Bigger HD for ipod 5.5g?

June 30, 2011 2:19 PM

I have an ipod 5.5g 80GB (thick) and would like to upgrade to a bigger drive. What model drives will work with this unit?

Ideally I'd like to get a 120 or even 160 GB drive. Something like this looks good, but I understand it has a smaller form factor than the existing drive. Some listings for that model indicate it's compatible with the 5/5.5g but it appears that it's native to the iPod Classic (6g), and they may just be failing to distinguish between the two. Would I have any issues with that besides there being a little too much room inside the casing?

I've looked at the info here, but it doesn't appear entirely current. I gather though that if I stick with the existing drive form factor I'll only be able to go up to 100GB, and pay more for it than the bigger drive listed above.

So long story short, is there a 120 or 160 GB drive that will be fully compatible with the 5.5g, allowing for some size discrepancy?

posted by anazgnos to Technology (3 answers total)

Aren't they designed to never be replaced? Unless you really know what you're doing, you probably shouldn't replace it. The fact that you're asking about it hear means you don't know what you're doing.
posted by cupcake1337 at 5:56 PM on June 30, 2011

It's amazingly difficult to open up one of those iPods and get it to ever close again. The Apple Stores don't even repair them. Your best bet is something like this, but even then after shipping you'll end up spending almost as much as a new iPod classic.
posted by sleeping bear at 6:23 PM on June 30, 2011

Response by poster: I've opened iPods (including my current one) and worked inside them and replaced bits and detached and reattached the hard drives before. That's not an issue.

I did see that ipod upgrade site, though, and it kind of clarified the compatibility issue for me, thanks.
posted by anazgnos at 8:40 PM on June 30, 2011