These riser cables have fallen in price dramatically in recent years, mainly thanks to cryptocurrency mining (admittedly, most of the risers sold for this reason weren’t capable of delivering a full 16 PCI-E lanes of bandwidth), but also because the likes of Thermaltake pushed the vertical graphics card mount for use in show cases, such as its wall-mountable open-air Core cases.

• 3 Slot Vertical Gpu Mount Review
• Cablemod Vertical Gpu Mount

The premium-quality gen 3.0 PCI-E riser cable is 200 mm long, allowing for plenty of leeways for the GPU mounting. EK-Loop Vertical GPU Holder - Shifted can be mounted on cases with open or closed-off PCI-E expansion slot designs, with a minimum of 6 free slots. The GPU has to be either a 1- or 2-slot design in terms of the I/O shield. The first one is by investing in a CableMod vertical GPU mount. The mount is designed in such a way that it pushes the GPU away from the window, and gives it ample room to breathe. Sure, it does come with some caveats but it is well worth the try and the cost. GPU In Photos Not Included With Mnpctech RTX 3090 FE Vertical GPU Mount. MnpMnpctech is the only online store making and offering custom Triple PCI Slot GPU and RTX 3090 FE Vertical GPU Mounts. Features of the Mnpctech RTX 3090 FE Vertical GPU Mounting Bracket. I've recently purchased your vertical mount GPU bracket / cable set to pair with a LG 27GN950. I've noticed the monitor keeps black screening and coming back on randomly. So I thought it might be the riser cable. I took the vertical mount out and put the card back directly on the motherboard.

SilverStone has also used them for years in its slim mini-ITX cases, such as the Raven RVZ01 and Fortress FTZ01. Meanwhile, PC modders have used riser cables to move the graphics card away from the motherboard to create whacky case designs.

However, most cases with vertical GPU mounts have few of the necessary modifications. It’s akin to upgrading the engine on a car, but not doing the same for the cooling system. You’re expecting the cooling system to be able to cope with the extra heat, despite a very different component layout.

With PC cases, manufacturers are assuming that cooling won’t be an issue, without considering that air-cooled graphics cards benefit hugely from ventilation, both in terms of active airflow from nearby fans, but also the cards' own powerful cooling fan or fans being able to draw in cool air through vents and into its heatsink.

SilverStone has clearly thought about this situation with its aforementioned cases, because they had air vents and fans in the side panels directly above the graphics card mount. It’s also the reason why the Kolink Rocket blows the Raijintek Ophion out of the water when it comes to GPU cooling in our tests, despite being a smaller case. Its secret weapon? A vented side panel.

If you move a graphics card’s cooler to within a couple of inches of a non-vented solid side panel then the card’s cooler has to draw in air from 90 degrees at the sides, and possibly an even more awkward angle if the air is coming from above or behind it. This setup means airflow is severely restricted and cooling ability suffers as a result.

To put this theory to the test, I tested the Ophion with a longer, 20-minute test and then created a cardboard side panel with a vent cut directly next to the graphics card’s cooler intake. I used duct tape to seal the cardboard panel in place, allowing the graphics card to draw air from directly outside the case in the same way as the Kolink Rocket.

In its stock configuration, the Ophion’s GPU core eventually hit 93°C, and the exhausted air was scorching – the graphics card simply didn’t have access to enough cool air to cool itself properly.

Next, I fitted my rather fetching side cardboard side panel and, even after 20 minutes, the GPU temperature didn’t rise above 73°C. It’s a huge difference that almost entirely accounts for the Ophion’s poor GPU cooling. It’s a problem that’s likely to be replicated to some degree in larger cases where the GPU sits within an inch or two of the side panel.

There’s an easy way around this problem for case manufacturers, though, which is to cut vents into the side panels, especially if they're made from acrylic. The Kolink Rocket just had small, drilled holes rather than fully fledged vents, but the latter could be made to look attractive if they were simply lines of vents next to each other.

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Graphics card sagging can lead to serious consequences in the long run if it is not dealt in time. This problem generally occurs in longer mid to high-end graphics cards that have a bulky and heavy heatsink. In GPU sagging, the graphics card at one side bends down or hangs due to its weight, due to lack of support. The sagging of GPU can put stress on your motherboard and may cause some damage to it in the long run, if the sagging persists. Some high-end motherboards do come with metal reinforced PCI-E x16 slot, but not everybody buys the top model or top-end motherboard, and in these motherboards too, you can notice some amount of graphics card sag because of the weight. Also, high-end graphics cards with metal backplate do encounter sag because of their weight and length. So, in these cases, the best way to prevent graphics card sagging is to use a GPU Support Bracket, Graphics Card Holder or Graphics Card Sag Holder. These graphics card sag holders provide support to the graphics card at the sagging end and prevent it from drooping.

