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Are you struggling with lower frame rates and choppy gameplay? Well, an inexpensive solution to this menace is buying a single-slot GPU.
Single-slot GPUs are not only inexpensive but also promise enhanced gameplay and smooth graphical processing.
If you're looking for a quality GPU at a low price, do check our list of the best single slot units available on the market.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Single Slot GPUs
- OUR TOP PICK: EVGA GeForce GT 740 Superclocked
- RUNNER-UP: Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 OC
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: EVGA GT 710 Low Profile
Comparison of the Best Single Slot GPUs
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What is a Single Slot GPU?
Every model of GPUs features a unique set of functions and specifications. But the type that will suit your needs depends on your personal preferences and requirements. However, if you require a compact assembly for your PC components, a single slot GPU can come in handy.
A single-slot card accommodates minimum space in your case as well as on your motherboard. To make sure it works perfectly, all you need is a single PCI slot on the motherboard. Single-slot models are a great choice if you own micro ATX motherboards or a small tower chassis for compact assembly.
EVGA GeForce GT 740 Superclocked
Do All Graphics Cards Fit All Motherboards?
Numerous graphics cards might differ from one another based on their size, specifications, and capabilities. The good news is that most graphics cards will fit in any motherboard that has a dedicated PCI-e x16 slot.
However, there are certain exceptions when it comes to fitting your graphics card. A compact PC case with minimal clearance can be problematic for a large-size GPU. Similarly, if you have a compact micro ATX motherboard, determining the availability of the PCI slot as well as ample clearance is necessary.
Review of the Best Single Slot GPUs
Single-slot GPUs offer a cheap solution to meet your gaming requirements or performing moderate-intensity workloads. With so many brands and models up for sale, it's nearly impossible to choose the best one for yourself.
Here, we have listed some of the best single slot GPUs that you can consider for an optimal experience.
Best Overall:
EVGA GeForce GT 740 Superclocked
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Nearly all positive remarks for the product suggest that it has amazing capabilities and performance. Buyers are quite satisfied with the purchase. They believe that it's a great buy to perform multiple tasks, including gaming or other intensive workloads. Several other reviews suggest that this device allows you to watch HD videos and photos at higher resolutions.
Why it Stands Out to Us
EVGA is known for its reliable products when it comes to PC gaming or intensive workloads. Their state-of-the-art technology puts them far ahead of any other model when we talk about GPUs. This model is an example of such technological brilliance. Whether it's watching HD videos or photos, this unit is an ideal purchase for such tasks. The Nvidia's Pure Video HD Technology offers you crisp visuals at high resolution.
The unit not only promises a faster video editing operation but also delivers smooth and quick photo editing. Web browsing is also way faster than integrated graphics while it offers seamless gameplay as well. The drivers for this model are also easy to update using Nvidia's GeForce Experience.
Bottom Line
Overall, this is a great product that delivers the superb all-around capability for gaming or intensive tasks. It offers high-resolution video and photo playback with seamless experience without any lag.
Runner-up:
Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 OC
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers are convinced that this product by Gigabyte is simply one of the best. Users report smooth video playback and a great web browsing experience using this model. Its easy overclocking capability and effective cooling also make it an attraction for gamers. People also love the durable quality of the product that ensures its longevity.
Why it Stands Out to Us
When it comes to watching high-resolution videos or completing professional tasks, this model is a perfect fit. Gigabyte has embedded the latest technology in this unit that allows it to perform all tasks quite effectively. Its ability to run videos at high 4K resolution at 60 Hertz promises a seamless experience to the user.
You enjoy not only a smooth and crisp video playback but also a buttery-smooth web browsing experience. Overclocking the unit is also very easy as it can be done effectively using AORUS Graphics Engine. Its custom-designed cooler keeps the heat at bay when performing intensive tasks for longer periods.
Bottom Line
To sum up, this is a durable unit that is capable of delivering high speed and consistent performance even for long periods of usage. Its 4K resolution video support and seamless video playback make it superior to other units.
Best for the Money:
EVGA GT 710 Low Profile
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Users loved how this unit performs when it comes to normal usage or mid-level gaming. They believe it's way better than integrated graphics and allows peace of mind. The product is also known to provide great value for your money, making it a worthy buy for most people.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The handful of features that this model provides appeals to us in many ways. Out of the many, its improved performance over integrated graphics offers a huge upgrade to any system. You will witness not only a smoother experience but also improved graphics and visual quality. The unit can support up to three different displays simultaneously so you can perform multiple tasks quite effectively on different displays.
