Single-slot low-profile 75W RTX 3060 with no power connectors disappoints in tests — GPU runs entirely off the PCIe slot, but offers severely crippled performance and frightening thermals
If you want to cut your 12GB RTX 3060's performance in half while worsening its thermals, this might be the perfect product for you.
Nvidia introduced the GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) in early 2021 as a cost-effective mainstream gaming GPU with a 170W TDP. Recently, a Chinese individual created a 75W version of the card, which has sparked controversy due to its disappointing performance and extreme thermals. This blower-style variant, featuring no power connectors and running entirely off the PCIe slot, exhibits underwhelming results.
The 75W RTX 3060 struggles to reach its boost clock of 1,770 MHz, clocking in at only 900 MHz, and fails to achieve a Time Spy score greater than 4,821 points, while regular RTX 3060s typically score over 9,000 points in the same benchmark. Additionally, the card's temperature surpasses 90 degrees Celsius during testing, indicating that the cooling solution is insufficient.
This compact, low-profile card with a shroud reminiscent of a smartphone contains minimal thermal pads and lacks a backplate, resulting in inadequate cooling. Despite its reduced power budget, some might argue that the card remains an Ampere GPU, potentially suitable for low-power, compact systems. However, in 2026, mini PCs with equally compelling or superior integrated graphics present a stark contrast.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