There are generally two types of GPU support brace or graphics card sag holders: vertical and horizontal. Both of them have their own advantages and disadvantages and are suited for different conditions. Horizontal Graphics Card Holder or GPU Support Bracket is mostly an ‘L’ shaped metal piece that attaches to the side of the case bracket, along with the graphics card using screws. It consists of adjustable rubber mounts or pads on the arm that makes contact with the bottom end or graphics card shroud to give the card proper support and prevents it from sagging. For the horizontal graphics card support bracket to work, the graphics card width should be slightly greater than the computer case bracket. This means that it cannot work with graphics card having a width equal or less than the bracket, and also with low profile graphics cards. Horizontal graphics card sag holder is also called GPU Support Bracket, GPU Support Brace, GPU Brace Support Bracket or Horizontal GPU Sag Holster.

On the other hand, Vertical Graphics Card Holder is basically a stand with a shaft, on which two or more adjustable sliders or holders are present, which can be locked at the desired position to provide support to the graphics card and prevents it from sagging. Vertical GPU holder can support multiple graphics cards without any issues, whereas a horizontal one can support only one graphics card at a time and can cause an issue with the adjacent graphics card below it if you are using more than one graphics card in SLI or CrossFire setup. However, it cannot be used with computer cases that do not have spare space for it to stand on. So, if you have a smaller PC case with hard drive cages very close to the motherboard, then you will have a hard time fitting it to give your graphics card support. In general, a vertical graphics card sag holder provides better and stable support to the graphics card and is more flexible compared to the horizontal one. Below you can see horizontal and vertical graphics card brace support holders.

Vertical GPU support brace can be used with all types of graphics cards, including the passive graphics cards with huge heatsinks, but the horizontal one does have some limitations regarding the height of the graphics card. The quality of the GPU support brace also matters because a cheap and flimsy one will be as good as useless and you will finally end wasting your money. So, to help you out on this, here I am going to list down some of the best GPU support brackets /holders, both horizontal and vertical that can be used to fix your graphics card sag.

Horizontal Graphics Card Holders

Here are some of the best horizontal graphics card holders or GPU support brackets to prevent graphics card sagging.

upHere Graphics Card GPU Brace Support

A simple GPU Brace Support Holder from upHere to prevent the video card from drooping. It is made up of aluminum and comes with four screws and two rubber mounts that can slide on the horizontal arm for proper adjustment. This GPU support bracket is very simple to use and you just have to screw it to with the graphics card bracket. It has got three slotted screw holes for adjustment and aligning the graphics card with the PCIe x16 slot. It is 10.5 inches in length and can easily support high-end graphics cards up to 300mm (or more) in length comfortably. It should be noted that the graphics card width should be slightly more than its bracket for this holder to work. The rubber mounts or silicone pads prevent any scratches and can be adjusted horizontally for proper positioning so that they do not interfere with the graphics card fans.

This video card sag holder works with dual-slot graphics cards and can also support 2.5 slot and 2.75 slot graphics cards. It is compatible with a wide range of motherboards and cases, but it can support one graphics card at a time and is not suitable for dual GPU setup in SLI or Crossfire configuration. It does not restrict airflow and does not require any extra space inside your computer case. It keeps the graphics card align perfectly by keeping it intact at its place, and is very stable. Once mounted, you don’t have to worry about your graphics card sagging, and can move or carry your case from once place to another without worrying about anything. It comes in three colors: black, blue and red to match your gaming rig theme.

Note: You must use the included screws for installing it, because they are longer (1.5 inches approx.) than the standard screws for PCI / PCIe brackets.

Another Horizontal GPU holder

Here is another good GPU support bracket, just like the above one from upHere. It works the same way and also the design is almost the same. You can check it out too from the link given below.

upHere Addressable RGB GPU Brace Support

If you are looking for a fancy horizontal GPU Brace support with RGB lighting then this is the one to go for. It comes with Addressable RGB LEDs at the bottom with a white diffuser. The GPU brace support is stylish and the RGB lighting looks super cool when lit up, and you can also change the lighting effects using the compatible RGB software. As the RGB LEDs are addressable, which means you would require a 5V 3-pin ARGB header for them. You may also connect the 5V 3-pin ARGB connector to an RGB controller that includes the support for ARGB LED components.

This ARGB GPU Anti-Sag Bracket supports a majority of the motherboard RGB software that includes Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light Sync, ASRock RGB LED, BIOSTAR RGB, etc. There is a sliding rubber pad located on the top for providing support to the card at the proper point, and it does not scratch the surface of the graphics card at all. The RGB Graphics Card Brace Support comes with six screws, three thumb screws and three Philips screws for installation. If you already have RGB components installed in your PC i.e. RGB Fans, RGB RAM, etc., then this RGB GPU Brace Support Bracket would go very well with them.

