eBay Buyer Saves $300 on MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI With Included 2TB SSD

A buyer on eBay stumbled upon a rare pricing error that turned a broken motherboard listing into a significant savings opportunity. The transaction highlights how component shortages can distort secondary market values, allowing savvy shoppers to acquire high-end storage at a fraction of the retail cost. This situation serves as a practical reminder for readers to scrutinize 'For Parts' listings, as functional components may still be intact despite seller claims of failure.

Motherboard arrives with functional 2TB WD SN580 drive

The item in question is the MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI motherboard, which arrived in an ASUS Z790 Dark Hero retail box rather than standard MSI packaging. The seller had listed the board as non-functional, but the buyer successfully booted the system into Windows upon receipt. This contradiction between the listing description and the actual hardware state underscores the risks and potential rewards of buying used electronics online.

Specifications

• Motherboard Model: MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI
• SSD Model: WD SN580 PCIe NVMe Gen 4
• SSD Capacity: 2TB
• Purchase Price: $20
• SSD Market Value: $300

The most valuable component hidden within the motherboard setup was a 2TB WD SN580 PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD. This drive was installed in an M.2 slot and functioned correctly alongside the motherboard. The inclusion of this specific storage model adds considerable value, as it is a popular high-speed drive often sold separately at premium prices during periods of supply chain constraints.

The buyer paid $20 for the entire package, which included the motherboard, the SSD, and various accessories. This price stands in stark contrast to the approximate $300 market value of the 2TB NVMe Gen 4 SSD alone. The discrepancy was largely driven by ongoing DRAM and storage shortages that have kept component prices elevated in the general retail market.

This anecdote illustrates the tangible impact of current storage market conditions on individual transactions. Buyers looking to upgrade systems with high-capacity NVMe drives should monitor secondary markets closely. The significant price gap between the purchase price and the component's standalone value demonstrates where immediate savings can be found.