A reliable trend in PC tech over the past decade? Seeing more and more power squeezed into smaller and smaller packages. Nowadays, even the fastest and most potent graphics cards can work inside certain compact Mini-ITX PC cases (which, themselves, have expanded to accommodate), but you'll need to mind power, thermal, and size limits. If you indeed need to find a small, peppy card to fit a tight PC case, that's a tricky, multifaceted decision. At PCMag, we have decades of experience testing graphics cards, and we test all cards for frame rates across a rich selection of games, as well as for feature sets, designs, connections, and thermal traits. Let us help. Our current best pick for most buyers is the Intel Arc B580; no single option will work for everyone, though, so our list below has recommendations for all budgets. In addition to the picks, we've outlined all the considerations to remember as you shop. Read on.
Overview
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![Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060]()
Best Compact Mainstream Nvidia Graphics CardNvidia GeForce RTX 4060
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![AMD Radeon RX 7600]()
Best Compact Mainstream AMD Graphics CardAMD Radeon RX 7600
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![Intel Arc B580]()
Best Compact Mainstream Intel Graphics CardIntel Arc B580
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![Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050]()
Best Compact Budget Nvidia Graphics CardNvidia GeForce RTX 3050
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![AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT]()
Best Compact Budget AMD Graphics CardAMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
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![Intel Arc B570]()
Best Compact Budget Intel Graphics CardIntel Arc B570
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![Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070]()
Best Semi-Compact Nvidia Graphics Card for 4KNvidia GeForce RTX 5070
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![AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT]()
Best Semi-Compact AMD Graphics Card for 4KAMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
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![AMD Radeon RX 6400]()
Best Low-Profile Half-Height Graphics CardAMD Radeon RX 6400
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060]()
Best Compact Mainstream Nvidia Graphics CardNvidia GeForce RTX 4060
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 (tested here in Asus livery) produces exceptional ray-tracing performance, thanks to its "Ada Lovelace" architecture. It's the best modern, moderate-cost graphics card for 1080p gaming.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 115 Card Length 9 Card Width double DisplayPort Outputs 3 GPU Base Clock 1830 GPU Boost Clock 2505 Graphics Memory Amount 8 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor Nvidia AD107 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 2 Power Connector(s) 1 8-pin -
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![AMD Radeon RX 7600]()
Best Compact Mainstream AMD Graphics CardAMD Radeon RX 7600
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
AMD's Radeon RX 7600 is an excellent graphics card for running modern games maxed out at 1080p—just stay at that resolution!—and 60fps.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 165 Card Length 8 Card Width double DisplayPort Outputs 3 GPU Base Clock 2250 GPU Boost Clock 2625 Graphics Memory Amount 8 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor AMD Navi 33 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 2 Power Connector(s) 1 8-pin Learn More AMD Radeon RX 7600 Review -
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![Intel Arc B580]()
Best Compact Mainstream Intel Graphics CardIntel Arc B580
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
A winner of a budget graphics card, Intel's "Battlemage"-based Arc B580 delivers superb 1080p performance at its $249 price, with very good ray-tracing pep and enough bandwidth to game at even higher resolutions with the right settings.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 190 Card Length 10.7 Card Width double DisplayPort Outputs 3 GPU Boost Clock 2850 Graphics Memory Amount 12 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor Intel BMG-G21 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 2 Power Connector(s) 1 8-pin Learn More Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition Review -
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![Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050]()
Best Compact Budget Nvidia Graphics CardNvidia GeForce RTX 3050
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The GeForce RTX 3050 is a strong junior entry into Nvidia's peerless lineup of "Ampere"-powered RTX 30 Series GPUs, and this EVGA XC Black card is a corker for 1080p play at a near-budget price.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 130 Card Length 7.94 Card Width double DisplayPort Outputs 3 GPU Base Clock 1552 GPU Boost Clock 1777 Graphics Memory Amount 8 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor Nvidia Ampere GA106 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 2 Power Connector(s) 1 8-pin -
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![AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT]()
Best Compact Budget AMD Graphics CardAMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Gigabyte's take on AMD's Radeon RX 6500 XT budget GPU provides nearly rock-solid 1080p PC gaming performance in AAA and multiplayer titles, but it runs hot and packs unneeded ray-tracing cores.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 107 Card Length 7.56 Card Width double DisplayPort Outputs 1 GPU Base Clock 1717 GPU Boost Clock 2815 Graphics Memory Amount 4 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor AMD Navi 24 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 2 Power Connector(s) 1 6-PIN Learn More Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G Review -
