A riser cable is essentially a cable that allows you to extend the PCIe port. This is great for installing multiple pieces of hardware in a cramped space. But more importantly, if you plan to mount your GPU vertically inside your PC cabinet, you need a PCIe riser cable. Here are some good options to choose from.
ASIAHORSE Shielded Extreme
- Length : 207mm
- Angle: 90-degree, 180-degree
- Warranty : 1-year
ASIAHORSE Shielded Extreme
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In terms of length, you get the standard 207mm length. However, as for the connector, you can choose whether you want a right-angled connector or a straight-up PCIe extender. As such, you can easily reach and install your graphics card, regardless of its orientation. You can also choose between a white or black color variant to match your setup.
EZDIY-FAB
- Length : 200mm, 300mm
- Angle: 90-degree
- Warranty : 1-year
EZDIY-FAB
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Available in both black and white color options, you can purchase the EZDIY-FAB riser cable in either a 200mm or a longer 300mm length option. The EZDIY-FAB riser cable also comes with shielding for each of the 48 inner cables. It also comes with a lock catch for a better hold on to your GPU.
LINKUP Shielded Riser Cable
- Length : 50mm, 100mm, 150mm, 200mm, 250mm, 300mm, 600mm, 700mm, 800mm
- Angle: 90-degree, 180-degree
- Warranty : 1-year
LINKUP Shielded Riser Cable
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The LINKUP Ultra PCIe 4.0 riser cable is compatible with all the latest graphics cards out there while assuring maximum speeds. In fact, the brand boasts over 64GB/s bi-directional speeds over the PCIe 4.0 channel. Furthermore, the cable’s low latency and high-speed transmission capabilities make it ideal for gaming and other high-performance applications. The cable is also flexible and can be adjusted to fit any build, which is particularly useful for builds with limited space.
LIAN LI PW-PCI-420
- Length : 200mm or 600mm
- Angle: 90-degree
- Warranty : 1-year
LIAN LI PW-PCI-420
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Speaking of aesthetics, this is by far the cleanest-looking PCIe 4.0 riser cable out there. You can select the cable in either black or white color to match the look of your rig. Once installed, it looks and feels premium, and adds elegance to your setup.
Cooler Master MasterAccessory Riser Cable
- Length : 200mm or 300mm
- Angle: 90-degree
- Warranty : 1-year
Cooler Master MasterAccessory Riser Cable
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In case you wish to add a bit of flair to your rig, this riser cable from Cooler Master has a single purple cable on it that makes it look unique. Also, the PCB here is one of the best in its class. It’s built to provide high speeds even under high thermal loads and also comes with moisture resistance.
Thermaltake TT Premium
- Length : 200mm or 300mm or 600mm or 1000mm
- Angle: 180-degree
- Warranty : 2-year
Thermaltake TT Premium
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One of the best features of this cable is its flexibility. It can be bent and twisted into a range of shapes and angles, which makes it ideal for use in tight spaces or complex builds. Despite its flexibility, the cable retains its structural integrity, ensuring that there is no signal loss or data corruption. The only downside here is that it doesn’t come with mounting screws included in the package.
It depends upon your use case. Typically, PCIe riser cables are often used by gamers and cryptocurrency miners who want to improve their system’s performance and aesthetics by vertically mounting their graphics card away from the motherboard. This results in better airflow, and thus, better performance. However, you need to ensure that your cabinet supports a vertical mount in the first place. At the end of the day, if you don’t plan on vertically mounting your GPU, you don’t need a PCIe riser cable.
Yes. PCIe 4.0 riser cables are backward compatible with PCIe 3.0 slots. This is because PCIe in itself is backward compatible, meaning that newer devices can be used on older slots. However, do note that the connection will operate at PCIe 3.0 speeds.
If you are using a low-quality riser cable, it can take a toll on your GPU performance. Poor quality riser cables with inadequate shielding, incorrect wiring, or inadequate PCIe lanes, can cause signal degradation and lead to instability or reduced performance of the GPU. However, if you use a high-quality PCIe riser cable, there won’t be any signal degradation. Thankfully, all the options mentioned in the list above should work perfectly fine without causing any issues.
