Vertical GPU Mounting: Compatibility, Riser Spec and Limits

Short answer: Use the NZXT Vertical GPU Mounting Kit PCIe 5.0. It fits standard 7-slot ATX cases with no slot dividers, including the H5, H6, H7 and H9 series, and its 175mm PCIe 5.0 x16 riser keeps a Gen 5 card at full link speed. It takes cards up to 3 slots wide at three mounting heights, with an anti-sag support bracket in the box. It does not fit the S5 or the H3 Flow, and the H2 Flow does not need it, since that case is vertical by design. The original Vertical GPU Mounting Kit (PCIe 4.0) is discontinued; its notes for owners are further down.

Mounting the graphics card vertically is the fastest way to change how a build looks, since it turns the card from an edge-on shape into the centrepiece. In an NZXT case there are three routes to it: the PCIe 5.0 kit for a fresh build, the H2 Flow if you want a case built around a vertical card, and the original kit if you already have one in a drawer.

The current route: the Vertical GPU Mounting Kit PCIe 5.0

The Vertical GPU Mounting Kit PCIe 5.0 pairs a 175mm male-to-female PCIe 5.0 x16 riser, tested for signal integrity across its full length, with a rigid SGCC steel bracket that bolts to the motherboard mounting points. A Gen 5 card negotiates the same link mounted vertically as it would seated flat.

• Five slots, not seven: the bracket takes five of a standard ATX case's seven expansion slots.
• Three heights: High, Mid and Low positions set where the card sits, so it can clear tall air coolers, AIO tubing and case fans.
• Anti-sag support: a support bracket ships in the box, along with every screw you need.
• A finished back: a solid steel wall closes off the slot opening the turned card leaves behind.
• Two colours: matte black or matte white, with a 2-year warranty.

Which NZXT cases the PCIe 5.0 kit fits

It needs a standard ATX case with seven horizontal expansion slots and no dividers between them. That covers the H5, H6, H7 and H9 series, plus many third-party cases. For the H5 (2026) and H7 (2026) it is the only vertical mount NZXT has validated, and on both cases it is sold separately.

H5 RGB+ note: the F360 RGB Reverse fan installed in the bottom of the H5 RGB+ limits the kit to the High and Mid positions. With a graphics card wider than 140mm, the top edge of the card can reach into the CPU area and clash with a large CPU cooler or tall RAM, so measure before you commit.

If you own the original kit (PCIe 4.0)

The original Vertical GPU Mounting Kit and the standalone NZXT PCIe Riser Cable are discontinued. This section is the compatibility reference for people who already own one, and support still handles these questions.

The original kit works with most full-size ATX cases from 2022 onwards, including the H6. Older models such as the H510 and H710 are not compatible, and neither is the H3 Flow, which does not have enough expansion slots for the bracket. For the H5 (2026) and H7 (2026), NZXT has validated only the PCIe 5.0 kit.

The original kit's date code catch

This is the one that surprises people. Some earlier Vertical GPU Mounting Kits made during 2022 and 2023 do not fit correctly in the newer cases, because of manufacturing tolerances on those early runs. The tooling was updated in early 2024 to fix it.

So if your case is marked "date code 2024 or newer" in the table above, you need an original kit made in 2024 or later.

How to read the date code

The date code is in the kit's serial number. Start at the third digit and read up to the N. The first two of those digits are the year, and what follows before the N is the month.

So a code of 224 means April 2022. Anything starting 24 or later is from the updated tooling.

Riser cable specification

The Vertical GPU Mounting Kit PCIe 5.0 uses a 175mm PCIe 5.0 x16 riser, so a Gen 5 card mounted vertically runs at full link speed.

The riser in the original kit, and the standalone NZXT PCIe Riser Cable, are PCIe Gen 4.0 x16. They are backwards compatible with earlier PCIe generations and physically work in a PCIe Gen 5 x16 slot, but run at Gen 4.0 x16 speeds there. For gaming this is rarely a practical problem, since current cards do not saturate a Gen 4 x16 link.

The H2 Flow ships with its own 260mm PCIe Gen 5.0 x16 riser cable as part of the case, so a Gen 5 card mounted vertically in an H2 Flow runs at full Gen 5 link speed. That riser is backwards compatible with PCIe 3.0 and 4.0.

