Help me choose, please !
Everyone is different and we think providing choice is important hence why we have an extensive range of products to fit with everyones needs / desires / budgets and the need to go extreme 🙂
However, we do understand especially for new users just starting in the world of iPod modding the choices can be overwhelming.
Our recommended upgrade path by iPod model for newbie modders are :
| 3rd Gen | iFlash-Solo and 4th Gen Converter with an 128GB SDXC card |
| 4th Gen | iFlash-ATA1 with 128GB to 256GB SDXC card |
| 30GB 5g Video | iFlash-Solo with 128GB to 256GB SDXC card |
| 60GB/80Gb 5g Video | Good capacity is 256GB to 512GB. Using the iFlash-Solo, iFlash-Dual or iFlash-Quad |
| 6g Classic (80GB/120GB/160GB) | These models are limited to 127GiB. Use the iFlash-Solo with 128GB SDXC card |
| 7g 160GB | Good capacity is 256GB to 1TB. Use the iFlash-Dual or iFlash-Quad |
NOTE: Make sure your iPod model is listed as compatible with the iFlash board recommended especially the 3rd and 4th Gen iPods.
Of course if you are after flexibility and want to start with 128GB before slowly moving up to say 512GB or even 1TB. you may prefer to get the iFlash-Quad rather than the iFlash-Solo.
Other users like the idea of mSata or M.2 drives, you may have some drives left over from previous upgrades or projects.
While we can recommend products the choice comes down to your personal preference and of course budget, but our list makes a good starting point for the decision process!
General Tips
Opening iPods – take your time to minimise damage to the case back, there are plenty of videos on the internet which show iPods being opened – we suggest watching some to understand how the iPod is held together. With care and the correct use of the tools, it is totally possible to open with no damage.
ZIF Connector – lift the black bar on the ZIF connector on the iFlash board before trying to fit the HDD ribbon, the zif connector should always face out (this is the opposite to the original HDD).
HDD Ribbon – If you are having any issues it will generally be due to a damaged or faulty HDD ribbon, to confirm remove ribbon and inspect for cracks or tears. The iPod motherboard side can sometimes be warped – you may be able to recover it by straightening it slightly, otherwise you will need a new ribbon.
Rubber Bumpers – remove all rubber bumpers and strips that are for the original HDD from the iPod, these are not required for use with iFlash adapters.
Padding – make sure you use the supplied foam pads or thermal pad to secure the iFlash board and stop it moving around. This is important as any movement can cause stress on the HDD ribbon.
Before Closing – check the iPod powers up and you have the restore screen, and that you can restore/sync before clipping it back together.
Library Size – refer to our compatibility chart to determine iTunes library size limits – if you exceed your iPods library limits this will show up as random resets, resetting on large playlists or genius mixes, or iPod hanging on the lit Apple logo on booting.
Tips for iFlash-Solo, iFlash-Dual & iFlash-Quad
At a minimum we recommend UHS-I U1 or U3 class SD cards, these have the best speeds and required access times to work in iPods. You can find lists of user reported working cards on the relevant product pages.
We suggest the fastest card you have is used in slot SD1 or uSD1.
SD slots have to be filled in order, so if you want to use 3 microSD cards in the iFlash-Quad, then they need to fill uSD1, uSD2, uSD3.
Tips for iFlash-Sata
The mSata and M.2 drives will get hot during syncing, if your ambient temperatures are high then try and cool the iPod, if possible.
Power draw is high for mSata / M.2 drives especially drives 480Gb and above in capacity. Do not allow the battery to drain too much or become low on charge.
Certain mSata drives (e.g. Crucial M500, Samsung EVO range) have a power-loss mode which will result in the iPod displaying the sad iPod/red cross display. If this happens you can only get out of this mode by connecting the mSata drive directly to a computer via an mSata-Sata enclosure (USB3.0 enclosures are also reported to work).
To avoid this – limit syncing to around 2 hours (so approximately 80Gb for the 6g/7g, 40Gb for the 5g/5.5g), and allow the battery to charge back up and cool down, before resuming syncing.
In use we do not suggest letting the battery rundown below 20%, as the startup power draw by the mSata can cause the battery level to dip low enough to cause the mSata drive to enter Power-Loss Mode.
Any tests with any of the 1TB microSD cards? I wonder if 4 1TB cards will be possible with a quad adapter and Rockbox.
If anyone wakes up one day and your ipod is showing “connect to itunes to restore” you need to add tape, the sd card popped out. (iFlash Solo).
@PAPB – This is actually explained in the installation instructions for the iFlash-Solo, the foam pad should placed across the top of the SD card and connector to lock them together. This will make sure that if the iPod is dropped or banged that the SD card is not ejected.
This is really great well-done!
I’m a big fan of all these adapters. Is your iflash CF adapter still being produced? It’s been sold out for a while. I guess there’s less need for it with large capacity SDXC cards now so cheap.
@Zedhed – We are making more, hope to have them ready in the next 3 to 5 days.