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If you have a high-end graphics card with beautiful design and lots of fancy RGB LED lighting on it, then the best way to showcase your graphics card is by mounting it vertically. For this, you either have to get a computer case that natively supports vertical GPU mount or an aftermarket vertical GPU mount kit that can be fitted in a supported case. It is better to get a case that natively supports vertical GPU mounting because you won’t have to go through all the headaches and troubles regarding the compatibility and clearance that can occur when installing an aftermarket GPU mounting kit in any case.

Vertically mounted GPU does look very cool and appealing, but it has a couple of drawbacks too. One of the major drawbacks of vertically mounting the graphics card is that it blocks all the PCIe slots on the motherboard underneath it, and you won’t be able to add any expansion cards. Another drawback is that it may result in less airflow for the graphics card, and the GPU may run relatively hotter compared to when it is mounted horizontally inside the PC case. The main purpose of mounting the GPU vertically is for Aesthetics only, and if you have a beautiful case and high-end graphics card with an attractive design and RGB LEDs on it, then mounting it vertically does make sense. However, one unseen advantage of vertical GPU mount is that if you have a high-end bulky graphics card, then it prevents the graphic card from sagging, and helps reduce the weight on the motherboard PCI-E slots.

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Tips for Vertical GPU Mounting

Here are some tips or suggestions that you should follow when mounting your graphics vertically inside your PC case.

1. Make sure that you have good airflow in the case. For this, you have to install two intake fans at the front and one exhaust fan at the rear.
2. The graphics card that you are going to mount vertically should be around 2.5-slot width (not more than 2.7-slot) so that it does have sufficient room left between the fans and the side panel to achieve good airflow. It is because if the space is less, then fans have to work harder because of congestion, and they won’t perform well, and thus your graphics card will reach higher temperatures compared to when it is mounted horizontally.

Below is the list of the best computer cases that natively supports vertical GPU mount and come with vertical expansion slots. These PC cases also have good airflow and also offer a great number of features.

Mid-Tower PC Cases with Vertical GPU Bracket

Here are the top mid-tower computer cases that support vertical mounting of graphics cards and come with vertical GPU mounting slot/bracket.

NZXT H510i Mid-Tower Case

[Great Looks, ARGB LED Strips Included, Good Cable Management]

NZXT H510i is one of the most beautiful cases that supports vertical GPU mounting of graphics cards natively. Even though the case has a clean and simple design, it looks stylish and modern. It is a mid-tower case that supports up to ATX motherboards. The case has got two vertical slots for vertical mounting of the GPU, but it does not come with PCI-E Riser Card or Cable, which you have to buy separately. The case has got good airflow and comes with one Aer F120 fan pre-installed at the front and one at the rear. You can optionally install more fans at the front and top if you want to increase airflow. The front I/O ports include one USB Type-C, one USB Type-A, and HD audio ports. The case also comes with two ARGB LED strips already integrated, which can be controlled using the in-built RGB controller using the NZXT CAM Software.

This is quite a spacious case and can support high-end graphics cards up to 381mm in length, up to 165mm tall CPU coolers, and up to 280mm Radiators. It has got a large tempered glass side panel that lets you view all of the inside components. In terms of storage, it supports up to three 2.5-inch and up to three 3.5-inch drives. The case has good cable management and has dust filters on all air intakes. The build quality of the case is good too, and it is not expensive either. So, if you are looking for a premium and good looking vertical GPU case that packs a great number of features too, then you cannot ignore this one. The case is available in black, black/white and black/red color schemes.

Fractal Design Meshify S2 Dark Tempered Glass Case

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[High Airflow Design, Great for Water Cooling, Spacious]

Fractal Design Meshify S2 is undoubtedly one of the best mid-tower cases that you can get for building a gaming or work PC. Also, it is one of the best airflow cases around and comes with a great number of features and supports up to E-ATX motherboards. Here we have the Dark TG version of this case that comes with smoked/dark tinted tempered glass side panel. For airflow, the case has a front and top mesh panel and offers up to 9 fan mount points. It comes with three Dynamic X2 GP-14 (140mm) fan pre-installed, two at the front, and one at the rear. The front I/O ports include two USB 3.0 ports, one USB Type-C port (with fast charge support), and HD audio ports. Both the side panels of the case have a push-to-lock latching mechanism for easy access.

It is a very spacious case and can support high-end graphics cards up to 440mm long, 185mm tall CPU Coolers and up to 420mm radiators for water cooling. The storage options include support for three 3.5”/2.5” drives and up to four 2.5” drives. The case does support vertical mounting of the graphics card (2.5-slot) using the Flex VRC-25 vertical PCIe riser cable (sold separately). The case has dust filters at all air intakes and has good cable routing or management. A fan controller hub is included with the case that can support up to 3 PWM fans (4-pin) and up to 6 Case fans (3-pin). A SATA extension cable is also included for powering the SATA drives. So, if you are looking for a high-quality mid-tower case (with vertical GPU support) with high airflow, then this is one of the best in this list. It is available in black or white color.

Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh (White)

[Beautiful Design, High Airflow, 200mm RGB Fans, Spacious]

Here we have another high airflow case, which is Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh. It is a great looking mid-tower case and supports up to E-ATX motherboards. For airflow, the case comes with a mesh front panel, and two 200mm RGB fans at the front and one 140mm fan come included with the case. You can optionally install two 200mm fans at the top or three 120/140mm fans to increase the airflow inside the case. The front I/O ports include two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and HD Audio ports. An RGB controller is also included, which is used to change the RGB lighting. The 200mm fans speed cannot be controlled, but they spin at a lower speed (800 RPM) and are pretty quiet in operation. A large Light Grey Tinted Tempered Glass Side Panel lets you have a peek at all your components inside the case.

Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh supports vertical GPU mount, but you have to buy the PCI-E Riser cable additionally. This is a very spacious case and can support the top of the line graphics cards that are 412mm in length, up to 190mm tall CPU coolers and dual 360mm Radiators at front and top. For storage, it comes with three 3.5”/2.5” bays and two 2.5” bays for HDDs and SSDs. Other features include dust filters, cable routing with cable covers, PSU shroud. The case is available in two colors: white or black, but to me, the white one looks classier and more appealing. Overall, a beautiful case that has good airflow and comes with a great set of features.

Thermaltake Commander C35 TG ARGB Edition

[Relatively Compact, 200mm ARGB Fans included, Water cooling Ready]

A relatively compact mid-tower case from Thermaltake that supports up to ATX sized motherboards. The case is attractive looking and is optimized for airflow. It has got a mesh front panel and comes preinstalled with two 200mm 5V ARGB fans at the front and one standard 120mm fan at the rear. The case has got a large 4mm tempered glass side panel, from where you can have a look at all the internal components. The case comes with a vertical GPU bracket, but you have to PCI-E Riser cable separately for it. The front I/O ports include two USB 3.0 ports, HD Audio ports, and an RGB switch/button.

The RGB lighting can be controlled using the built-in RGB switch or by the motherboard’s RGB software that includes MSI Mystic Light Sync, Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0 or ASRock Polychrome. The main disadvantage with this case is that there is no way to control the speed of the front 200mm ARGB fans because of the proprietary connector used by Thermaltake.

Thermaltake Commander C35 TG ARGB Edition case can support graphics cards up to 410mm in length, CPU Coolers that are 180mm tall, and up to 360mm radiators for water cooling or AIOs. For storage, it supports three 3.5/2.5-inch drives and two 2.5-inch drives. The case comes with dust filters for intakes, and the build quality is also pretty good. Overall, a nice case that is on the budget side and is water-cooling ready too.

ASUS TUF Gaming GT501 Mid-Tower Case

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[Two Woven Cotton Carry Handles, Great Build Quality]

ASUS TUF Gaming GT501 is a TUF series gaming case from Asus. The TUF gaming series from Asus is associated with high and robust quality components & devices that include graphics cards, laptops, motherboards, etc. This ASUS TUF Gaming GT501 Mid-Tower Case can support up to E-ATX motherboards and has a smoked tempered glass side panel. The case offers seven fan mount points and comes preinstalled with three 120mm RGB fans and one standard 140mm PWM fan. These RGB fans support Asus Aura Sync and can be synced with an Asus motherboard with RGB support. The front has a metal panel with mesh at the sides for airflow, and the I/O ports include three USB 3.0 ports and audio ports. The case comes with two Woven Cotton Handles (up to 65lbs) that help in carrying the case from place to another, particularly during LAN parties.

The case supports graphics cards up to 420mm in length, CPU coolers that are 180mm tall, and 360mm Radiators for AIO or water cooling setup. When it comes to storage, then the case can support four 3.5”/2.5” drives and three 2.5” drives. Other features of the case include removable dust filters, anti-scratch coating, cable management, and tool-free drive installation. The case does support vertical GPU mount, but you have to buy the PCI-E riser cable extra. Overall, a nice gaming case that is spacious comes with all the essential features and has got solid build quality.

Must Read:Best Cases with Carry Handles for LAN Parties

Other Mid-Tower Case with Vertical GPU Support

Here are some other good mid-tower cases that support vertical GPU mount.

Full-Tower PC Cases with Vertical GPU Bracket

Here are the top full-tower computer cases that support vertical mounting of graphics cards and come with vertical GPU mounting brackets and slots. These cases support up to E-ATX sized motherboards.

Thermaltake View 71 Tempered Glass RGB Edition

One of the best full-tower cases to showcase your GPU and other internal components in full glory. This case can support up to E-ATX motherboards and comes with four 5mm thick tempered glass panels at the front, top, and on the left/right sides. The side panels feature a swing door design that allows for easy access to the components. For airflow, the case offers a number of fan mount points at the front, top, and bottom and comes pre-installed with two 140mm Riing RGB fans at the front and one at the rear. You can optionally install more fans if you want to increase the airflow.

