Samsung 870 EVO SATA SSD prices spike past faster NVMe drives at Micro Center

Samsung 870 EVO SATA SSD prices have reached unusually high levels at Micro Center, with one store listing the 8TB model at $4,139. The pricing is especially surprising because SATA SSDs are much slower than modern M.2 NVMe drives, yet some of these Samsung 870 EVO listings are now more expensive than faster high end storage options.

The report is based on a Reddit post showing Samsung 870 EVO drives on a Micro Center shelf with extreme price tags. The 1TB model was listed at $519, while the 2TB model was listed at $1,039. The 4TB model reached $2,069, and the 8TB model was shown at $4,139. That puts SATA storage in a strange position where older and slower drives are being priced like premium hardware.

SATA SSDs are becoming a poor buy while NVMe drives offer better speed for less money

The biggest problem is value. SATA SSDs still work well for older systems, secondary storage, and machines without spare M.2 slots, but they are limited by the SATA interface. Modern NVMe drives can deliver much higher sequential read and write speeds, stronger performance in many workloads, and better long term value when prices are reasonable.

The comparison in the report makes the issue clear. While the Samsung 870 EVO 1TB was listed at $519 at Micro Center, faster NVMe alternatives were selling for less. A WD Black SN7100 1TB was mentioned at $189, and a Samsung 990 Pro 1TB was listed at $249. Those prices are already higher than what buyers were used to before recent memory and storage shortages, but they still look far more sensible than paying more than $500 for a 1TB SATA drive.

The report also notes that the same Samsung 870 EVO 1TB was found on Amazon for $449, which suggests the high pricing may not be limited to one store. Even so, the Micro Center shelf image stands out because it shows several expensive SATA drives together, with a “Limit 2 per Household” sign despite the shelf appearing well stocked.

There are a few possible reasons for the spike. SATA SSD production may be lower now because the market has shifted heavily toward M.2 NVMe drives. At the same time, the wider memory shortage has pushed storage prices upward, especially as AI demand pulls more supply toward data center and high performance products. Still, that does not make these SATA prices easy to justify.

For most buyers, the simple advice is to avoid these drives at current prices. If your PC supports M.2 NVMe storage, a faster NVMe SSD is likely the better purchase. If you need SATA storage for an older machine, it may be better to wait, compare prices carefully, or consider smaller capacity options only if the upgrade is urgent.

The Samsung 870 EVO has long been a respected SATA SSD, but the current pricing makes little sense for normal buyers. Paying more than $4,000 for an 8TB SATA drive is difficult to justify when faster storage exists for less. Until prices settle, SATA SSDs may be worth skipping unless you have a very specific need.