As graphics cards are becoming more powerful, they need more slots for better cooling & proper fucntioning. So, you might need a spacious PC case to hop them in your gaming rig. Most of the high and mid-range GPUs depend upon more than one slot. So installing these cards in micro-ATX case is quite difficult. So here’s a solution if you are looking for the best single slot GPU that not only performs better but also covers less space on a motherboard.
But you have to stick with entry-level graphics cards in this case. Although you can play games with these single slot GPUs, you have to stick with lower to medium settings.
Also read about: Best 4K Gaming GPUs
If you are having a small PC case and installed important peripherals in other slots, you need to go for a single slot video card. Another advantage of having these small dimension cards is they consume less power. You don’t have to buy a high-end gaming power supply to run these kinds of GPUs.
However, the light interface of these single slot cards makes them incompatible with high-end features like overclocking or mining.
Best Single Slot GPUs for All Kind of Tasks
So these are the top-of-the-line single slot graphics cards that occupy less space in a computer case, promote better ventilation, and draw less power.
1. EVGA GeForce Superclocked Single Slot GT 740 4GB DDR3 | The Best Overall
| Cuda Cores | 384 |
| Base Clock | 1059 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 1334 MHz |
| Memory Interface | DDR3-128 bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
Although, with a DDR3 interface, this GPU is a bit outdated when compared to present generation cards. But it still offers good value keeping in mind the price factor.
Now, this video card isn’t good for playing the latest gaming titles but still, you can play most of them on low to medium settings. But this card shines in the video editing department quite a lot. And if you pair this one with the right video editing CPU, you will get excellent performance.
As the EVGA GT 740 looks a bit bulky, it sits perfectly in small motherboards and cases. It comes with DVI and HDMI port for better connectivity. At last, you can easily stream 4K videos on this video card without any problem.
2. Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 2GB GV | The Best Budget GPU Compatible with Single Slot Motherboards
| Cuda Cores | 384 |
| Base Clock | 1544 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 6008 MHz |
| Memory Interface | DDR5-64 bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
One of the major problems of having dual-slot GPUs is that they cover more space and draw huge power. Well, Gigabyte GT 1030 solves this problem with its latest aluminum base heatsink and 80mm fan. It delivers outstanding performance whether it is gaming or video editing.
However, the 64-bit interface will not let you play modern games like Call of Duty Warzone and RDR2. But still, you may expect from this card to scale games on a 720p resolution.
With DVI-D and HDMI ports, you can expect this single slot GPU to stream 4K videos without any problem. It is very easy to install, all you need is to hop it into a PCI-e x16 slot on your motherboard.
This single slot compatible video card uses only 30W power. So, you don’t need any external power supply with this version. Lying just under $170, this graphics card is ideal for budget geeks who want to taste games and do other tasks at the same time.
3. Inno3D GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB | Best Performing Mid-Range GPU for MicroATX
| Cuda Cores | 768 |
| Base Clock | 1290 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 7008 MHz |
| Memory Interface | DDR5-128 bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
Well if you are a gamer, you might have come across the famous GTX 1050 Ti from Nvidia. It is one of the best mid-range GPUs in the market that not only delivers smooth performance in gaming but also other tasks as well.
Yes, with 768 Cuda cores, this graphics card packs more power. Due to its bulky heatsink size, this card might not fit in most ultra-small factor cases. Therefore, you must check the dimensions of your case before buying this video card.
It is a powerful single slot video card that can run modern games in medium to high settings. The only downside is that it is a bit pricy for people who do not want to spend over $200 for a GPU.
4. EVGA GT 710 2GB DDR3 |Cheapest Low Profile Single Slot Video Card
| Cuda Cores | 192 |
| Base Clock | 954 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 1800 MHz |
| Memory Interface | DDR3-64 bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 2.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
The EVGA GT 710 is an ideal single slot GPU for business PCs. Though this video card holds outdated specifications, it still handles light tasks quite effectively.
With a 64-bit DDR3 interface, you cannot expect to game on this graphics card. So buying this for gaming just doesn’t make any sense at this point. However, you can do your routine office work and a little video editing with this card.
Last but not least, the GT 710 is a budget-friendly single slot card on the market. You won’t have to break your bank account to buy this video card for your business setup.
5. PNY NVIDIA Quadro M4000 8 GB | The Show Stealing GPU
| Cuda Cores | 1664 |
| Base Clock | 773 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 1502 MHz |
| Memory Interface | DDR5-256 bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
Although the NVIDIA Quadro M4000 hasn’t caught the attention of many GPU geeks, it still holds great value. Firstly, it is the most powerful single slot GPU with 1664 Cuda cores. Secondly, it has a 256-bit GDDR5 interface to keep up with intense graphical applications.
Moreover, this high-end GPU has more I/O to use when compared to other cards on our list. However, this all comes at a higher cost. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000 costs over $450, this makes it difficult for the budget geek to buy this card.
Final Words & Recommendation
So these were the most in-demand single slot GPUs on the market. Now it depends upon your need and budget to choose the right one for your PC. For gamers, we highly recommend going with the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti that occupies less space and delivers excellent performance. And if you are low on budget, then EVGA GT 210 2GB might be ideal to get. Lastly, for server setup or workbench, there is nothing better than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000.
