Back in the day, a graphics card priced around $500 was widely regarded as the golden standard in terms of value within the graphics card market. Iconic models such as the NVIDIA GTX 1080 and AMD RX 5700 XT not only empowered gamers to indulge in 1440p gaming with stunning visual clarity but also had the capability to tackle 4K resolutions under optimal settings. Nevertheless, as the market dynamics have shifted, top-tier graphics cards with price tags exceeding $1,000 have steadily climbed the ladder of manufacturers' promotional priorities, often being touted as 'must-haves' by a significant portion of the gaming community. In the present scenario, this skewed pricing structure has sparked introspection within the industry, compelling a reassessment of the true worth of $500 graphics cards.