Using an iPod 1.8" harddrive in the MPC

After looking for harddrives on ebay, I don't need a maximum space one so I was looking at 20-40gb capacities... and I forgot I had two iPod 60gb harddrives lying around (my 60gb 5g broke a while back, thought it was the HDD that broke so I bought a new one and it didn't fix it).

After a bit of research, I found cheap components like these for dirt cheap http://tr.im/iyOE.

These drives are built to be really shock resistant and emit low heat. They don't have that fast speeds (4200rpm, rather than the 5400/7200rpm traditional 2.5" laptop harddrive speeds) and they're kind of expensive for the capactities you get, but since I have some spare, I might aswell go ahead with it. Here's a link to one of the drives on eBay to check for yourself http://tr.im/iyPf.

I haven't actually tested this yet as I've just bought the adapter and have to wait for it to travel half of the globe to get to me. I had to order it on a Friday aswell didn't I


This should in theory work, right? I did a search and the nearest that got done was some sort of CF-Card-to-1.8" hard drive adapter which would be good but prolly risky for MPC500 users.

If it doesn't work, I only paid a few quid for the adapter so not all is lost. And it's not like I was using these hard drives in the first place If it does work, I wouldn't mind selling my other spare to someone (in the UK). So anyone out there done this??

Also I gotta add that if you're gonna rush out there and try this for yourself, you gotta check which connection the 1.8" drive in mind uses. Earlier models use a miniature form of IDE, but the newer ones (5g ipods upwards) use this thin cable connection called 'ZIF'. You still need adapters for both of these.

Also I gotta think about how to mount the drive, probably on some foam and then tape it down, or perhaps even keeping it down with rubber bands to make it better on acoustics.

aren't ipods kinda known for having harddrive problems though? I've never had trouble with mine but I know a lot of people did.

All the faults I've known from my ipod or friends ipods aren't the actual hard disks themselves but the actual ipods or the interface towards the storage medium... like when you took the HDD out, it turns out its fully working. Which isn't too suprising, as these are apparently built like mini tanks. I've heard of more laptop drives dying out than ipod ones perhaps because theres more laptop owners out there but still! Gotta find out for myself I guess lol

phx_chronic wrote:aren't ipods kinda known for having harddrive problems though? I've never had trouble with mine but I know a lot of people did.

This is accurate, I have been in the IT and dorking field for years and I have replaced at least 50+ hard drives across every generation of ipod.

anyone who hasn't had hdd problems is lucky.

I got the idea for the CF Mod sticky because I have been putting CF card in iPods for years. Turning that old aluminum iPod Mini 4Gig into a solid state 32GB is an awesome upgrade that is 100% Jog-proof.

I'm confused tho is the OP trying this on an MPC500? wrong section if so.

if it is for the 1000 though check my sticky, the procedure should be almost exactly the same, but with different adapters.

Mekishiko wrote:dorking

youre cool man. and yer mod will come in handy when they make huge CF cards. will they? ...i mean in its present hardware form factor? i guess that would be ideal. i think it might be nice to put another card slot and somehow replicate the action of the button, it needs 2 with its big blank space havin bare lookin mug.

hey you could figure it out and sell a mod kit. youd make big bucks! but then akai could also release a CF caddy and another faceplate. they could bury you! let you do the design and then run with it. story of nym's pad idea seems to me...