SSD sold by iPod Parts UK

[graemehh]

Does anyone have any experience of fitting the custom built SSD's sold by iPod Parts UK to an iPod?

https://ipodparts.co.uk/product/ipod-classic-solid-state-drives/

I believe it is based around an M.2 board. Is it a better alternative to the iFlash adapter?

Thanks

[rockbox_dev123]

Whilst I've no experience with this exact offering I have experience with using mSATA drives in iPods. The drive in your link looks no different to the many similar offerings on AliExpress.

My advice would be to use an SD card with an iFlash adapter. Why?


Before SD card support was mature in Rockbox there were valid reasons for using mSATA drives. However, there is no reason not to use them now.

The biggest drawback of SATA drives is the high power consumption. You can check the iFlash website for detailed power draw stats between CompactFlash, mSATA and SD.

They're also bulky and can prevent using a slim back.

[graemehh]

Thank you for the advice.

I've read a lot of negative comments about iFlash adapters and SD cards on these forums so I was wondering if there is a better alternative?


Initially I just want 256GB. All my digital music is in FLAC, WAV and AIFF files, that is why I want to use Rockbox. If 256GB works OK I might expand up to 1TB.

[rockbox_dev123]

If money is no object and you can bear a thick case back then I would get a 256GB Compact Flash card and a 3000mAh battery. Compact Flash uses the same interface (PATA) as the original ZIF hard drives. They have good performance, low heat and low power draw. There are no larger cards available than this so if you want more storage then it's either SD or SSD (mSATA/NVMe).

Recommended reading:
https://www.iflash.xyz/runtime-shootout-2016-quad-dual-solo-msata-vs-original-hard-drive/

[graemehh]

Thanks again.

That article was well worth reading.

CF cards, ouch, very expensive.

[Frankenpod]

You aren't wrong that iFlash adaptors can be troublesome.  I get the impression that RB devs have learned more about that than they would have liked to.  And I've heard, but not from personal experience, that SSDs with a native ZIF interferface work more reliably.  SSDs do seem to have a surprisingly high power draw, compared to the original 1.4" hard drives, though.

If you only need 256GB there's also the 240GB Toshiba 1.4" double-platter hard drive, but that now seems to be vanishingly-rare (have a couple and I'm hanging on to them!).

Main thing with the iFlash seems to be that the work to get round their limitations (failure to properly implement the cache flushing commands?) has the knock-on effect of increasing their power consumption, so I'm not sure the data  in that linked 2016 article would still apply.

[graemehh]

Thanks rockbox_dev123, Frankenpod and also a post by cereal_killer.

I found this ZIF SSD on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CGF77YVK/?coliid=IFPSWMJVHNTF4&colid=LW308H51O0EB&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

It looks like it might work and is cheaper than the equivalent CF card but still a bit pricey.

On balance (and budget), I'm going for an iFlash adapter and single 256G SD card.