When talking about Gaming while saving electricity, Low Power Graphics Card is an essential part that you will need to buy. Whether you are about to build your gaming PC from scratch or maybe you are upgrading your PC, these cards that fit into your motherboard will be key to your Gaming Experience.
These cards, also called expansion slots allow you to play games at the maximum level of resolution with a high frame rate at the same time. These components provide a bridge between output images and a display device. They hold a small chip-like structure on them, which is called the Graphics Processing Unit or GPU for short. And this chip is responsible for all of this process.
So if you haven’t figured it out yet, the Graphics Cards are an essential part of Gaming rigs. But the problem that they come with is that they draw too much power. This is something that you cannot really fault them for. After all, they are working really hard.
This is the reason why they get so hot and you need heavy-duty cooling systems with a Gaming PC. But worry not as not all Graphics Cards are power-hungry monsters that require you to spend hundreds of dollars on the power supply alone.
With the low-power Graphics Cards that we have mentioned below, you will not need an insane external or internal power supply. Rather you will be able to run these expansion cards at low power.
This will save you some bucks as well as help if you are looking to upgrade an existing gaming setup. So keep on scrolling and look at the Best 9 Low Power Graphics Card Options Without External Power in 2022.
Table of Contents
Low Power Graphics Card without External Power – Our Top 3 Picks
| Name: MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 |
| Rating: 9.8 |
| Main Features: Supports G-Sync technology, Over-Clocked out of the box |
| Name: ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 |
| Rating: 9.8 |
| Main Features: DDR6, 3 Monitors can be connected at the same time |
| Name: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC |
| Rating: 9.7 |
| Main features: Windforce Cooling system with alternating fans, Turing Shaders |
The Expansion cards mentioned below are not in a particular order. Meaning the card at number 1 or 2 is not in any way better than products mentioned at places 8 or 9. These cards have been picked out of multiple options out there. And so these options are the best options that you could get while having their own advantages/disadvantages.
| Name | CDU Cores | GPU Clock (Mhz) | Power Consumption (W) | ||
| 1. MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 | 896 | 1695 | 100 | ||
| 2. EVGA GeForce GT | 384 | 1085 | 64 | ||
| 3. MSI Graphics Cards N750Ti | 640 | 1163 | 60 | ||
| 4. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 | 896 | 1590 | 75 | ||
| 5. Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 | 384 | 1252 | 30 | ||
| 6. ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 | 384 | 1227 | 30 | ||
| 7. MSi GeForce GTX 1050 TI | 768 | 1379 | 75 | ||
| 8. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC | 896 | 1710 | 68.2 | ||
| 9. ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini | 768 | 1303 | 75 |
Best Low Power Graphics Card Without External Power in 2022
1. MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650
The MSI Gaming Geforce GTX 1650 is at the top of our list. This low-power Graphics Card comes in at the top of the line as its GPU Clocks out at a whopping 1695 Mhz. That will be enough for you for whichever game you want to play at 1080p resolution with a stable frame rate.
As for the Bus interface Type, you will need a PCI Express 3.0 x16. If you are only looking to upgrade your graphics card, it might cause some problems as older motherboards might not have the dedicated slot.
Though the Dimensions for this card are only 6.7 x 1.7 x 2.7 inches, this device does come in one of the smaller form factors. This does limit some of the functionality for this card. So you will only have to limit yourself to 2 screens at one time. The card won’t be able to handle anything more than that.
The biggest thing about this card though is the fact that it has a power consumption of only 100 W. Considering how an average PC runs at 200 W, you will not need to worry about the power consumption part for this device. Neither would you have to get an external power supply.
Why we like the MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650
The MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 is a powerful component that comes in a small package. You get all the power that you might need, especially to keep you covered for a few years at 1080p with ease. All this while only using 100 W of power.
In terms of competitor options, you can go for the RX 5500, which is built on the 7 nm platform, but with the MSI GTX 1650, you get a better power output.
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 6.7 x 1.7 x 2.7 inches |
| Weight: 289 grams or 0.6 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 896 |
| GPU Clock: 1695 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI-Express 3.0 x16 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: HDMI x 1 / DL-DVI-D x 1 |
| Memory Size: 4GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 128 bits |
| Power Consumption: 100W |
| Pros |
| DirectX 12 & OpenGL 4 .5 |
| Clock speed of 1695 Mhz. Helps to be amazing in terms of power performance out of the box |
| 4GB DDR5 |
| You do not need to Overclock the MSI GTX 1650 as it already runs at that speed |
| Supports G-Sync technology |
| Future Proof |
| Cons |
| Expensive |
| Cannot connect to more than 2 monitors at the same time |
2. EVGA GeForce GT
The EVGA GeForce GT is another exceptional choice that will make any buyer happy. This low-power Graphics Card only needs 64W of power to run! That truly is low, considering all the amount of power that this card brings with it.
