5G iPod mod trades the hard drive for CF storage

We've seen similar flash memory mods for various iterations of the iPod family, like Mark Hoekstra's CF swap, which spans generations one through four, but unfortunately we have yet to see anyone take on the 5G video iPods... until now. One apparently bored and crafty gentleman who goes by the name Tarkan Akdam has successfully replaced his untrustworthy, archaic, mechanical hard drive with a substantially smaller 4GB CF card (we suppose what it lacks in storage is made up for in peace of mind). Apparently, it's not so tough to find a compatible solution to go from the factory-installed Toshiba drive to an off-the-shelf chunk of flash memory -- as long as you have a custom circuit board made and don't mind soldering 0.5mm pitch connections. If you're reaching for your mini-screwdriver set right now, hit the read link and learn the whole process.

[Thanks, Roberto]

[humpty @ Aug 9th 2007 7:36AM]

Why not put in a 64gb SSD?

[mike @ Aug 9th 2007 1:18PM]

Exorbitant cost perhaps? I replaced the 4GB microdrive in my iPod mini with a 16GB CF card. I think that cost abour $140. This person was obviously going for a cheap solution.

[Blake @ Aug 9th 2007 7:38AM]

0.5 mm pitch?

*shudders*

[AdvWar @ Aug 9th 2007 8:49AM]

If you wanted flash memory, why would you buy an iPod? Surely you would just buy a nano?

[monkeyboy.dsg @ Aug 9th 2007 12:14PM]

Video playback and flash memory, you only get one on the nano.

I assume these are not hot swapable

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 9th 2007 9:10AM]

Very nice work!

On the flip side I recently found a USB enclosure for those wacky Toshiba iPod (and Magellan) hard drives for very little money.

They aren't the fastest things in the world, but they do make for handy portable storage!

Compact Flash cards are also great for computery stuff like embedded OS applications.

The fun is endless! :D

[Julian Bond @ Aug 9th 2007 10:35AM]

How about going the other way. Rig up a 2.5" hard drive to iPod internals. Of course you'd need a bigger case. The biggest issue is the 5v PSU needed instead of 3.3v for the 1.8" drives.

Why? Because I *need* a 160Gb iPod.

[slab @ Aug 9th 2007 5:24PM]

That would be the iPod Super mod:

http://www.command-tab.com/2005/03/13/ipod-super/

[Julian Bond @ Aug 10th 2007 2:22AM]

Yes it was inspired by that. But also by my Creative Zen Xtra with it's 2.5" disk. You could still put a 2.5" in your pocket and run it from batteries. You can't do that with a 3.5.

[kirby @ Aug 9th 2007 1:30PM]

Heh,

I kinda did this with my Cf card mind you it was a microdrive, but it was to unreliable so I just sold the damn ipod 5g on eBay lol.

[VitaminCM @ Aug 9th 2007 5:27PM]

Awesome, the big clunky size of the 5g iPod with the small crappy capacity of the Nano.
Maybe he could also keep the big case, but swap out the nice big color screen for the monochrome screen from my Iron Man watch.
Why don't I just trade you my fatted cow for some Magic Beans?

[drtekger @ Aug 10th 2007 12:42AM]

Why am I commenting on this?