iPod Bigger hard drive for 30GB 5.5H iPod?

[Doc69]

I want to upgrade the hard drive in my 30GB 5.5G iPod. What hard drive sizes are available for this (slim) model?

Am I correct in assuming that the slim version (original 30GB) takes 5mm 1.8" drives and the thicker version (original 80GB) takes 8mm 1.8" drives? When I look on the web for 1.8" hard drives, they rarely specify the thickness. And as they I did not see many specs for buffer size and RPM either, I'm worried that a bigger drive may be slower and subsequently slow down the UI?

If someone could point me to a website where I can buy a new drive at good price, that would be great. Ideally I would get 80GB, but 60GB or even 40GB would be OK too. And the drive would have a large buffer and would be as fast as possible.

 

[techwhiz]

iPod 5.5 Update

I want to upgrade the hard drive in my 30GB 5.5G iPod. What hard drive sizes are available for this (slim) model?

Am I correct in assuming that the slim version (original 30GB) takes 5mm 1.8" drives and the thicker version (original 80GB) takes 8mm 1.8" drives? When I look on the web for 1.8" hard drives, they rarely specify the thickness. And as they I did not see many specs for buffer size and RPM either, I'm worried that a bigger drive may be slower and subsequently slow down the UI?

If someone could point me to a website where I can buy a new drive at good price, that would be great. Ideally I would get 80GB, but 60GB or even 40GB would be OK too. And the drive would have a large buffer and would be as fast as possible.

You have two options
http://www.pdasmart.com/products/AP1y9ipodpartscenter5g.htm
http://www.pdasmart.com/products/IPO5013ipodpartscenter5g.htm

The 80GB drive -> Toshiba - MK8009GAH

 

[Doc69]

Thank you for your reply. But both these pages state that I would have to get a new thicker rear housing to fit the new drive. I was hoping that it would be possible to get a bigger drive but still keep the slim form factor of the original 30GB 5.5G iPod.

 

[iEvolution]

Any single platter ZIFF drive (80GB/120GB/160GB) should work with the 30GB.

 

[njaremka]

Any single platter ZIFF drive (80GB/120GB/160GB) should work with the 30GB.

this.

i have a 30gb 5.5gen ipod video, and i replaced the hard drive with one from a 120gb classic. if you go with a 160gb drive from the late model calssic, make sure its from the thin model. the thick 160gb classic drive has the wrong drive connector to fit the 5.5gen video board, not to mention its too fat.

as an alternate, this SSD drive will also work -
https://www.superbiiz.com/detail.ph...-MasterDrive-GF-IDE-ZIF-Solid-State-Drive-MLC

 

[iEvolution]

this.

i have a 30gb 5.5gen ipod video, and i replaced the hard drive with one from a 120gb classic. if you go with a 160gb drive from the late model calssic, make sure its from the thin model. the thick 160gb classic drive has the wrong drive connector to fit the 5.5gen video board, not to mention its too fat.

as an alternate, this SSD drive will also work -
https://www.superbiiz.com/detail.ph...-MasterDrive-GF-IDE-ZIF-Solid-State-Drive-MLC

I just ordered a refurbished iPod 5th Gen 30GB, a 120GB HD, Black Click wheel (iPod is the white model), full skin. I can't wait to get this project it will become my new primary iPod for music, I like the sound quality in the 5th gen better as well as the click wheel responsiveness.

I will miss some of the enhancements in my 120GB "7th" gen such as Artists listed in the song menu, Skipping straight to artist/album list straight from the Now Playing screen are the two big ones.

I've already modded my 5.5G 80GB model to hold the 240GB hard drive but that iPod is essentially my Apple TV, I just load videos from the computer on it and watch it on my TV and the 240GB is a little slow for my liking for listening to music.

 

[Doc69]

Thanks njaremka and iEvolution for that info. I'm going to buy a 120GB replacement drive then. Which one's did you buy and where? And does the UI of the 5.5G become less responsive with the larger drive?

I'm also buying a second 5.5G refurbished iPod as a spare, for when my current one stops working. The audio quality in the 5.5G is so much better than on my iPhone 4, which I assume has the same headphone jack DAC as the latest iPod Classic.

It's unbelievable that Apple doesn't put more effort into audio quality. The iPhone 4 is unlistenable to me. The sound is very harsh, thin and the stereo image field much smaller than the 5.5G iPod. If they added a world class DAC to the Classic and sold it as an audiophile iPod, I'm sure the'd sell more of them. The fact that we now have to buy refurbished older iPod models on eBay, and upgrade our old ones with new hard drives, is just plain silly.

 

[njaremka]

i didn't notice any loss of functionality with the larger drive. hit ebay search for "ipod classic 120gb hard drive" and take your pick. the classic only had one flavour of 120gb hard drive, so you shouldn't have any compatibility issues.