An unusual comparison circulating on Reddit is gaining credibility as SSD prices climb at the high end. User Dark_Marmot observed that Western Digital’s WD Black flagship SSD now exceeds the value of its weight in 24-karat gold. Although mainstream drives remain far more affordable, third-party analysis confirms that for maximum-capacity models, the claim is becoming accurate.
Using a gold price of approximately $4,601 per ounce from Comex Live, the 8TB WD Black SN8100’s 8.6-gram weight equates to about $1,396 in gold value. Market pricing for the SSD has now surpassed that threshold. After appearing at around $1,000 in October, the drive climbed to $2,169.99 earlier this month, a rapid increase that, while less than early claims suggested, signals pronounced supply constraints.
The 4TB version weighs 7.5 grams, about $1,217 in gold at current prices. Selling for $1,144.99, the drive is now hovering just below gold parity, a pattern Tom’s Hardware has confirmed across multiple sellers.
The SN8100 is a premium, enterprise-grade product, which helps explain the severity of its pricing. For most consumers, the increase is less severe but still significant. PCPartPicker data indicates that average prices for mainstream 2TB and 4TB SSDs have risen sharply since last fall, reaching around $300 and $600.
The surge is being driven by sustained AI demand. AI firms are securing DRAM and NAND capacity for large data center builds, prompting Samsung and SK Hynix to raise DRAM prices by up to 70%. Spot prices for some DDR4 chips have jumped from $28 to $90 since early November, briefly reviving interest in DDR3.
The impact is beginning to ripple outward. Although AI-driven demand has not yet meaningfully pushed up hard drive prices in the United States, German outlet ComputerBase reports that HDD prices in Europe have risen by an average of 46% since September. That headline figure conceals wide swings, with some 4TB to 30TB models climbing 50 to 60% in just four months.
Few industry insiders expect relief anytime soon, with many forecasting the supply crunch will drag on through 2026. For the largest and fastest SSDs, the old gold comparison has crossed a line from clever analogy to simple fact.
Maybe you would like other interesting articles?