In theory, the world is a large place and can easily accommodate all sorts of species so they can live peacefully in their habitat.
However, as the day passes, the phenomenon of harboring has become somewhat of a luxury that not everybody can afford.
And there is no doubt that even simplistic designs and minimalistic builds have been becoming a norm, which is why every goods manufacturing industry has been rushing to make things compact and less bulky for a wide array of reasons.
Let’s take smartphones, PC builds and laptops, for example, they are becoming smaller and thinner by the day, including their crucial components such as processors and Graphics cards.
There are even special terms now such as a “Low Profile Graphics card”, Now you would be wondering if that is an actual term or did I make that up.
To clarify the confusion, I will be defining What is a low Profile Graphics card, is and its purpose below.
What Is A Low Profile Graphics Card? Some Advantages & Disadvantages Explained:
To sum it up for you, a low-profile graphics card is a type of GPU that has a considerably smaller design and is made in compact form to fit PC builds that have very restricted space or mini PCs that have mini ITX motherboards.
Apart from its physical appearance, there are plenty of other Pros and Cons mentioned below.
Some of its Well known Pros are,
1. Budget Friendly.
Due to lesser components and compact build, Low profile Graphics cards are incredibly budget-friendly and don’t have a hefty price tag. Their Price to value ratio is phenomenal which makes these sorts of GPUs highly optimal for gamers that are usually tight on budget.
2. Silent Cooling System.
Low Profile Graphics cards also have minimalistic hardware that generates considerably less heat, which is why they often have only a single fan system, unlike standard gaming-oriented GPUs with 2-3 Fans and huge Heat sinks.
Fewer amounts of ventilation also mean you won’t have to deal with a nuisance like audible fan noises when your graphics card is on 100% load.
3. Easy to Install.
Since these GPUs have a smaller bracket height of 79.2 mm, installing them on your PC is incredibly simple and straightforward and you won’t even have to calculate the exact dimension so that your PC aesthetics looks neat and tidy as they can easily fit almost any space with ease.
This hassle-free design ensures even the least tech-savvy person would simply pop in their new Graphics card without breaking a sweat.
4. Minimal Power Requirement.
The best part is that this unique breed of graphics cards is very power efficient and doesn’t require a dedicated power connector.
The plug-and-play mode reduces the need for extra power intake, which would otherwise put a strain on your power supply and escalate your electricity bills especially if you are gaming on a regular basis for longer periods of time.
But, low Profile Graphics cards aren’t always sunshine and rainbows, here are a couple of Cons about them.
1. Not So Robust.
Yes, their cute & nifty design may be appealing to you at first glance, however, they aren’t as strong as you would consider a standard Graphics card would be.
Small design means a trade-off in crucial components that works in conjunction to generate frames, however, due to the shortage of such components, you would obviously be having considerably lesser frequency and clock speeds.
2. Lack Of Ports.
Another frowned upon the reason for these so-called Low profile graphics cards is that they lack or simply have fewer ports, so connecting multiple peripherals such as external monitors or projectors is simply out of the equation.
3. No Room For Overclocking.
The thermal throttling limit can be easily hit with these sorts of GPUs as they lack an inadequate heat dissipation system, so if you want to squeeze extra frames or push its limit while video editing or gaming, then disappointment is the only thing you may have to face.
A Good And Probably The Best Low Profile GPU Out There!
Here in this video, you will see one of the best LP GPUs currently available in the market.
Bottom Line
So now that you know what a low-profile graphics card is, you may be able to identify one easily and invest your money accordingly.
Moreover, even though it has its own fair share of benefits, you must not overlook the flaws especially if you are a gamer that prioritizes performance in competitive gaming.
As always, thanks for reading, and have a lovely day.