I currently use an RTX 4060 and want better performance at 1440p. I'm considering the RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070, or RX 9070 XT, but I'm unsure whether their current prices are justified compared with older cards such as the RTX 4070, 4070 Super, 4070 Ti, or RX 7800 XT. Would one of those previous-generation cards—or the RX 9070 GRE—offer better value for 1440p?
3 Answers
I upgraded from an RTX 4060 to an RX 9070 XT. It handles demanding games extremely well—even 4K ultra in STALKER 2 ran around 70 FPS for me without frame generation, using FSR. For 1440p, though, it should give you plenty of headroom for high refresh rates.
The RX 9070 and 9070 XT are probably the strongest value among the newer options. The RTX 5070 Ti is a good card by itself, but it’s hard to recommend when the 9070 XT delivers very similar performance for noticeably less money. Older cards like the 4080 Super or 7900 XTX only make sense if you find an unusually good deal; used prices are often still inflated, especially for the XTX because of its 24GB of VRAM.
For 1440p, the 9070 XT may be more performance than you really need unless you want maximum settings and a high-refresh display. Around $650 can be a reasonable price, but once it gets much higher, the value drops. A discounted RX 7800 XT can be a smarter buy: one owner found one for $300, and although it’s roughly 40% slower, it still offers excellent 1440p performance and saves a lot of money.
I was mainly thinking about cards like the RTX 4070, 4070 Super, 4070 Ti, RX 7800 XT, or possibly the RX 9070 GRE as cheaper alternatives.