The downside that we could find for this device is that it is heavier than the competition. So you would need to secure and fasten it tightly. But once that has been done, the EVGA GeForce GT will be ready to go.
You get a base clock speed of 1085 Mhz with the optional ability to overclock This expansion card comes equipped with DirectX 12 as well as OpenGL 4.4. This might be a bit of a letdown as the OpenGL 4.5 is not offered with this device. But considering the price point that this product comes at, I am sure a lot of you will let that slide.
According to the company, with the EVGA GeForce GT 740, you get not only 10x faster video editing but also 13x faster photo editing, 9x faster web browsing, and 4x faster Gaming performance. And if you ever do run into any problem, you can just reach out to EVGA’s 24/7 technical support staff that will willingly help you through your troubles.
Why we like the EVGA GeForce GT
Overall the EVGA GeForce GT is a worth it option that that is really competitive. Especially thanks to its only 64W power consumption option. And when you couple that with a durable build, good quality materials throughout the card, a user really is future-proofing with this product.
When playing games at high resolutions, the EVGA GeForce GT 740 easily beats out the competitor, NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 950 2GB OC.
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 6 x 1.8 x 4.4 inches |
| Weight: 453 grams or 1 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 384 |
| GPU Clock: 1085 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI-E 3.0 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: HDMI x 1 / DL-DVI-D x 1 |
| Memory Size: 2GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 128 bits |
| Power Consumption: 64W |
| Pros |
| DirectX 12 |
| Only 64W of power. If you want your gaming card to heat up less as well as consume less energy, this card is the one for you. |
| The ability to Overclock |
| 24/7 Technical Staff |
| Durable and High-quality materials |
| 4x Faster Gaming |
| Cons |
| Heavy |
| Not as powerful |
3. MSI Graphics Cards N750Ti
We have another MSI product on the list. Though worry not, this one will not break your bank like the last one. If you are wondering this card is as good as the previous one added on the list, well that it is.
The MSI N750Ti, unlike the GeForce GTX 1650, is a mid-ranged low-power Graphics card. What this means is, it does not have as much power as the higher-end expansion cards, but it still has enough to provide a stable frame rate and a 1080p minimum resolution. For a lot of you, it will be more than enough.
The N750Ti has a base Clock speed of 1163 Mhz and it comes with DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.4. The reason why it missed out on the OpenGL 4.5 is that the N750Ti came out a while ago. But worry not as it does not compromise on the power at all.
The card needs only a mere 60W of power to run. This is great because, with this, you for sure will not have to get an external power source. Other than saving you money, this graphics card will also save you from a lot of headaches as this runs very silently.
MSI also aids the subtle nature of the N750Ti as they have added Twin FROZR Dual fans with the device. Which when combined with the low power usage, becomes a hassle-free combination.
Why we like the MSI Graphics Cards N750Ti
MSI has been in the field of making Graphics related components for a while. So it is safe to say that they know what they are doing. You get an amazing mid-ranged low power Graphics Card with the N750Ti. It is powerful, quiet, and cheap all at the same time.
As the MSI N750Ti is a mid-level graphics card, you will not have to worry about upgrading your power supply as even with a normal one, you will be able to game in peace.
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 9.85 x 5.04 x 1.46 inches |
| Weight: 539 grams or 1.19 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 640 |
| GPU Clock: 1163 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX: 12 |
| Output Ports: VGA, DVI, HDMI |
| Memory Size: 2GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 128 |
| Power Consumption: 60W |
| Pros |
| Comes with Twin FROZR Dual Fans. This patented technology helps the MSI be cooler when compared to competitor products. |
| Quiet |
| Has enough power to provide a smooth Gaming Experience |
| Only 60W of power |
| DirectX 12 |
| Cons |
| Older Technology |
| Heavy |
4. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650
You might be surprised to see the name ZOTAC on this list. Because like many out there right now, you might not have heard of this name before either. But worry not as the ZOTAC brand might be new, but it is here to stay.