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![Intel Arc B570]()
Best Compact Budget Intel Graphics CardIntel Arc B570
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Intel's Arc B580 beats it on value, but the budget-minded Arc B570 (tested here as an ASRock Challenger card) delivers intense ray-tracing performance and competitive, if at times inconsistent, gaming speeds for the money.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 150 Card Length 9.8 Card Width double DisplayPort Outputs 3 Graphics Memory Amount 10 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor Intel BMG-G21 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 2 -
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![Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070]()
Best Semi-Compact Nvidia Graphics Card for 4KNvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Nvidia's midrange GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card produces only modest performance gains over its predecessor while consuming more power, just as AMD steps it up with a potent Radeon alternative.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 250 Card Length 9.5 Card Width double DisplayPort Outputs 3 GPU Base Clock 2330 GPU Boost Clock 2512 Graphics Memory Amount 12 Graphics Memory Type GDDR7 Graphics Processor Nvidia GB205 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 2 Power Connector(s) 12VHPWR -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT]()
Best Semi-Compact AMD Graphics Card for 4KAMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The Radeon RX 9070 XT, tested in Sapphire Pulse garb, shows greatly improved ray tracing performance over AMD's last-gen GPUs. Its strong pricing (assuming it holds!) makes it a formidable competitor in the graphics card midmarket.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 304 Card Length 12.6 Card Width triple DisplayPort Outputs 2 GPU Base Clock 2400 GPU Boost Clock 2970 Graphics Memory Amount 16 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor AMD Navi 48 HDMI Outputs 2 Number of Fans 3 Power Connector(s) 2 8-pin Learn More Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Review -
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![AMD Radeon RX 6400]()
Best Low-Profile Half-Height Graphics CardAMD Radeon RX 6400
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
AMD's Radeon RX 6400 low-profile graphics card delivers a bump in performance over older GPUs and integrated graphics—though not a big one—with no need for extra power.Specs & Configurations
Board Power or TDP 55 Card Length 9.25 Card Width Half DisplayPort Outputs 1 GPU Base Clock 2039 GPU Boost Clock 2321 Graphics Memory Amount 4 Graphics Memory Type GDDR6 Graphics Processor AMD Radeon RX 6400 HDMI Outputs 1 Number of Fans 1 Power Connector(s) None Learn More Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 6400 Review -
Compare Specs
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4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
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4.0 Excellent |
3.0 Average |
4.5 Outstanding |
3.5 Good |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
Best For | Best Compact Mainstream Nvidia Graphics Card | Best Compact Mainstream AMD Graphics Card | Best Compact Mainstream Intel Graphics Card | Best Compact Budget Nvidia Graphics Card | Best Compact Budget AMD Graphics Card | Best Compact Budget Intel Graphics Card | Best Semi-Compact Nvidia Graphics Card for 4K | Best Semi-Compact AMD Graphics Card for 4K | Best Low-Profile Half-Height Graphics Card | Best Compact Mainstream Nvidia Graphics Card | Best Compact Mainstream AMD Graphics Card | Best Compact Mainstream Intel Graphics Card |
Graphics Processor | Nvidia AD107 | AMD Navi 33 | Intel BMG-G21 | Nvidia Ampere GA106 | AMD Navi 24 | Intel BMG-G21 | Nvidia GB205 | AMD Navi 48 | AMD Radeon RX 6400 | Nvidia AD107 | AMD Navi 33 | Intel BMG-G21 |
GPU Base Clock | 1830 | 2250 | 1552 | 1717 | 2330 | 2400 | 2039 | 1830 | 2250 | |||
GPU Boost Clock | 2505 | 2625 | 2850 | 1777 | 2815 | 2512 | 2970 | 2321 | 2505 | 2625 | 2850 | |
Graphics Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR7 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
Graphics Memory Amount | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
DVI Outputs | ||||||||||||
HDMI Outputs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
DisplayPort Outputs | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
VirtualLink Outputs | ||||||||||||
Number of Fans | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Card Width | double | double | double | double | double | double | double | triple | Half | double | double | double |
Card Length | 9 | 8 | 10.7 | 7.94 | 7.56 | 9.8 | 9.5 | 12.6 | 9.25 | 9 | 8 | 10.7 |
Board Power or TDP | 115 | 165 | 190 | 130 | 107 | 150 | 250 | 304 | 55 | 115 | 165 | 190 |
Power Connector(s) | 1 8-pin | 1 8-pin | 1 8-pin | 1 8-pin | 1 6-PIN | 12VHPWR | 2 8-pin | None | 1 8-pin | 1 8-pin | 1 8-pin |
Buying Guide: The Best Graphics Cards for Compact PCs in 2025
Before determining which graphics card to buy for a compact PC, you should ideally already own a compact desktop or be close to buying one. This is a key starting place, as the size and design of your PC case will be one big determining factor in what graphics card you can use. In the PC case and motherboard markets, products are most often classified by form factor, with ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX being the most common. It's sufficient for the most part to think about these as big (ATX), medium (MicroATX), and small (Mini-ITX).
