus 3X E1 is a triple-fan RTX 4070 that uses GDDR6 memory rather than the GDDR6X on the other 4070 cards here, with a 2520MHz boost.
Best for
- Buyers who want triple-fan Ventus cooler.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It has three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and one HDMI 2.1a on a 192-bit memory interface. It uses the GeForce RTX 4070 chip with MSI's three-fan cooler. It has three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and one HDMI 2.1a, with 12GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus and a 2520MHz clock.
No dimensions are published for the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1; 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 4070 Ventus 3X E1 with the maker. Its price falls between the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce and the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 2520MHz
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Triple-fan Ventus cooler
- GDDR6 memory rather than the GDDR6X on other 4070 cards
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 12GB Ventus 2X OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MSI's Ventus 2X OC is a dual-fan RTX 4070 with three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI 2.1.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It supports up to 7,680 by 4,320 digital output on a 192-bit interface. Like the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, it has GDDR6X memory, while the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 uses GDDR6 memory. No dimensions are published for the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X; 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 4070 Ventus 2X with the maker. Only the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks. It gives ground on video memory, where the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce offers 12GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6X
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Dual-fan Ventus cooler
- Three DisplayPort outputs
- The top of this price range, adding a dual-fan Ventus cooler
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the time of writing
How We Chose These Compact RTX 4070 Cards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We set side by side three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and outputs from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce to the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X, state GPU, video memory and memory and share RTX 4070 GPU.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte 4070 Windforce gives no outputs.
- Price range
- From the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce to the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Compact RTX 4070 Card
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
What to check at home
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Extras that separate them
The Gigabyte 4070 Windforce: an anti-sag bracket in the box. The MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1: GDDR6 memory rather than the GDDR6X on other 4070 cards. The MSI 4070 Ventus 2X: three DisplayPort outputs.
Where your budget lands
All 3 sat in one tier when we checked, from the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the low end to the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X at the top, so decide on features first.
Start from what matters most
Spending as little as possible: the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X.
Match the card to your monitor
Resolution and refresh rate decide how much GPU you need. A 1080p screen at 144Hz asks far less than 1440p at 165Hz or 4K.
Buy for the monitor you use now or will buy soon, not for a resolution you may never run.
How to Choose a Compact RTX 4070 Card
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | Gigabyte 4070 Windforce | The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want triple-fan Ventus cooler | MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 | A triple-fan Ventus cooler |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | MSI 4070 Ventus 2X | The top of this price range, adding a dual-fan Ventus cooler |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte 4070 Windforce | RTX 4070 | 12GB | GDDR6X | Not listed |
| MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 | RTX 4070 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1a |
| MSI 4070 Ventus 2X | RTX 4070 | 12GB | GDDR6X | 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X our Premium Pick pick?
It earns the label for the top of this price range, adding a dual-fan Ventus cooler. It suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Do the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce and the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 differ on memory?
The Gigabyte 4070 Windforce and the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X use GDDR6X; the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 uses GDDR6.
Will the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X work with my setup?
No dimensions are published for the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X; 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 4070 Ventus 2X with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Premium Pick pick.
What extras do the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce and the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 include?
The Gigabyte 4070 Windforce: a dual BIOS switch. The MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1: a triple-fan Ventus cooler. The MSI 4070 Ventus 2X: a dual-fan Ventus cooler.
Who should choose the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce?
The Gigabyte 4070 Windforce carries our Lowest Price Here label for the lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing. It ranks first of 3 here.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, chosen for the lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing. Look at the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 for a triple-fan Ventus cooler and the MSI 4070 Ventus 2X for the top of this price range, adding a dual-fan Ventus cooler if those matter more to you.
Measure your case's GPU clearance, not just the slot count.