The GTX 1650 by ZOTAC is an amazingly low-power graphics card that comes with a Clock speed of 1590 Mhz. This is a lot, considering it only required 75W of power to run. This much power will be enough for you to play A-list games at 1080p with ease. The frame rate will also remain at a stable constant rate throughout your experience.
While gaming at peak resolutions, this card also gives the option of running 3 screens at the same time! This is great if you plan to use the expansion card for either work in graphics, gaming, or even streaming.
Moreover, all of this is offered in a small package as this card by ZOTAC is offered in one of the smaller configurations. So this does provide the added benefit of fitting into tight and small PC cases.
Why we like the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650
Because of the fact that ZOTAC is not a mainstream brand, you get awesome performance but at prices that are much lower than what is offered by competitors.
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 11.22 x 8.7 x 2.28 inches |
| Weight: 666.7 grams or 1.47 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 896 |
| GPU Clock: 1590 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI |
| Memory Size: 4 GB DDR6 |
| Memory Bit Width: 128 bits |
| Power Consumption: 75W |
| Pros |
| Amazing Speed |
| Competitive price |
| 3 Screens can be attached at the same time. This type of functionality |
| DDR6 |
| DirectX 12 |
| Low Power consumption |
| Cons |
| On the heavier side |
| ZOTAC is not as a well known brand as some of the others |
5. Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030
The Gigabyte name is synonymous with customization. Surely, no matter which product you go for by this brand, you can be sure to get options that will let you personalize the product.
The same is the case with the Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 low-power Graphics card. You can change the settings for this product so that the performance that you get is right for your gaming needs. You can also overclock the expansion card by using AORUS. Though with this option make sure your PC can handle the extra juice.
Other than power, you get a card that can run at a power consumption level of only 30W. So this is amazing as this makes sure that you won’t need any external power source with this card.
Though with this low amount, the drawback that you do get is lower amounts of power. That does not mean you won’t be able to run games, but rather the maximum resolution will be limited.
Why we like the Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030
This type of card is perfect for those who want to play casual games while not making too much of a problem. This card can run at very low power levels, and with the fact that it comes with fans installed, you do not get a lot of noise either.
One of the main advantages of the Gigabyte GT 1030 is the fact that it draws very little power when compared to other competitor products at this price point.
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 0.58 x 2.71 x 5.9 inches |
| Weight: 272 grams or 0.6 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 384 |
| GPU Clock:1252 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 x16 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: DVI, HDMI |
| Memory Size: 2GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 64 bits |
| Power Consumption: 30W |
| Pros |
| Fans make the Graphics Card very quiet |
| Needs low amount of Power |
| DirectX 12 |
| Lightweight |
| Customization options |
| Compact build. If you are looking to save space with your PC build, this will be the product to get. |
| Cons |
| Cannot play very graphic intensive games |
6. ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030
Are you looking for a low-profile graphics card that can take up your graphics and light gaming load? Well if so, the ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 is the one for you.
The ZOTAC brand is one that isn’t as well known as some of the others. But because of all the positive reviews that it has slowly been getting, we just could not let the urge go of adding this product to our list.
The GT 1030 only uses 30W of power. That is because it comes in a single-form design with the award-winning Nvidia Pascal Architecture. This will let you edit, whether videos or photos, in peace while giving you enough juice for light gaming too.
This expansion card comes with only one heat sink and a single fan. This might be alarming considering this is a low-power graphics card after all. But worry not as ZOTAC has carefully thought this problem out. And so, you will not be having any temperature problems with this product.
Other than that, you also get the ease of updating drivers as they are only a click away. This is all thanks to ZOTAC offering the pure GeForce experience.
Why we like the ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030
The ZOTAC is a compact card that is offered at a very reasonable price. This is a silent, subtle card that lets a user work on graphics extensive work as well as casual gaming. Furthermore, with the fact that this product only uses 30W of power, you will not need to get an external power source either.
According to blackenedpies on Reddit,
“AC:Origins at 900p Low-Med @ 30 FPS. Less demanding games like MGSV ran well. IIRC, it overclocked to the 1980 MHz range with minimal benefit from mem OC”
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 6.77 x 0.63 x 4.38 inches |
| Weight: 170 grams or 0.4 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 384 |
| GPU Clock: 1227 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: DVI, HDMI |
| Memory Size: 2GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 64 bits |
| Power Consumption: 30W |
| Pros |
| Easily upgradable drivers |
| Heatsink and Fans control the temperatures. The fan control ends up helping you overclock your motherboard to play all the games you want. |
| Lightweight |
| Quiet |
| Award-Winning Nvidia Pascal Architecture. This helps the ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 stand apart from its competitors |
| Low Profile |
| DirectX 12 |
| Cons |
| Might not have enough power to run very graphics-heavy games |
7. MSI GeForce GTX 1050 TI
If you want a product that is from a more well-known brand though, the MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti does the job really well.