Moreover, it uses Nvidia's PhysX technology that is known to provide a realistic gaming experience. As a result, in-game visuals look crispier and very real.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, this unit by EVGA is a handy GPU that can handle gaming or other moderate workloads. Its selling point is the excellent price-to-performance ratio it offers to its customers. Its affordable price tag, paired with easy installation and improved graphics, makes it an outstanding product.
Fastest Single-Slot GPU:
ZOTAC GeForce GT 710 1GB
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Many buyers used this unit to fit in their compact systems. They believe that its compressed design makes it a perfect fit for smaller PC setups. Despite being compact, it doesn't compromise on its performance. This low-profile model offers improved graphical processing with minimal power consumption.
Why it Stands Out to Us
What strikes us most about this GPU are its overall features and design quality. Its compact build is something that makes it an ideal choice for smaller systems. It requires minimal clearance and consumes minimum power. Unlike other models, it uses little space in your case while consuming only 25W of power.
Furthermore, the unit promises optimal performance that is far better than traditional cards. Its improved architecture and technology make it an ideal purchase for photo and video editors.
Bottom Line
For video editing, photo manipulation, and basic-level gaming, this card by ZOTAC is a clear winner. It is a low-profile unit that offers great performance while consuming minimum power, making it popular amongst intermediate-level gamers.
Best Single-Slot Low-Profile GPU:
MSI GT 710 2GD3 LP
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers are quite pleased with the quality of this device. They consider this unit a perfect choice for smaller systems due to its compact build. It uses minimum power and offers an improved experience that users find it priceless.
Why it Stands Out to Us
A multitude of features offered by this model by MSI makes it a great attraction for many users. Out of the many, its sturdy nature is worth mentioning. It uses high-quality capacitors that are known to increase the overall lifespan of the device. The unit is compact and is ideal for fitting in smaller gaming systems.
It is known for significantly boosting the performance of your system. When compared with integrated graphics, it shows a ten times increase in performance. Besides, it utilizes minimum power and offers a quiet operation with its low-profile design.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a reliable single-slot GPU, then look no further. This silently-operating unit outperforms most conventional models with its increased durability and better performance. Also, its compact design fits most systems.
Most Powerful Single-Slot GPU:
PNY GTX 1650 4GB XLR8
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are convinced that this is an all-in-one solution for PC users. Whether it's playing heavy-duty games or performing extensive projects on heavy software, this card can accommodate it all. Its latest Turing architecture, paired with numerous other technologies, made it a successful purchase for most buyers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This card uses Nvidia's latest Turing architecture that is known to provide enhanced performance when it comes to gaming or GPU-intensive tasks. It uses Adaptive Shading technology, paired with unified Memory architecture, that greatly boosts gaming performance.
Furthermore, it's highly compatible with a wide range of systems. You can easily update your drivers and optimize your game settings for consistent performance using GeForce Experience.
Bottom Line
For those seeking the best single-slot GPU, this model is your ideal pick. Its higher core clock and boost clock offer considerably better performance than its predecessors. Moreover, its multiple technologies give it an edge over its rivals.
Best AMD Single-Slot GPU:
XFX RX 550 4GB Core Edition
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent users believe that they have found the perfect single-slot card that is ideal for performing intensive workloads. It has low noise output, which proved to be really comfortable and satisfactory for most buyers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Several reasons make this model by XFX stand out from its competitors. True Clock technology is one of the major highlights of this unit. This technology allows it to be overclocked easily beyond True Clock to maximize performance.
The card can be considered user-friendly as it performs silently even during intensive workloads. Furthermore, its effective cooling helps maintain ideal temperatures for an increased lifespan.
Bottom Line
To wrap it up, this is a high-quality device that is designed to provide smooth gameplay while playing modern titles. It’s easy overclocking and effective cooling make it a great choice for gamers who want to squeeze maximum performance out of their gadgets.
When Would a Single Slot GPU Come in Handy?
Single-slot GPUs can be a great addition to any system. Their compact design and optimized performance make them compatible with most configurations. But when would a single-slot GPU come in handy? Let's find out.
