Is an RX 9070 XT a worthwhile upgrade for an i7-10700K system?

If the CPU becomes the limitation later, a Ryzen X3D chip such as the 5800X3D can be a strong gaming upgrade while letting you reuse DDR4. However, that platform is older, so I’d only choose it if you find the CPU and motherboard at a very good price. Paying a lot for a dead-end platform is less appealing than saving for a newer CPU, board, and memory together.

Another possible middle ground is a 12th-, 13th-, or 14th-generation Intel processor with a DDR4-compatible motherboard. That would let you keep your existing memory while getting a newer CPU, though the value depends heavily on local pricing. I’d still upgrade the GPU first, since the RTX 3070 is more likely to be holding you back at 1440p.

At 1440p, upgrading the graphics card first makes the most sense. A 9070 XT should work well with the 10700K, especially in graphically demanding games and at high settings. You may leave some performance on the table in very high-FPS or CPU-heavy titles, but it won’t make the GPU upgrade pointless. Keep the current platform and see how it performs before replacing everything.

Older CPUs can still pair surprisingly well with modern GPUs at 1440p. People are running cards around the RTX 5070 class with 10th- and 11th-generation Intel systems and getting strong results. If you’re targeting image quality rather than maximum competitive FPS, the 10700K is probably still adequate.

A graphics card upgrade won’t reduce performance, so it’s a safe first step. Install the new card, monitor GPU and CPU usage in the games you play, and then decide whether a platform upgrade is actually needed. Upscaling or frame generation can also help, but they won’t fix every CPU limitation.