This expansion card by MSI is not the most recent product to have been announced but even with a few years on the device, the GTX 1050 Ti does not lack in any way or form.
You get amazing power which lets you play games at up to 4k resolution. Though 1080p is where this card shines as at that resolution, it won’t be working at its maximum. This will allow it to maintain a stable frame rate for a longer period of time.
Though the 1050 Ti is not as powerful as some of the other counterparts that come under the 1650 category, the 1050 Ti is a step-up from the 1050 lineup. The only drawback for this device is that it isn’t new.
Other than that, this hardware component is up to the mark in every way possible.
Why we like the MSI GeForce GTX 1050 TI
The MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is a power-hungry card, that shines with any form of graphics-intensive work. Indeed we recommend this expansion card on the basis of how this will provide to be a future-proof investment for the buyer. The MSI GeForce will provide the durability that comes when buying a product from a brand that has been in a specific field for a while.
Piszczel on reddit says,
“I’ve got a 1050ti. Most AAA games run at 60fps/1080p on medium-high settings. Right now I’m playing Mad Max with everything maxed out at solid 60fps. Batman Arkham Knight runs at 45-60fps on high settings”
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 9.01 x 1.54 x 5.16 inches |
| Weight: 526 grams or 1.16 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 768 |
| GPU Clock: 1379 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: |
| Memory Size: 4 GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 128 bits |
| Power Consumption: 75W |
| Pros |
| Gamestream to Nvidia Shield |
| Powerful |
| Future proof. The GTX 1050ti ends up being a future-proof investment because of the power it delivers over other competitor products at the same price point. |
| Reliable |
| DirectX 12 |
| Cons |
| Expensive |
8. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC
The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC is one of the most powerful low-power graphics cards that you can buy without needing external power. The OC over here stands for OverClock. This means that this card comes out of the box, with those features enabled.
With a clock speed of 1710 Mhz, this card will have no worries running anything you want. Whether it be games at ultra high resolutions with stable frame rates, or video/picture editing, the Gigabyte GTX 1650 OC can handle it with ease.
This is in part, due to adaptive shading technology that Gigabyte has introduced called Turing Shaders. These are accompanied by unified memory architecture. This architecture comes with a new and improved cache system which holds more memory than previous models.
As for the cooling, Gigabyte offers a Windforce cooling system that holds two fans. These alternate throughout the usage which ensures reliability and cooling power at the same time.
Why we like the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC
The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC is an amazing expansion card. It brings with it a lot of performance if you are willing to spend the big bucks. The card does not use a lot of power so you won’t need to get an external power source or invest in that even with all this extra performance.
In terms of competitors, Gigabyte also offers the GeForce GTX 1650 Super. Though with the OC, you get the same kind of power at a cheaper price and don’t require external power.
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 7.52 x 4.41 x 1.42 inches |
| Weight: 557 grams or 1.23 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 896 |
| GPU Clock: 1710 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: DisplayPort, HDMI |
| Memory Size: 4 GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 128 bits |
| Power Consumption: 68.2W |
| Pros |
| Amazing Performance while not using a lot of power |
| Comes out of the box OverClocked |
| Durable & Future Proof |
| Adaptive Shading Technology = Turing Shaders |
| Increased Cache |
| Windforce Cooling system with alternating fans |
| GeForce Experience |
| Cons |
| Expensive |
9. ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini
The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini is an expansion card based on the smaller form factors available on the market. What this means is that you would not have to worry about whether the low-power graphics card will fit in your PC or not.
With that, ZOTAC also offers you this card in 3 different configurations. One is the OverClocked version, the other mini and then finally in a low profile version too.
This card is based on the Nvidia Pascal architecture. It is one of the most advanced structures out right now. When that is paired up with DirectX 12 and OpenGl 4.5, the performance you can get out of this card is amazing. You will be able to play at 1080p with ease, and even push higher resolutions in some games.
With the mini, ZOTAC also gives you a specially designed sunflower heatsink that is made up of aluminum. So this choice of material makes sure the durability and longevity for this product.
