At least for the next 3 years, you will be fine.

I too am a 1440p gamer and if you're looking for someone to tell you everything will be ok then I'm happy to tell you it will not be. If you want 1440p/144Hz get a 3080 at minimum.

For instance a 3070 is around high 60's in AC: Odyssey at 1440p and same with RDR2. Both are older games right there. You're definitely not getting 144Hz @ 1440p with current and next 3 year games, bud. YouTube is your best resource for this type of research. For 144Hz @ 1440p you need to be looking at a 3080 or 3080 Ti unless dropping settings is your thing. Then yeah, a 970 would last you if settings do not matter.

https://youtu.be/qG5h3Ex2SQ8

It depends on your games, settings, and expectation of performance.  I'm running a 3060 xc on an i9-10850 at 1440P.  Cyberpunk (at MAX settings) and even Doom Eternal stutters.  For future proof, I just got my step2 step-up for a 3080ti.  "Future proof" is relative and 5 years is a long time in computer years.  I would minimally go with a 3070ti.  In the end, value is something only you can determine.

oakleytyper1

808sting
It depends on your games, settings, and expectation of performance.  I'm running a 3060 xc on an i9-10850 at 1440P.  Cyberpunk (at MAX settings) and even Doom Eternal stutters.  For future proof, I just got my step2 step-up for a 3080ti.  "Future proof" is relative and 5 years is a long time in computer years.  I would minimally go with a 3070ti.  In the end, value is something only you can determine.

Okay yeah a 3080 ti is a little outside of my price range so I think I will try and get a 3070 ti. I also don't play the newest, most demanding games so I think I can get away without a 3080 or better.

3080ti is overkill and pricey, but I would be waiting maybe another year if I kept my 3080 step-up.  Based on availability and pricing, the 3070ti is probably easier to get at MSRP since EVGA has their Elite.  Good luck with the 3070ti.  Hopefully, June 10 won't be as bad as June 3 or better than the 3060 release.

Beasthunt
I too am a 1440p gamer and if you're looking for someone to tell you everything will be ok then I'm happy to tell you it will not be. If you want 1440p/144Hz get a 3080 at minimum.

For instance a 3070 is around high 60's in AC: Odyssey at 1440p and same with RDR2. Both are older games right there. You're definitely not getting 144Hz @ 1440p with current and next 3 year games, bud. YouTube is your best resource for this type of research. For 144Hz @ 1440p you need to be looking at a 3080 or 3080 Ti unless dropping settings is your thing. Then yeah, a 970 would last you if settings do not matter.

https://youtu.be/qG5h3Ex2SQ8

Agree with this statement. If you feel comfortable overclocking your 3060 in the future you may be able to skate by, but if you want to reliably run 1440p @ 144mhz without having to adjust any settings yourself, you may want to keep hunting for a 3080.

kevinthemighty

Beasthunt
I too am a 1440p gamer and if you're looking for someone to tell you everything will be ok then I'm happy to tell you it will not be. If you want 1440p/144Hz get a 3080 at minimum.

For instance a 3070 is around high 60's in AC: Odyssey at 1440p and same with RDR2. Both are older games right there. You're definitely not getting 144Hz @ 1440p with current and next 3 year games, bud. YouTube is your best resource for this type of research. For 144Hz @ 1440p you need to be looking at a 3080 or 3080 Ti unless dropping settings is your thing. Then yeah, a 970 would last you if settings do not matter.

Agree with this statement. If you feel comfortable overclocking your 3060 in the future you may be able to skate by, but if you want to reliably run 1440p @ 144mhz without having to adjust any settings yourself, you may want to keep hunting for a 3080.

Yeah I'll look into getting a beefier card for sure. I am a little scared to overclock

its fine if you don't plan on being competitive with high fps

liud21
3070 or 3080 for 1440P

With everything that's being said already, 3070ti based on pricing and availability through EVGA Elite.  But, your question lacks detail and context since there are so many factors.  It depends...

only 3070 or 3080 for 1440P (4K)

Same card here. I can play 1440p 100fps+ easy with high to ultra. Its an awesome card.

I would choose 3070 ti

juanldeaza
Same card here. I can play 1440p 100fps+ easy with high to ultra. Its an awesome card.

You are delusional if you are talking about the latest demanding games. Not only can I simply link to numerous 3060 reviews, I have a 3070 which craps all over the 3060 and even it is not getting 100+ fps at 1440p in the really demanding games. 
 
OP, I would say 3080 if you want high refresh rate 1440p max settings but that is only if you have a very fast cpu. 

I do not agree.
If you are an obsessed freaky and you have a 1440p and 480Hz monitor and you want 480fps minimum in ULTRA, you should buy the 3090.
If you are a pro gamer and you need maximum fps, you have a 360Hz monitor and an average resolution of approx 360fps, a 3090 again is the option
If you are a hormonal teenager with nothing to do or no social life and you like to stream with friends and play semi-pro, with clans, and have a 1440p monitor at 165hz, the 3070 will give you only 100fps in ultra AAA games, and more. of 200 fps in competitive with in high - ultra.
If you are a normal person, who works and is away from home for 12 hours and only plays 1 hour at night, to greet friends and play 4 hours on Saturday and Sunday, nothing competitive, you have a 144hz or 75hz monitor and you are not a freaky, you only play for fun, the 3060 will give you 100+ fps in medium high resolution. It will consume 60w less than the 3070 and it will make you happy playing titles at excellent fps and you will save about 400USd of difference or more in the current market.
So check and choose which profile you fit into. In my case I am in that of normal people and the 3060 is incredibly good to play all the games that I like at high refresh rates without wasting power and money.

At 1440p and 480 hertz any current game wouldn't need the 24GB memory of the RTX 3090. An RTX 3080ti should be fine and so would an RX 6900 XT from AMD.