For Smaller-Sized Cases
Most system configurations don't allow installing a bulky GPU. Smaller systems might struggle to install cards with large size. Even if they get installed, their performance might decrease with reduced airflow. This is where single-slot cards come in handy. Their compact and sleek design makes them suitable to fit into any system.
Displaying High-Resolution Images and Videos
Sometimes, you might wish that the images shown on your monitor were crispier. You can also come to a point where you need to view high-quality graphics for work or entertainment purposes. That is only possible if you own a powerful graphics card.
A single-slot unit seems promising in this matter as it is responsible for image rendering. It can significantly enhance the image and video quality being displayed by the monitor. As a result, you can watch images and videos in high resolution.
Multiple Tasks
Whether it's playing modern titles or performing intensive workloads, these GPUs can perform both tasks effectively. They offer you great value for your money as they are inexpensive while offering you multiple operational capabilities. You can also perform various photo and video editing tasks with ease while enjoying sharp and crisp visuals.
What Are The Benefits of a Single Slot GPU?
Investing in a high-quality graphics card is beneficial in every way. It not only provides enhanced user experience, but it also delivers reliable performance. Whether you are a gamer or a photo editor, buying a quality GPU is worth considering.
Here are a few benefits of using a single-slot GPU:
Occupies Minimum Space
One of the major reasons why single-slot units are famous is their space-saving design. Their compact design allows them to fit in smaller systems with ease.
Enhanced Airflow
As a single-slot card requires minimum space, it also promotes improved airflow within the case. Large GPUs can sometimes block the effective passage of airflow that can negatively impact your system's performance. However, with a smaller unit, you can guarantee the optimal performance of your system.
Less Power Consumption
These GPUs are not power-hungry like their larger and bulkier counterparts. Instead, they require minimum power to operate effectively.
Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 OC
Installing a small power supply in your system can be sufficient enough to run these models. This saves not only power but also your hard-earned money.
Dual Slot vs. Single Slot GPUs - Comparison Overview
When you have to decide between two different models, it can get a bit frustrating. If you have to decide whether to buy a single-slot or dual-slot GPU, then this section is for you.
The following is a brief comparison between these two different models.
Similarities
Here are some resemblances that are found in both these models.
Purpose
Whether it's a single or dual slot GPU, both of them serve the same purpose. They are designed for graphical processing that helps the user visualize various content like gaming, video playback, etc.
Composition
Both these models are composed of nearly identical components. They feature a similar assembly of components that are responsible for carrying out numerous tasks.
Differences
Here are some differences found between these two GPUs.
Size
Dual-slot cards are much thicker and larger as compared to single-slot GPUs. They occupy more space and can cause turbulence in the airflow.
ZOTAC GeForce GT 710 1GB
Power Consumption
Single-slot models have minimal power consumption, unlike dual-slot GPUs. They require less power to operate, hence, minimizing power usage.
Performance
When it comes to performance, a dual-slot unit has an edge over single-slot models. The reason is the presence of dedicated cooling fans that provide effective heat dissipation.
Conclusion
Buying a single slot GPU can be a tough decision to make, considering the extensive range of options available. To save your time and money, we have listed some of the best models for your convenience. They are not only reliable, but they also promise great durability and performance.
People Also Ask
Some users are quite curious about troubleshooting their devices or extracting maximum performance. To answer such questions, this section answers some frequently occurring queries and clears out any confusion.
Can I Use 2 GPUs at the Same Time?
Modern motherboards feature multiple PCI slots to house more than one GPU. If your motherboard has more than one PCI slot, you can use two different GPUs at the same time. However, make sure that they are Crossfire compatible.
Are Mini Graphics Cards Less Powerful?
Mini graphics cards feature a small and compact design, unlike larger units. They have limited cooling options and features. With fewer components, these units are not as powerful as the full-size units when it comes to performance.
What Does Dual Slot Mean on a Graphics Card?
A dual-slot model occupies the space of two PCI slots that are installed adjacent to each other. So, if you install a dual-slot GPU in your motherboard, it will block the PCI slot next to it.
Are Graphics Cards Plug and Play?
Most graphics cards offer the plug-and-play capability. If you pair a modern graphics card with the latest motherboard, it will be ready for use almost instantly. However, pairing a model with an old motherboard might require a BIOS update.
