X5L Hardware changes (HD and battery)

[Koijima]

Hi I've had my X5L for a while now, and I'm in the mood for an upgrade and I think that many of you out there also are since the inside the X5 gallery has 4 digit views.

Anyway anyone who has attempted to change their X5 please post what they've learned here.

Also the pics show there's a lot of tape, and the tape seem to be permanately affixed meaning that it might be next to impossible to cleanly remove it anyone know if that's true?

[Koijima]

I've learned about the HDD from YAhoraTu's excellent Newbie FAQ, so here are some info that may help.

Here are the specs for the harddisc for the X5 20GB from rockbox
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IaudioX5HardwareComponents#Toshiba_MK2006GAL_HDD

Toshiba MK2006GAL HDD for X5 , Toshiba MK3006GAL HDD for X5L

Info: http://www.toshiba-europe.com/storage/Index.asp?page=PCI&nav=ISH_PRS&model=MK2004GAL

Datasheet: http://www.toshiba-europe.com/storage/products/OtherDocs/Datasheet/MK2004-4004_Datasheet.pdf

I suspect the 30 and 60 GB versions will be from toshiba as well. I'll post when I open my X5

The battery is a bit harder, I've complied what's known from the "Why pay to have your X5 battery replaced?" thread. http://iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7597

X5: 950 mAh LiIon Polymer
X5L: 2250 mAh LiIon Polymer
from rockbox http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/DeviceChart#iAudio_units

From GMan4911 and this post from Roden on the iaudio boards http://eng.iaudio.com/zeroboard/zboard.php?id=B05&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&bmenu=board&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&bmenu=board&desc=asc&no=25467&bmenu=board
The battery was the same physical size as the Nokia BL-5C which is for the X5 battery size = ~ 34mm x 53mm x 5mm. I don't know about the X5L.
The charge is said to be most likely 3.6v or 3.7v.

Here's some general info on Li-on Batteries http://www.electronics-lab.com/articles/Li_Ion_reconstruct/

in summary:

For HDD
20/30 GB 1.8" single platter
60 GB 1.8" dual platter
The rpm is 4200 for the stock drives.
- but does rpm speed have an adverse affect in terms of battery drain or programming.
The power in terms of watts is 1.4 - 0.08 (max and sleep) and 3.3 volts.

For battery:
X5: 950 mAh LiIon Polymer*
X5L: 2250 mAh LiIon Polymer
X5 battery size = ~ 34mm x 53mm x 5mm. I don't know about the X5L.
- there's supposed to be some slack room for the battery (in the X5 since I don't know about the X5L) so you might upgrade if you want to.
The charge is said to be most likely 3.6v or 3.7v.
- if someone can, please check.

for the X5 i'm hypothesizing that it's Li-Ion-Poly since Poly allows for smaller size, and longer MTBF. Zues's Uncle suggests that it's probably a Li-ion but there is no difference in terms of delivering power to the X5.

Conjectures:
I think the dimensions for the X5L allows for a bigger battery in terms of length and not thickness since the only 2250+ mAh batteries I've been able to find hav a max thickness of 8mm but most hover around the 4.8-6mm which shouldn't have added so much bulk to the X5L.
This would be great news for us X5L users since we can probably upgrade to a 4500 mAh battery doubling the battery life....

I'm not sure if having 2 platters instead of 1 has any effect since the drive size is still 1.8inches. So if anyone has upgraded their 20GB to 60GB (I'm assuming that to get a 60GB you'd need a drive with 2 platters) please post if it works.

[amb7247]

I'd definately like to know about the HDD especailly the battery on how big it is and a suitable replacement if one is ever needed.

[afruff23]

HDD means Hard Disk Drive. It's not part of the battery. Any single platter 1.8" drive will work. Any double platter 1.8" will work with the X5 60 GB.

[Wolfen]

Here's my addition:

The 20 and 30 gig X5 or X5L will properly fit the released (but yet hard to find) Toshiba 1.8" single platter 40 gig drive (MK4007GAL).

There would be no point in putting this into an X5 60 gig unless you decided to convert it along with a new battery to a 40 gig X5L.