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)Being focused on compact PCs, most of this advice revolves around the Mini-ITX form factor. Most ATX and MicroATX cases will take just about any size graphics card. While it's possible to get graphics cards that are too big for some ATX and MicroATX PC cases, this is far less common than with Mini-ITX cases. As this is the smallest common form factor, it's no surprise that it has the most challenges with fitting in large components like graphics cards.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)In truth, many late-model Mini-ITX PC cases can hold most graphics cards, even exceedingly powerful ones like Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4080 and 5080. This is a relatively recent development, as Mini-ITX PC cases used to be smaller, but many companies now sell extended models designed to hold current graphics cards, which have been trending bigger in recent years. If you are buying one of these roomier models, you should have an easier time finding a graphics card for your PC.
The absolute smallest desktop PCs you can buy today, like the NUC-style models, rely on CPU-integrated graphics and don't have room to add a graphics card of any size, so those are obviously non-starters. You'll also find some Mini-ITX PCs that come between these two extremes and may be able to hold a graphics card...but with serious limitations. These PCs may only accept graphics cards that are half-height or that are relatively short in length.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)Ultimately, before you can safely buy a graphics card for a compact PC, you will need to know just how much room that PC has to work with. Of particular note is the internal distance between the front and back of the case, the total number of add-on slots, and the maximum supported card height. You will then need to check these same features of any card you buy to ensure it can fit.
Can Your Power Supply Handle a New Video Card?
It's also essential to check the power supply for your compact PC before you buy a graphics card. Compact PCs tend to be built with similarly compact power supplies, though this is not universal. Either way, power supplies are only able to support so much wattage, and this wattage measure tends to trend downward for compact PCs. Also, all but the very lowest-end modern graphics cards require additional power directly from the power supply and cannot get all the power they need directly from the system's motherboard. This, naturally, requires the power supply to have the appropriate cables to deliver it, and if it doesn't, then you should avoid buying a graphics card that needs them.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)Typically, the best start is to gather your power supply unit's information first. It will be marked with a specific wattage that indicates how much power it can handle. AMD, Intel, and Nvidia all place a recommended minimum PSU wattage on their graphics cards. If it's the same or lower than the power supply's shown wattage, you are likely good to go. If the wattage recommendation is higher than the PSU you have, you might still be able to use it, but this requires consideration on a case-by-case basis that we cannot properly advise on here. Unless you have experience in this area, stick to the recommended wattage numbers.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Next, look closely to ensure the PSU you have has the power connectors you need. The most common power connectors today are the 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe power leads that all but the lowest-end PSUs have. Again, you simply need to look at your power supply and the card you want to buy to make sure they have the same connections. If the PSU doesn't have what you need, that's where you should stop. It's a strong sign that the PSU isn't up to pushing the amount of power your graphics card will need.
One caveat to this rule regarding Nvidia: The GPU maker has a unique power connector for some of its graphics cards. Some newer GeForce RTX graphics cards ship with this new single standardized connection, called 12VHPWR. Nvidia typically supplies power adapters for these cards that can accept 6-pin and 8-pin PSU connectors, and they are safe to use so long as your PSU still meets the minimum power requirements for the card in question.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Though they are scarce today, some graphics cards are purpose-built to run solely off the power provided through a motherboard's PCIe x16 slot. Nowadays, you see only the very lowest-end cards designed this way. They are easy to recognize, as they do not have any 6-pin or 8-pin power connections on their edge. These cards work in most systems, as their power draw is low, and they also tend to be quite small. As a result, if you are having trouble finding a card that'll work with your system due to a weak PSU or really tight quarters, these could be the best options of last resort.
Ready to Buy the Right Compact Graphics Card for You?
Determining which graphics card to buy must be done on a case-by-case basis, which is why we suggest several options instead of a single option in this article. So long as you don't run into any size or power restrictions, it's often best to buy the most powerful graphics card that fits your budget.
With a compact PC, you may want to consider more energy-efficient cards over more powerful ones, as a hot-running card can be a problem in a tightly packed PC case without enough ventilation. However, you might end up trading off some performance in exchange for better efficiency. We include power and heat tests in all of our graphics card reviews to help you make this decision.
If you have a bit more room to play with in your PC case, check out our roundup of the best graphics cards for 4K gaming, which will be bigger cards. (Also check out our master guide to the best graphics cards overall, heedless of size.) Finally, complete your custom build with one of the top M.2 solid-state drives we've tested. These tiny SSDs are a perfect match if you're space-strapped.