Cooler Master ELV8 Universal Graphics Card Holder

[Addressable RGB, Length & Height Adjustment, Sleek Design]

If you are looking for a branded Graphics Card Holder that goes well with your fancy gaming PC then Cooler Master ELV8 is the one for you. This is a horizontal Graphics Card Holder that comes with ARGB LEDs and is compatible with Asus Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, and ASRock Polychrome Sync RGB motherboard software. This GPU Brace support attaches to the expansion slot with the help of three screws. It allows both horizontal (length) and vertical (height) adjustment using a tool-free slider and hinge, so that your graphics card is positioned for best support.

The graphics card holder is sturdy, sleek and looks great in the case. The RGB LED strip runs along with the graphics card holder and looks very neat. It can support most of the graphics cards, including the bulky ones. It should be noted that you will need a 3-pin 5V ARGB header or compatible RGB controller to use the RGB LED lighting. A 3-pin ARGB adapter cable comes bundled with the package, along with three thumb screws.

Vertical Graphics Card Holders

Here are some of the best vertical video card sag holders to prevent GPU sagging.

upHere VC-1 Graphics Card Support Stand

A vertical graphics card holder from upHere that packs great quality and is very easy to use. This is basically a graphics card support stand with a solid metal bar with two support arms that slide up and down and can be adjusted to the desired height by tightening the tool-less screws on them. On their upper surface, they have rubber pads that prevent scratches on the graphics card and they also provide better grip. The whole graphics card holder is made of aluminum and the construction quality is very good. The base of the round stand comes with a magnet that holds the stand firmly in the case. The magnet is pretty strong but not strong enough to damage your hard drives (HDDs) if they are in close vicinity of the stand. The stand is quite stable, but if you move around your case then it can get displaced slightly, and you can position it again.

This vertical graphics card holder can support two graphics cards in a multi-GPU setup (SLI or CrossFire). These support arms hold the graphics cards pretty well and eliminate the graphics card sag completely. The stand should be placed on the flat surface that is magnetic. You can place it on the bottom of the case and also on the PSU shroud if you have a full-length shroud. The holder does not consume much space and it neither restricts the airflow in your case. The height of the stand is 10.6 inches and the diameter of the stand is 4cm only. Also, it does not interfere with your adjacent brackets and PCIe slots, and you can use other PCIe expansion cards on your motherboard without any issues.

Cooler Master Universal VGA Holder

If you are looking for a branded graphics card sag holder then Cooler Master Universal VGA Holder fits the bill perfectly. Just like the above mentioned UpHere graphics card holder, it also comes with two support arms and can support two graphics cards. However, the supporters here are made of ABS plastic and have a friction locking mechanism where you just have to push the clip inside to lock the support arms. This locking mechanism is relatively easy and quicker than compared to the tool-less screw ones in the upHere one. The bar and the stand are made of aluminum and is very stable. The stand is a tripod one and has strong magnets located on each of the legs.

This Cooler Master Universal Graphics Card Holder comes with two bars, and you can either use one or two at the same time, depending on the height of the graphics card from the base. This means if you have a smaller case then you are good with one bar only, but if the case is big then you can join the two bars together to extend its length so that it can reach the graphics card. It is only available in black color. Overall, a high-quality graphics card holder that works great and is very easy to install and use.

Deepcool GH-01 A-RGB Graphics Card Holder

[Addressable RGB Graphics Card Holder]

If you are in search of a fancy graphics card holder with RGB lighting then Deepcool GH-01 A-RGB Graphics Card Holder is to look for. It is a wider graphics card holder that comes with nine Addressable RGB LEDs and supports Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, ASRock Polychrome Sync, and MSI Mystic Light Sync RGB software. It needs a 5V ARGB header on the motherboard or an ARGB controller and is not compatible with 12V RGB header and controllers. The GPU holder consists of two parts, one is the base and the other one is the frame. The frame has metal construction and houses the ARGB LEDs, while the base is made of plastic and provides support to the frame. The holder comes with two bases, one is standard while the other one is taller.

This GPU support holder has a modular design and it also allows you to hide the PCI-E power cables inside it that goes into the graphics card. It utilizes a unique saw-tooth adjustment mechanism and a dual-hole installation design for super easy installation. It must be noted that the base is non-magnetic, but you can use double-sided tape to fix it firmly on the bottom of the case. This graphics card support holder from Deepcool claims to support graphics cards up to 5Kg in weight, which is great and shows its high build quality and structural strength. It is compatible with most of the computer cases, with or without a power supply shield or shroud. A non-RGB variant of this graphics card holder is also available, which you can also check out from the link given below.

Must Read:

3 Slot Vertical Gpu Mount Review

Final Words

Cablemod Vertical Gpu Mount

In the end, I would only like to say that if you are suffering from graphics card sagging problem and do not want to incur any damage to your motherboard or graphics card then these GPU support brace or Graphics Card sag holders are really a life saver in true sense. They are inexpensive and can save you from all the trouble that you can have from a sagging video card. You can choose any of the GPU brace support video card holders based on your PC case and requirements, and if you are unsure which one is right for you then you can ask your queries in the comment section below, by giving all the necessary details that include model of the graphics card and the PC case.