With the current downward trend of SSD pricing, it was surprising to see Intel‘s 670p series of QLC SSDs arrive on the market with an unusually high retail price. Coming in at $90 for the 512 GB option, $155 for the 1 TB option, and $330 for the 2 TB option, the 670p series were undoubtedly overpriced and Intel quickly reduced the pricing to more reasonable levels.
While the Intel 670p series of SSDs offered respectable performance, the main draw of QLC SSDs is offering a cheaper price point than TLC SSD alternatives. Moreover, the 670p series doesn’t use PCIe 4.0 technology which makes the high price point even more confusing for customers. Thankfully, Intel slashed the prices within a few days of the release and the 670p series SSDs better reflect their performance to cost ratio.
The original prices for Intel’s 670p series were $90 for the 512 GB option, $155 for the 1 TB option and $330 for the 2 TB option. It’s easy to see how there was backlash surrounding the pricing model considering that these prices are more common for PCIe 4.0 devices or top tier PCIe 3.0 TLC SSDs. Consumers looking at QLC SSDs are typically looking for cheap prices or high density options, neither of which the 670p series offered with its original prices. As the 670p series are PCIe 3.0 QLC SSDs, these prices did not reflect their performance and longevity.
Intel quickly adjusted the prices and the 670p series SSDs are now $70 for the 512 GB option, $130 for the 1 TB option, and $250 for the 2 TB option. Compared to Intel’s last generation of QLC SSDs, the 670p series is also able to offer double the read performance and better random read speeds. Boasting a maximum throughput of 3500Mbps/2700Mbps on reading and writing respectively, the 670p series places itself in the midrange of most PCIe 3.0 devices. However, the 670p series has a relatively low durability rating and this likely factored into the sudden price drop upon release.
Even with the new price changes to the Intel 670p series SSDs, it might not be worth it for builds that are looking to be futureproof. For one thing, the new price points are still relatively expensive for QLC considering the fact that there are many TLC options that are around the same price. While the 670p series offers great performance for PCIe 3.0 technology, the new prices remain uncompetitive when compared to other TLC SSD options. Most consumers who are looking for QLC as an option are usually looking for a good cost/GB ratio instead of performance.
While Intel’s 670p series of SSDs boasts strong game, OS, and program load speeds on PCIe 3.0 technology, its awkward pricing puts it in a difficult position in the market. Consumers looking for QLC options rarely favor performance over price and even its new price points are hard to justify when compared to the TLC options available on the market. Density is also a big factor in QLC’s continued lifespan but the 670p series only goes up to 2 TB. Intel’s drives are typically OEM which means the 670p series will appear in pre-built laptops and PCs but enthusiasts might want to skip the 670p series for a cheaper QLC or upgrade to a TLC SSD instead.
The Intel 670p Series SSDs are available now.
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