SFF builds are compact PCs designed to fit into tight spaces or to facilitate portability. Compact RTX 40 series GPUs will be ideal for a small-form-factor setup. Besides space saving, these cards often consume less energy, which also translates to less heat generation. While they might not be able to match the raw power of their larger counterparts, these smaller GPUs excel at handling the latest gaming titles with surprising efficiency.
However, finding the right card can be a bit of a headache. As such, this article lists some fantastic compact RTX 40 series GPUs that fit perfectly in most of the popular ITX cases.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer’s opinion.
Top compact RTX 40 series GPUs to buy now
1) ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
The RTX 4070 Ti Super looks pretty great on paper. It uses the AD103 silicon, which results in a 10% increase in CUDA cores compared to its standard, non-Super version. The card also comes with 16GB VRAM and 256-bit wide memory bus support. Despite being a compact RTX 40 series GPU, it delivers exceptional gaming performance.
Given the limited space in SFF cases, the ASUS Dual RTX 4070 Ti Super — with its dual-slot cooler design — is an ideal choice. Its compact size (267.01 x 133.94 x 51.13 mm) ensures better compatibility with smaller cases compared to bulkier triple-fan cards.
This variant of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER comes with an Axial-tech fan design. It is a smaller fan hub that has longer blades. Moreover, it has a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure to keep the card cool.
Pros:
- It delivers consistent performance.
- It stays cool even in resource-intensive tasks.
Cons:
- It is a bit overpriced.
- It is only moderately faster than the standard version.
2) NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Founders Edition
The RTX 4070 Super is a fantastic choice for 1440p gaming, offering AV1 decode, DLSS 3 Frame Generation, and all the advanced features of the RTX 40 series GPUs. It has 20% more shader cores than its non-super version, which significantly improves gaming performance.
The card also features a blower-style cooler that efficiently expels hot air directly out of the case. Its design is particularly well-suited for SFF builds, where space is limited, and ensures effective cooling without compromising on performance. Moreover, NVIDIA itself classifies this GPU as "SFF-Ready."
The founder edition of the card looks more elegant than other third-party offerings. While there is no change in the overall design, the all-black color looks fantastic.
It is one of the best compact RTX 40 series GPUs you can get today. This card has significantly more powerful than its standard version, and the best thing is that it doesn’t cost a lot.
Pros:
- It delivers great gaming performance.
- It looks premium.
Cons:
- It has 12GB VRAM.
3) MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16G VENTUS 2X OC
The MSI RTX 4060 Ti VENTUS 2X OC is a factory-overclocked GPU variant of the standard RTX 4060. It is a top compact RTX 40 series GPU enhanced for gamers looking for a graphics card with an optimal value-to-performance ratio. It will fit comfortably within a small form factor case as well.
The card uses a two-fan design, which improves its compatibility with smaller cases. Moreover, it draws less power compared to the 4070 series. This translates to less heat generation, making it potentially easier to manage thermals within an SFF case.
MSI provides free software called Afterburner, enabling users to fully control their GPU and monitor important system metrics in real-time. It also includes an OC Scanner that automatically identifies the highest stable overclock settings. So you will get a smoother gaming experience.
Pros:
- You can manually increase the speed of the clocks to get a power boost.
- It is a very efficient card.
Cons:
- Its performance is limited by the 128-bit bus.
4) Palit GeForce RTX 4060 Ti StormX 8GB
With the Palit GeForce RTX 4060 Ti StormX, you can experience the power of a full-sized card. With only 17cm in length, it is an ideal compact RTX 40 series GPU for a small-form-factor system. It is optimized to deliver low latency and faster reaction times.
In setups where every millimeter matters, its single-fan design makes the card an optimal fit. Moreover, it doesn't compromise on performance. It also supports new Ada features like DLSS 3 Frame Generation, SER, DMM, and OMM.
Overall, it is a great pick for gaming at 1080p.
The only difference between this card and its MSI variant mentioned earlier is the memory capacity (besides the design). Its 8GB of VRAM will be sufficient for most games running at 1080p, but you might see the device struggling a bit at higher resolutions. Apart from that, there is nothing much to complain about this GPU.
Pros:
- It delivers optimal performance at 1080p.
- It is available at a good price.
- Efficient ray tracing and AI functionalities.
Cons:
- It comes with 8GB of VRAM.
- It might throttle at resolutions above 1080p.
5) INNO3D GeForce RTX 4060 COMPACT
The INNO3D GeForce RTX 4060 COMPACT is one of the smallest GPUs available with these dimensions: 155 x 122 x 39 mm. Its design is sleek and modern. For budget-conscious buyers, it might be an ideal choice. Despite its lower count of CUDA cores, it represents a substantial leap forward from its previous generation card in terms of performance.
It also stands out for its efficiency, featuring a TDP of only 115W. Additionally, it supports vital NVIDIA technologies like DLSS 3. So you can get an enhanced gaming experience. The only tradeoff is memory capacity. In my opinion, 8GB will eventually become a bottleneck as modern titles are becoming more resource-intensive.
Pros:
- Highly compact and stylish design.
- It is available at a pocket-friendly price.
Cons:
- It is not a future-proof option.
- It has fewer CUDA cores compared to its predecessor.
That concludes our list of the best compact RTX 40 series GPUs. Although there are a lot of other options available that might be a good fit for a small-form-factor build, the options mentioned here will be suitable for most individuals.
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