The case comes with a vertical GPU bracket, but you have to buy the PCI-E Riser cable separately. The front I/O ports include two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and HD Audio ports. The RGB lighting and the fan speeds are hardware controlled using the RGB controller that comes included with the case. It is a Tt LCS Certified case, which means it can support extreme Liquid Cooling setups with big reservoirs and radiators. The case can support graphics cards up to 410mm in length, 190mm tall CPU Coolers and up to 420mm Radiators for Water-Cooling or AIOs. In terms of storage, it can support up to seven 3.5-inch drives and up to 10 2.5-inch drives. Overall, a beautiful case with modular design and is great for building a fancy high-end gaming PC.

Note: An ARGB variant of this case is available as Thermaltake View 71 Tempered Glass ARGB Edition. It comes with ARGB fans that look more beautiful and fancier than RGB fans.

Thermaltake A700 Aluminum Tempered Glass Full Tower Case

[Rotational PCI-E slots, Great Build, Spacious, Stylish, Great for Liquid Cooling]

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If you do not wish to compromise on anything and are looking for the best case that supports vertical mounting of the graphics card, then it is the Thermaltake A700 TG. This is the only case that allows you to mount multiple graphics cards (generally two) in vertical position because of its Patented Rotational PCI-E slots. The eight expansion slots can be mounted vertically or horizontally, depending on your requirements. Thermaltake A700 TG is a stylish case that has great build quality. It comes with aluminum front and top panels and two 5mm tempered glass side panels (left & right). The side panels have a swing-door design for easy access and come with key locks for added security.

The case has several fan mount points, and you can even install two 200mm fans at the front and top. It does come with two 140mm fans preinstalled, one at the front and other at the rear. The front I/O ports include two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, USB Type-C port, and HD audio ports. This is a massive case that can support up to 410mm long graphics cards, 200mm tall CPU coolers, and up to 420mm Radiators. The case is Tt LCS Certified and can support extreme water-cooling setups. For storage, it supports up to four 3.5”/2.5” drives and six 2.5” or 3.5” drives. It comes with dust filters on air intakes, has good cable management, and has a tool-free drive installation. Overall, a great case for enthusiasts who want to build a high-end gaming setup and also want to showcase their fancy internal components to others.

Other Full-Tower Cases with Vertical GPU Mount

Open Frame Design Cases

Here are some of the great-looking open-air design cases that support vertical GPU mounting. These cases are not everyone’s cup of tea because they are not fully covered, and it leads to dust build up on the components. They are also hard to maintain and are not tough enough for everyday use.

PCI-E Riser Cable / Card

Almost all the cases that support vertical GPU bracket/slots do not come with PCI-E Riser Cable, which means if you want to install the graphics card vertically, then you need to buy the PCIe Riser cable additionally. There are two types of PCIe Riser Cards or Cables available, first is the straight or normal 180-degree, and another one is 90-degree angled one. So, you have to be very sure which one fits your case and buy the cable accordingly. Here are some of the good PCIe Riser Cables / Cards that you can buy for your vertical GPU case. All of the below mentioned PCI-Express Riser Cables / Cards support PCI-E 3.0 x16 speed.

180-degree PCIe Riser Cables / Cards (Straight)

90-degree PCIe Riser Cables / Cards (Angled)

• Phanteks PCIe x16 Riser Cable 90 Degree (EMI Shielded, Slim Design, 220mm)

Vertical GPU Mount Bracket

If your case does not come with vertical GPU bracket/slots, then you can use Vertical GPU Bracket Kits to vertical mount the graphics card, given that the case is compatible or meets the requirements of the vertical GPU kit. Here are some of these kits that you can buy for vertical graphics card mounting.

Phanteks Vertical GPU Bracket

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A universal Vertical GPU Bracket from Phanteks. The kit is made of metal and includes the Vertical GPU Bracket and a 220mm slim-line PCI-E x16 Riser Cable. It requires a case with Open PCI slot Design with up to 7 slots available. Modding or modification might be required in some cases.

Cooler Master Vertical Graphics Card Holder Kit

A vertical graphics card holder kit from Cooler Master. It requires seven PCI slots and comes with PCI-E Riser Cable. The kit is made up of steel and is pretty easy to install in the case. Officially it supports MasterCase 5 Series, MasterCase 6 Series, MasterCase Maker Series, and H500P Series cases from Cooler Master.

See also:

Pci Gpu Cooler

Final Words

Vertical GPU mounting may not be the norm but is gaining popularity because it does look great and enhances the visual appearance of your system. It does have some negatives too, but they are not so pronounced and do not affect the overall performance of the system. It is always better to get a computer case that comes with vertical GPU bracket/slots because of convenience, and it avoids the possibility of modding your PC case, which many of the users don’t want to get involved into. If you have any queries, then ask them in the comment section below.