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Quick Answer
The best CPU for the RTX 4070 at 1440p is the Ryzen 5 7600 for value or the Ryzen 7 7800X3D for maximum performance. At 1440p, the GPU is the bottleneck in most games, so even the Ryzen 5 7600 delivers 95%+ of the performance at half the price of flagship CPUs.
The Ryzen 5 7600 delivers 95% of the gaming performance of much more expensive CPUs when paired with the RTX 4070 at 1440p. Six Zen 4 cores with DDR5 support provide smooth frame delivery in every modern title. This is the CPU to buy if you want maximum GPU budget.
The 7800X3D's 96MB V-Cache pushes 1% lows higher, giving smoother gameplay in demanding titles. The advantage over the 7600 is 3-5% at 1440p, but the frame pacing improvement is noticeable in stuttery games like Starfield and Cities: Skylines 2.
If you prefer Intel or want DDR4 compatibility, the i5-13400F is excellent. Its 6P+4E cores handle the RTX 4070 without bottlenecking at 1440p, and B660 DDR4 motherboards are the cheapest platform available.
Skip the i9-14900K and Ryzen 9 7950X3D for this GPU. You are throwing away $400+ AUD for 1-2 fps at 1440p. That money is better spent upgrading to an RTX 4070 Ti Super instead.
Our Verdict
Buy the Ryzen 5 7600 for the best value or the 7800X3D for the smoothest experience. At 1440p, the RTX 4070 is the bottleneck, not the CPU, so save money on the processor and invest where it matters.