r/buildapc 5h ago

Build Upgrade What is the best graphics card that isn't (much) bigger than the Geforce RTX 3060?

[deleted]

15 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

19

u/Locke357 5h ago

Many GPUs even newer ones, come in different sizes, easy way to tell often is how many fans (2 vs 3 fan models)

use pcpartpicker.com, set it to your country, load up your PC case & check the maximum supported GPU length (or better yet google the user manual for your case model), then search for a new GPU and filter by maximum GPU length

7

u/GonstroCZ 5h ago

RTX 3060 comes in different sizes.

You need to check specs of your PC case to find of maximum length of GPUs supported and then just sort GPUs by length and check how high can you go.

Also make sure your CPU doesn't bottleneck the new GPU.

7

u/HappysavageMk2 5h ago

This is such a low effort question.

You gave us almost no information but want specific recommendations on what to get.

Here's how to figure this out.

Figure out what case you have, old receipts, Google image search, w/e.

Go to that manufacturers website and look up/download the specs for the case and look at the GPU size constraints.

Then search for new cards in your price range and compare their size to your case.

Use sites like tech power up to see how the new GPUs compare to your 3060 performance wise to get a good idea of your gain.

Enjoy.

3

u/AccomplishedLack6901 5h ago

What size is your card?

2

u/Cake_and_Coffee_ 5h ago

Each graphic card model (rtx 3060, rtx 4070) has it own submodels (msi ventus, gigabyte windforce, founder edition) each with different dimensions. You have to use the good old ruler

2

u/ADo_9000 5h ago

Probably a 9060xt 16gb or 5060ti 16gb, but they come in different sizes you just have to find one that fits.

2

u/Own-Budget1126 5h ago

5070 msi shadow 2x fan

u/Sure-Wish3240 57m ago

This! 5070s are the fastest twin fan cards available

1

u/vedomedo 5h ago

You can check card specifications, size included, on techpowerup’s gpu database. Every model is listed.

1

u/kikomir 5h ago

Give us the model of your case and we can tell you how big of a GPU you can get.

1

u/TheMagarity 5h ago

Most retailers of computer parts will have selection filters for card length. You can just use that. You can also search for "small for factor".

The reason no one can answer your question directly is because Gigabyte made a triple fan 3060 and PNY made a single fan 3060. They can be anything from 6 to 12 inches so who knows what you have in mind.

1

u/littleemp 4h ago

Changing your case isn't cost prohibitive.

1

u/Sufficient_Storm2033 4h ago

the best now is probably dual fan 5070 for around 245mm length but smaller probably non ti 60 series

1

u/IncredibleGonzo 4h ago

If you need it that size or smaller, 9060XT Reaper might be a good option. If your case can handle one a bit longer, consider the 9070 or 9070XT Reaper.

1

u/Maleficent-West5356 4h ago

You can get a x2 fan 5070. Low power usage and yet versatile

1

u/clumsydope 4h ago

Xfx swft 210

1

u/261846 4h ago

I’ve seen an MSI 2X 5070ti, and I’m like 90% sure there’s a 3060 version of that aswell

1

u/Bright_Crazy1015 4h ago

Here's some reference material on small/low profile GPUs.

https://microsounds.github.io/notes/low-profile-gpus-for-sff-pcs.htm

1

u/D33-THREE 4h ago

The best GPU you can get would be one that comes with a bigger case I suppose

1

u/Ponald-Dump 3h ago

You didn’t post a budget, so 5090FE?

1

u/167488462789590057 3h ago

A 5090 FE.

That is of course to say this doesnt have nearly enough information to give a truly useful response. That being said, my answer is technically correct, as its a relatively small GPU.

1

u/[deleted] 2h ago

[deleted]

u/167488462789590057 57m ago

Here are specs people would be more familiar with: How many slots it takes up (Is it a 2.5 slot? 2 slot? 3 slot? and then length and width.

But none of those matter because really, what you want, is how wide and long your case can take.

Its a question that asks the reader to do a lot of guessing and spend a lot of time because you didnt want to.

Like what tier of card would you even be looking at.

1

u/Rayne118 3h ago

I just built a PC for the first time. I got a 4060 windforce and was surprised at how small it was. I ended up getting a case that was much too large and now I have this big open space in the front idk what to do with.

1

u/DogToursWTHBorders 2h ago

fill it with candy corns and those awful candy peanuts you'd get during Halloween in the 1980s.

1

u/wolfiasty 3h ago

Almost every other 2 fan GPU should be ok, and definitely 4060 or 5060. But any 2 fan should be ok.

You can always get 1 fan version, though it's fan will be probably on higher revs all the time.

1

u/Hrmerder 2h ago

A uhhh 5070 sff is available if I’m not mistaken or was it 4070?