Most of the worry over the ongoing PC hardware shortage has centered on the historic price spikes in RAM, but few people realize that the same underlying pressures are pushing the cost of solid-state drives (SSDs) to record highs. Recent price comparisons reveal a startling reality: in the most extreme cases, an SSD can now be described as being worth its weight in gold, quite literally. Even traditional HDDs, long known for their affordable prices, are not entirely escaping the storm.
Comparing the Real Value of SSDs and Pure Gold
A Reddit user going by Dark_Marmot recently made a shocking claim: Western Digital's most expensive WD Black solid-state drive is now worth more than 70% above 24-karat gold by weight. While the average price of SSDs on the market is still far below gold's territory, quick calculations by respected tech outlets such as TechSpot and Tom's Hardware paint a different picture. According to them, some massive 8TB SSD models have actually crossed the value of gold, and 4TB models are quickly approaching that price.
To put this in perspective, let's look at the specific numbers. Comex Live currently prices gold at about 4.601 USD per ounce. The 8TB WD Black SN8100 weighs just 8.6 grams (not counting the heatsink), equivalent to roughly 1.396 USD worth of gold. Last October, this SSD sold for 1.000 USD, meaning it was already close to parity with the gold of the same weight. Since then, its price has jumped to 2.169,99 USD earlier this month (currently discounted from a list price of 2.308,99 USD). That figure still falls short of the rumored "70% more expensive than gold," but the sudden doubling in price underscores just how tight supply has become.
Meanwhile, the 4TB version costs 1.144,99 USD and weighs only 7.5 grams. Converted, that weight is equal to 1.217 USD worth of gold. So this drive is worth only slightly less than pure gold. Tom's Hardware also reported similar figures after surveying prices at multiple retailers.
Of course, it's worth noting that the SN8100 is a premium SSD. It currently tops the list of recommended PC storage drives under the new SanDisk brand. But the upward trend in prices isn't limited to the high end. Data from PCPartPicker shows that average prices for 2TB and 4TB SSDs have risen sharply since last fall, and are now heading toward roughly 300 USD and 600 USD, respectively.
Impact on the HDD Market and the Memory Chip Shortage Behind It
Meanwhile, although the AI industry's thirst for storage has not significantly affected HDD prices in the United States, the situation in Europe is clearly different. According to ComputerBase, average HDD prices in Europe have risen 46% since September. That headline figure actually masks a lot of real-world variation. A survey of about a dozen drives ranging from 4TB to 30TB found that while some drives went up by only 20 to 30%, others now cost 50 to 60% more than just four months ago.
The root cause is that AI companies are aggressively snapping up and stockpiling DRAM and NAND production capacity to support data center expansion plans as the industry boom continues. Leading memory chipmakers such as Samsung and SK Hynix have responded by raising DRAM prices by up to 70%. Since early November, the spot price of 16Gb (2Gx8) DDR4 memory has more than tripled, climbing from 28 USD to 90 USD. This dizzying swing has even prompted a limited revival of the older DDR3 memory.
With artificial intelligence advancing at its current pace and demanding enormous amounts of hardware, industry leaders now predict the supply shortage will last through at least the end of 2026. That means everyday consumers may have to keep facing expensive PC component prices for a long time to come.
