3070 in 2025 for 1440p?

[ulookuglynoob]

It has been a while since I last posted on this forum, and I am not the most caught up on the latest tech. I plan to build a new PC soon, but the GPU prices are crazy high right now, and idk if I could afford one. I really want an oled (qd-oled is too expensive rn, but I do prefer that) 1440p monitor, and I am considering putting my old 3070 in the new build. I mainly play CPU-intensive games, like Valorant, and may use the PC for studying. I also need an SFF PC, so I have to spend a bit more on the mobo, PSU, and case. Is the 3070 still good enough in 2025? I would also like recommendations on how to make the build cheaper, but I don't want to change the case (I don't mind paying a bit more for it): https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jN86Lc. I want to keep this build under 1500 USD, but the cheaper, the better. I appreciate the advice, and thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

Valorant runs with high refresh rates at 1440p on gpus many times slower than that. You'll be fine with a 3070 so just invest in your other parts first.

[podkall]

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

I also need an SFF PC, so I have to spend a bit more on the mobo

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

I don't want to change the case

 

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

but the GPU prices are crazy high right now, and idk if I could afford one. I really want an oled (qd-oled is too expensive rn, but I do prefer that) 1440p monitor, and I am considering putting my old 3070 in the new build.

Of course you can use 3070 in new build.

 

 

• The 3070 still scratches the mid-range area even in 2025
• The only thing not going for 3070 is the 8GB VRAM
• But still, if you don't overflow VRAM the card will just crank as it should

 

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

Is the 3070 still good enough in 2025?

Of course

 

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

I want to keep this build under 1500 USD, but the cheaper, the better. I appreciate the advice, and thanks in advance!

I'd tell you 7000 series CPU, but the problem is if you are going OLED route and (hardcore) competitive gaming, then you might benefit from ever so slightly faster 9000 series CPU. Same with low timing RAM they go hand in hand.

 

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jN86Lc.

Let's see what can be changed though.

 

MB: ASRock B650I Lightning Wifi - if you don't need PCIe 5.0, then you don't need PCIe 5.0, the 8+1+1 power design is also quite enough for 9700x even if the other has 10+1+1

 

RAM: Klevv BOLT V 32 GB - 30-36-36-76, might not be in MB QVL, not sure don't really feel like checking it, doesn't need to be in QVL to work

 

Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 90 SE 32.77 CFM CPU Cooler - -1$

 

List with all these tweaks: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/qtWnC8

 

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

I don't want to change the case

Not hinting it's bad case since you won't be using overclocked 5090 with 14900K, but a video to consider:

 

 

 

[starsmine]

dont upgrade the GPU until you have a suite of games you want more performance out of and the gpus that give you the performance you desire is at a cost that is acceptable to you. 

[ulookuglynoob]

3 hours ago, podkall said:

 

Of course you can use 3070 in new build.

 

 

• The 3070 still scratches the mid-range area even in 2025
• The only thing not going for 3070 is the 8GB VRAM
• But still, if you don't overflow VRAM the card will just crank as it should

 

Of course

 

I'd tell you 7000 series CPU, but the problem is if you are going OLED route and (hardcore) competitive gaming, then you might benefit from ever so slightly faster 9000 series CPU. Same with low timing RAM they go hand in hand.

 

Let's see what can be changed though.

 

MB: ASRock B650I Lightning Wifi - if you don't need PCIe 5.0, then you don't need PCIe 5.0, the 8+1+1 power design is also quite enough for 9700x even if the other has 10+1+1

 

RAM: Klevv BOLT V 32 GB - 30-36-36-76, might not be in MB QVL, not sure don't really feel like checking it, doesn't need to be in QVL to work

 

Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 90 SE 32.77 CFM CPU Cooler - -1$

 

List with all these tweaks: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/qtWnC8

 

Not hinting it's bad case since you won't be using overclocked 5090 with 14900K, but a video to consider:

 

 

 

Lol yes I am obsessed with the idea of a white tower case. Might also get the 2000d. Thanks for the suggestions. instead of getting a new build, should I just upgrade my current lga 1700 PC to a 14700kf from a 12100f, upgrade monitor and CPU cooler, and get a GPU? current build: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/mBMv6h

