# Large hard drives -- when will they get cheaper? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755 "2012-06-10T20:44:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/1 "2012-06-10T20:44:59Z")
So the floods in Thailand put a serious crimp in hard drive manufacturing. Before, we were headed for under-$100US 3TB bare drives, but we don’t have that now at the consumer, retail level. I have a Drobo with 15TB (5 x 3TB drives) that is close to being maxed out. I’d sure like to replace 2 of the 3TB drives with 4TB units, but the best price I can find now is in the $300 range. Any predictions as to when the supply line will return to “normal”? I really can’t justify buying 4TB drives until they are close to $100 each. My guess is Fall 2012. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/2 "2012-06-10T20:48:33Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > S > I have a Drobo with 15TB (5 x 3TB drives) that is close to being maxed out. I’d sure like to replace 2 of the 3TB drives with 4TB units, but the best price I can find now is in the $300 range. I had no idea the Internet contained that much porn. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/3 "2012-06-10T20:51:31Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I had no idea the Internet contained that much porn. Ha! I like HD too much! Serially, Dude, the storage is for video files and they are humongous. I may like HD in porn, but I can’t afford HD storage for original video; it’s only standard broadcast quality. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/4 "2012-06-10T22:49:55Z")
The last I heard, hard drive manufacturers were predicting that they would have continuing supply shortages throughout all of 2012, including the fall season. This is expected to keep prices high until 2013. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/5 "2012-06-10T22:58:18Z")
Looks like I’ll have to wait for 6 months to upgrade my main online storage. Good thing I have about fifteen 1, 1.5 and 2GB bare drives to use in the meantime. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/6 "2012-06-11T00:49:19Z")
I believe production has returned to normal at all the industrial estates over here, so hopefully supply will be back to normal soon. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/7 "2012-06-11T02:39:47Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I believe production has returned to normal at all the industrial estates over here, so hopefully supply will be back to normal soon. Good to hear! So how long is the pipeline during “normal” times? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-hard-drives-when-will-they-get-cheaper/624755/8 "2012-06-11T02:41:54Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Good to hear! So how long is the pipeline during “normal” times? I really couldn’t say, as I’m relying mostly on government and media reports. But I know for carmakers, the backlog is already getting filled. Hopefully it won’t be long for hard drives. Unless … we have more flooding this year. 😉