Low Profile Graphics Cards Explained – Low Profile Vs Full Height

Low profile graphics cards are small factor graphics cards that are not always meant for computer gaming, they however work great for other purposes for which you will need them. Comparatively, these graphics cards are smaller than the usual full heights.

While these cards are small and limited in height, they are fitting for purposes that have to do with a minimum, or low-end computer uses. If you are not a hard gamer or have no need for those graphics-intensive computing operations, then you are good with low-profile cards.

Furthermore, these cards are budget-friendly and for budget computer developers and builders it offers a strong shoulder of support. There are a thousand reasons why low profile cards, are still in demand. Below are the advantages of low profile cards:

Advantages Of Low Profile Card

1. Small form factor

Just like the name, they are small and they are slimmer than the regular graphics cards. The advantage this carries is that it fits into small cases, and works great for you if you have little or no space to spare in your case.

2. Power consumption

Since they use fewer components, they consume less power than the regular full-height graphics card. The energy-efficient nation of this graphics card makes it a fantastic feature for you if you are trying to keep your eyes on the bills.

 In addition, the low-profile graphics card does not need an external power source to function, it works just like that.

3. Less noisy

Low profile cards use a single fan, this can be argued as some low profile cards now come with dual fans. Regardless, these fans are less noisy and work great at every temperature. They create little or no noise at all; some of the graphics cards come with no fan at all, providing passive cooling.

4. Relatively cheaper

This can be argued, as some low-profile cards can cost more than full-length cards. It is, however, a credit to the low profile cards, as most of them are under $100, making them fit your budget just when you want it.

Since we have seen a tidbit of what makes low profile cards great, let us look at the essential difference between these two types of cards, as a way of comparison. Let’s take it from the point of power consumption

Low Profile Vs Full Height

1. Power consumption

Low profile cards offer less power consumption data, when compared with the full profile cards, they do not use external PCI-E, and consume as low as 25w of electricity. When you look at it from this angle the dots are perfectly connected, in favor of low profile cards, but something is missing.

Low profile cards are not stock overclock, and in terms of performance, they always will fall below par, but if you have your eyes on an energy-efficient graphics card, then you are better at home with the low profile cards.

2. Performance

This is where the low graphics cards are lagging; performance-wise the full heights will always come out top of the list.

They are not stock clock and even when they are, they are not clocked high, so when you require supreme performance, like running your Fortnite at high configurations, low profile cards, will fail you.

When it comes to gaming, low profile cards are way down the lane too, with low framerates and thermal throttling issues, you also get consistent lags, all of these will empty the passion for the actions you seek and this is where the lines can be drawn.

In addition, the highest graphics card of the low profile cards is the GTX 1650, which cannot compare to RTX 2080.

3. Cooling & Heat

Since low-profile cards are smaller, you are guaranteed protection from issues such as heat and cooling. They produce less heat, and this is just equal to what they can dissipate, this is not the case with full height, where you get more power and most times cooling issues.

4. Compatibility

For low-profile cards, installing them is straightforward; in addition, it works great in almost the same slot for standard cards. They possess little or no compatibility issues of any sort, the same cannot be said of full heights.

5. Cost

While much difference cannot be spotted here, there is still a thin line. Low-profile cards are relatively cheaper than high-profile cards, this is what it is. They are some low-profile cards that may cost much more than high-profile cards, but they are relatively much cheaper.

Conclusion

Choosing between a low profile graphics card and full height lays strongly on variables, this will be determined by the user, your specifications, and what you want to use the card for.

While power consumption, cost, and others are few positives of the low profile cards, performance and reliability top the list for the full height cards. It all up to you and what you want the card to do.