[Why_Me]

1 hour ago, ulookuglynoob said:

Lol yes I am obsessed with the idea of a white tower case. Might also get the 2000d. Thanks for the suggestions. instead of getting a new build, should I just upgrade my current lga 1700 PC to a 14700kf from a 12100f, upgrade monitor and CPU cooler, and get a GPU? current build: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/mBMv6h

If you upgrade to a 14 gen i7 then get a locked i7 so that you don't suffer thermal throttling and you're going to want to upgrade your cpu cooler.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core i7-14700F 2.1 GHz 20-Core Processor  ($304.00 @ Amazon) 
Total: $304.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-04-23 21:48 EDT-0400

[ulookuglynoob]

1 hour ago, Why_Me said:

If you upgrade to a 14 gen i7 then get a locked i7 so that you don't suffer thermal throttling and you're going to want to upgrade your cpu cooler.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core i7-14700F 2.1 GHz 20-Core Processor  ($304.00 @ Amazon) 
Total: $304.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-04-23 21:48 EDT-0400

Probably something like this? https://pcpartpicker.com/list/vmWYh7

Could also get the 9070 if the price drops. I will also have to get a new psu, as my current one (Apevia Jupiter 600W) is about to explode. 

[podkall]

2 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

Lol yes I am obsessed with the idea of a white tower case. Might also get the 2000d. Thanks for the suggestions. instead of getting a new build, should I just upgrade my current lga 1700 PC to a 14700kf from a 12100f, upgrade monitor and CPU cooler, and get a GPU? current build: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/mBMv6h

You could if you want to, the MB seems capable enough to not break under i7's might. Might want to still get better PSU after CPU upgrade, Intel pulls like half or more GPU.

 

43 minutes ago, ulookuglynoob said:

Probably something like this? https://pcpartpicker.com/list/vmWYh7

Could also get the 9070 if the price drops. I will also have to get a new psu, as my current one (Apevia Jupiter 600W) is about to explode. 

There's multiple ways to go about it, you could upgrade everything and upgrade GPU later when the prices drop to a reasonable price/performance spot.

[ulookuglynoob]

58 minutes ago, podkall said:

There's multiple ways to go about it, you could upgrade everything and upgrade GPU later when the prices drop to a reasonable price/performance spot.

That was basically my original idea of making a new build and keeping the 3070. And I might do it, because I am no longer a fan of my RGB-heavy pc.

[podkall]

10 hours ago, ulookuglynoob said:

That was basically my original idea of making a new build and keeping the 3070. And I might do it, because I am no longer a fan of my RGB-heavy pc.

What's wrong with RGB? You can configure it to shine solid color, sometimes looks better like that.

[ulookuglynoob]

4 hours ago, podkall said:

What's wrong with RGB? You can configure it to shine solid color, sometimes looks better like that.

I want to look more sleek, modernish. Its just me. I can still live with my current setup's look.

[podkall]

19 minutes ago, ulookuglynoob said:

I want to look more sleek, modernish. Its just me. I can still live with my current setup's look.

If you want modern overload, just look at very popular cases.

 

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/north/north/chalk-white/

[Agall]

35 minutes ago, ulookuglynoob said:

sleek, modernish

Fractal Design's design language in a nutshell.

 

I just replaced my brother's RTX 3070 with an RX 9070. Even with a 5800x3D already, its been night and day at 1440p ultrawide. There were plenty of scenarios where he was likely maxing out the VRAM causing stuttering and freezing frames.

[ulookuglynoob]

5 hours ago, podkall said:

If you want modern overload, just look at very popular cases.

 

https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/north/north/chalk-white/

 

5 hours ago, Agall said:

Fractal Design's design language in a nutshell.

 

I just replaced my brother's RTX 3070 with an RX 9070. Even with a 5800x3D already, its been night and day at 1440p ultrawide. There were plenty of scenarios where he was likely maxing out the VRAM causing stuttering and freezing frames.

Yeah, I guess I won't worry about my looks. My current case is fine and will probably just upgrade CPU cooler, PSU, CPU, GPU, and monitor. thx!