In order to help with cooling, you also get a single 90mm cooling fan which has a higher downward pressure as well as channel flow due to deep angled blades and ribbed blades respectively.
Why we like the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini
The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini is an amazing option for someone who wants a smaller card that does not compromise on the power.
Though this is not the cheapest card on the list, the money is well spent. You get a lot of functionality with this device. And when you look at the levels of materials that the company has used for this device, it is clear a lot of effort went into building this product.
In order for this card to be worth it, you need to get it in a deal under $100. As with that price point, the card delivers performance that puts it apart from its competitors.
| Specs |
| Dimensions: 4.37 x 6.85 x 1.38 inches |
| Weight: 498 grams or 1.1 lbs |
| CUDA Cores: 768 |
| GPU Clock: 1303 Mhz |
| Bus Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 |
| Direct X: 12 |
| Output Ports: DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort |
| Memory Size: 4 GB DDR5 |
| Memory Bit Width: 128 bits |
| Power Consumption: 75W |
| Pros |
| The Card is offered in a few configurations. And so you can choose whichever configuration suits your PC the best |
| Powerful |
| Based on the Nvidia Pascal architecture |
| Good temperature control with 90mm single fan and specially designed heatsink |
| DirectX 12 & OpenGl 4.5 |
| Cons |
| Expensive |
Low Power Graphics Card – A Buyer’s Guide
When buying anything related to PC or gaming, it is easy to get confused. There is just so much terminology related to each product, in order to buy a product that fits your needs exactly can be hard.
But worry not as we have got you covered! Consequently, we have come up with a buyer’s guide to help guide you through the process of buying a low-power graphics card.
Form Factor
A low-power graphics card comes in different form factors. This is basically the expansion cards dimensions. The size, shape, etc. This is one of the important things to look out for if you already have a setup and you are thinking of upgrading your card.
This is because if you get a card that does not fit in your casing, it will be of no use. On the other hand, if you are building the PC from scratch, this can be a little flexible. As you can then mix and match different sizes with each other on-demand.
Memory Size
The majority of the time, the card that you get and its performance depend upon the size of its memory. You will find this written beside a card mostly. On this list, we have mentioned cards that are either 2GB or 4GB in memory size.
There are cards that have a higher memory size, such as 6GB and 8GB but, for those you also have to get external power.
4GBs would be enough for a gamer that wants to play games at 1080p and at a stable frame rate. On the other hand, 2GB cards are mostly for light gaming usage.
Generally, the higher the memory size for a card, the better its performance will be. As the increased memory size is often accompanied by a higher GPU Clock and CUDA Cores.
Output Ports
These ports are the place at which your screen monitor will be connected to your GPU. If you remember the start of this article, we mentioned that these cards play a part in the video part of gaming.
So you need to look out for the ports that the graphics card has so that you will be able to connect the monitor that you have to the card. If not, you will either have to change the card or the monitor.
GPU Clock / CUDA Cores
Both of these are measures of the performance that your expansion card offers. Though when you compare these numbers with cards that are based on different architectures, you do not get substantial information.
In cards, you will often hear the term of OverClocking. This basically means to make the card perform faster than its normal speed. It can be harmful to the card in prolonged periods of time, but it does give quite a significant boost in performance.
Power Consumption
There has been an upwards trend in the market of GPUs over the past couple of years. As these cards have become more powerful, the more power-hungry they have become.
Nowadays you can find PCs that consume a power of upwards of 200W. I mean they do deliver for that amount of power but still, for only the expansion card, that is a lot.
When it comes to power, there are two different terms you need to know. One is the power that the card will consume on its own. The other is called the Power Supply Unit or PSU. The PSU will always be a greater number than the power consumption of the card itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
The difference between Low-Profile Cards and Standard cards is in their power consumption and the performance that they offer. Because of how low profile cards are smaller in size, they end up being slower and they consume less energy too. On the other hand, though, they also are cheaper as well as generate less heat.
GPU benchmarks are a standard for finding how good a graphics card is. There are certain tests online that one can do to find out the power of their cards. These tests check the card vigorously by pushing it to the limit. When conducting these tests, you may find the temperature levels for your device to shoot up too.
Over the years, as these cards have become necessary for gaming, companies have started to open new horizons when it comes to the performance of these components. Because of that, the power requirement needed to run these cards have shot up too. In order to match those demands and to make the card run smoothly, getting an external power supply ends up becoming necessary.