Two limits to check

Card thickness: 3 slots

Both kits take graphics cards up to 3 slots wide. With the PCIe 5.0 kit, what actually fits also depends on the gap between the expansion slots and your case's side panel, because some cards carry extra heatsink thickness beyond the rear bracket. Some current flagship cards exceed 3 slots, so measure before you fit one.

Original kit: one card only

Because of how the original kit's bracket mounts in the case, you cannot use it alongside other expansion cards. No capture card, no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth adapter, no sound card. If you rely on an add-in card for anything, this is the constraint that decides it for you.

Using it in a non-NZXT case

It may work, depending on how the case is built. The features that matter:

• At least 7 horizontally mounted expansion slots, five of them free for the PCIe 5.0 kit's bracket
• No dividers between the expansion slots
• For the original kit, an internal flat surface for its adjustable foot, such as a power supply shroud. Not strictly required, but without it the bracket can flex or move

There is no complete list of compatible third-party cases, so this is a judgement call against your specific case.

A thermal note worth making

Mounting a card vertically moves its intake much closer to the side panel. On cases with a solid or tempered glass side, that can restrict airflow to the card and raise temperatures. The supported cases are all built around airflow, which is part of why they are the supported ones. If you notice higher GPU temperatures after going vertical, that is the mechanism, and it is worth checking clearance between the card and the panel.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy a Vertical GPU Mounting Kit?

Yes, the Vertical GPU Mounting Kit PCIe 5.0. It is rolling out to authorized retailers over the coming months, and timing varies by region and store, so check where to buy. The original PCIe 4.0 kit and the standalone NZXT PCIe Riser Cable are discontinued.

Does vertical mounting hurt GPU temperatures?

It can, because the card sits closer to the side panel and has less room to breathe. How much depends on the case and the gap. Watch your temperatures under load after installing.

Does the PCIe 5.0 kit fit the H5 and H7 (2026)?

Yes, and it is the only vertical mount NZXT has validated for both. It is sold separately. On the H5 RGB+, the factory bottom fan limits it to the High and Mid positions.

Will a kit fit my H510 or H710?

The original kit is not compatible with those older models. For the PCIe 5.0 kit, send support your case model before you buy and they will confirm.

Does the kit fit the H6?

Yes. The PCIe 5.0 kit fits the H6 series, and the original kit fits with a date code of 2024 or newer. The H6 has the seven expansion slots both brackets need.

Does the kit fit the H3 Flow?

No. The H3 Flow has four expansion slots. The PCIe 5.0 kit needs five in a 7-slot case and the original kit needs seven, so there is nothing for either bracket to mount to.

Does the kit fit the S5?

No. The S5 is not compatible with the Vertical GPU Mounting Kit PCIe 5.0. Some early launch boxes list the S5 as compatible because of a printing error.

What about the H2 Flow?

The H2 Flow does not use either kit and does not need one. It is built around a vertical graphics card already, with three vertical expansion slots and a 260mm PCIe Gen 5.0 x16 riser cable in the box.

Is the riser PCIe 5.0?

On the Vertical GPU Mounting Kit PCIe 5.0, yes: a 175mm PCIe 5.0 x16 riser. The original kit's riser and the standalone PCIe Riser Cable are Gen 4.0 x16. They work in a Gen 5 slot but run at Gen 4 speeds.

Can I use a capture card as well as a vertical GPU?

Not with the original kit, which occupies the expansion slot area in a way that rules out any second card. With the PCIe 5.0 kit, send support your motherboard and the card you want to add and they will confirm.

How do I know if my original kit is a 2024 or newer version?

Read the date code from the serial number, starting at the third digit through to the N. The first two are the year. A code beginning 24 or higher is from the updated tooling.

What is the maximum GPU size?

Cards up to 3 slots wide on either kit. Length is limited by your case rather than the kit, so check the maximum GPU clearance for your model, and allow for a vertical mount reducing it.

Not sure if yours fits?

Send us your case model and the card you want to run and we will confirm the fit. If you already own the original kit, include its serial number too. Our team is at NZXT Support.