MSI Debuts Its Smallest GeForce RTX 5060 GPUs Yet: INSPIRE ITX and the Cyclone Series Return
MSI has officially unveiled two of the most compact NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics cards to date: the RTX 5060 8G INSPIRE ITX and the RTX 5060 8G CYCLONE OC, marking the comeback of its long-dormant Cyclone series while also setting a new record for GPU size efficiency.
Announced via @harukaze5719, MSI’s latest designs cater specifically to compact PC builders and ITX enthusiasts who prioritize powerful GPU performance in the smallest possible form factor.
MSI RTX 5060 8G INSPIRE ITX – A New Miniature Champion
Measuring just 145mm in length, the INSPIRE ITX is currently the smallest RTX 5060 card available on the market. This single-fan GPU is designed with ultra-compact builds in mind, such as Mini-ITX cases and small form factor (SFF) systems, while still delivering the full capabilities of NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 Ada Lovelace GPU with 8GB of VRAM.
Despite its tiny footprint, the card offers a solid reference-level performance profile with optimized thermal management and power efficiency—ideal for gamers and creators looking to build efficient, space-saving rigs.
Return of the MSI CYCLONE: RTX 5060 8G CYCLONE OC
After 16 years, MSI brings back its Cyclone cooler series with the new RTX 5060 8G CYCLONE OC. The original Cyclone cooler debuted with the GeForce GTX 465 back in 2010 and became known for its unique radial heatsink design and solid overclocking capabilities.
The 2025 edition of the Cyclone OC leverages modern thermal engineering in a single-fan format, balancing compactness with effective airflow for users not just interested in performance, but also in nostalgic, legacy-inspired hardware design.
While MSI hasn't disclosed full clock speeds or pricing yet, the “OC” branding implies a factory overclock above NVIDIA’s reference specifications—pushing the envelope for what small-form-factor GPUs can achieve in both gaming and rendering workloads.
Why Single-Fan Cards Still Matter
In an industry increasingly dominated by triple-fan, 300mm+ graphics cards, single-fan GPUs still serve a critical market: compact and efficient builds. These cards allow users to create gaming or productivity setups that fit into limited spaces—ideal for apartments, dorms, or travel-ready LAN boxes—without sacrificing core performance.
MSI's latest models signal continued interest in maintaining support for miniaturized builds, especially as the thermal footprint of 60-class GPUs like the RTX 5060 allows more flexibility with cooling design compared to flagship models.
With these two cards, MSI isn't just delivering more variety to the mid-range segment; it’s reigniting legacy branding while making a statement in ultra-compact performance computing.
What do you think of single-fan GPUs in 2025? Are you considering one for your next SFF build?
