I have a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB of DDR5 memory and a regular RTX 4070. I mainly play competitive shooters and am considering a 1440p 500Hz OLED, though I might try some more demanding games too.
Will the 4070 be enough for that screen, or would a 5070 Ti or 5080 be a worthwhile upgrade?
Keep the 4070 for now. It's still a capable 1440p card, and buying a 500Hz monitor doesn't mean you have to hit 500 fps in every game. Try your usual games at the settings you actually want before spending more on a GPU.
If the frame rates feel good, there's no need to upgrade just because the rest of the build is newer.
For competitive shooters, the game and settings matter a lot. Some lighter esports titles may get close to 500 fps, but that's not a promise across the board. Even with a 9800X3D, the CPU or the game itself can limit frame rates before the GPU does.
Check benchmarks for your specific games at 1440p and your preferred settings. Also look at frame-time consistency, not just the average fps. A faster GPU helps most when the 4070 is the part holding the frame rate back.
The 5070 Ti is the card I'd compare against the 5080 if you decide you want more performance. The 5080 is the faster option, but whether the extra cost makes sense depends on the prices you can actually find and how much you value the gain.
Look at 1440p benchmarks for both, especially in the demanding games you might play. Don't assume a percentage gain measured at 1080p will carry over exactly.
b903~lanehook_6:
Used prices matter too. Compare the upgrade cost after selling the 4070, not just the sticker prices of the new cards.
The occasional demanding game is a different question from competitive shooters. The 4070 can still be a reasonable 1440p choice, but you may need to adjust settings rather than expect the same high frame rates you'd get in lighter games.
If those games become a bigger part of what you play and the compromises bother you, then a stronger GPU has a clearer purpose than upgrading for future-proofing alone.
Answers are reviewed before publication.
Velnix-2c:
That's useful. I mostly play competitive shooters, so I'll check those individually rather than assuming every game will reach the monitor's refresh rate.