I am basing this information on some work done at misticriver in regards to HD replacements on the H1xx series...which uses the same Toshiba drives as the X5 series.

I would think that a X5L 40 gig will appeal to many people if they need a drive replacement or upsize.

[Rianu]

10gig more would be nice for my x5l 30gig... however, even IF you find one, paying for it will kill your wallet i guess *g*

[Wolfen]

10gig more would be nice for my x5l 30gig... however, even IF you find one, paying for it will kill your wallet i guess *g*

Should be $160 - 200. I'm watching span.com and ewiz.com to see what they put them at.

[Vinator]

HDD means Hard Disk Drive. It's not part of the battery. Any single platter 1.8" drive will work. Any double platter 1.8" will work with the X5 60 GB.

Pardon me if this strikes anyone as a stupid question, however this post implies that a double platter drive would not work in a 20/30gb X5(L)...
My question then is why would there be any difference in using a single vs double platter drive in the player?

[Whiffle]

Pardon me if this strikes anyone as a stupid question, however this post implies that a double platter drive would not work in a 20/30gb X5(L)...
My question then is why would there be any difference in using a single vs double platter drive in the player?

Double platters are too thick I do believe. I pulled the drive out of my m3 and stared at for a few minutes, 20 gb .... on THAT? Craziness. I remember opening up my dads old ibm and pulling out a monster drive that held like 20 mb...

[Vinator]

So what you're saying is that a 1.8" drive formfactor isn't a static definition of all of the size characteristics. The second platter will make the drive thicker... is that correct?

I suppose that makes sense then. I was hoping to buy a cheap 20gb X5L and swap in a toshiba 80gb hdd in about a year, but I guess that won't work, so I may as well just but the X5 60gb.

Thanks.

[Zeus's Uncle]

So what you're saying is that a 1.8" drive formfactor isn't a static definition of all of the size characteristics. The second platter will make the drive thicker... is that correct?


Yes, exactly. The 1.8" drives are much thinner than 1.8 inches. That is the size of the actual disc inside the drive. For instance, the MK20006GAL has these outer dimensions:
Height 0.197" (5mm)
Width 2.12" (54mm)
Depth 3.09" (78.5mm)

[afruff23]

It's the diameter if I'm not msitaken.

[Koijima]

So the double platter is bigger......

There's some 40GB single platter drives coming out and it should be that they're gonna get a lot cheaper in the coming years since portable HDD driven electronics are on the rise.

There's supposed to be some wiggle room for the battery so if you're replacing both the battery and the HDD it might be possible to get a thinner battery and a dbl platter drive. (Good news for us X5L users :hi: )

Also I think the X5L allows for a longer battery in addition to a thicker one so it's very possible.

[Rianu]

that's why it's called DOUBLE platter, it's simply two assembled disks instead of one ^^
that's why the new dp disc will have (30+10)*2 = 80 GB :)

[Koijima]

yeah.... it's called a 1.8 disc so whether the mechanics fit one platter or two it can be thought of as 1.8 in size (yes I know it doesn't mean depth that's why I said it's bigger, deeper, than I orignally thought). I mean if some of the components are thinner than human hair in disc drives, having an additional platter may not mean there's a drastic increase in size, not even a meaureable millimeter in depth.

SO yeah I know it's double platter, how much bigger is the issue since there's supposed to be some wiggle room inside the X5/L.

Additionally since I've never programmed a kernal/libraries/etc I don't know if there's differences in reading different drives with different speeds, etc.

[Rianu]

as the x5l 30 fits in the same docking station as the x5 60, i'd guess they are (about) the same size

[Ant]

Well i don't know an awful lot about LCDs and their drivers, so this could be a stupid question, but if i don't ask i won't find out!

Would it be possible to change the X5 screen for one of higher resolution, i'm guessing this would probably need a better LCD driver chip as well (which would obviously not be possible), or if not would there be other problems... anyone know?

[frankmulder]

Would it be possible to change the X5 screen for one of higher resolution, i'm guessing this would probably need a better LCD driver chip as well (which would obviously not be possible), or if not would there be other problems... anyone know?
It would also require firmware changes (if you take a H340 screen, you could maybe take Rockbox and do some little changes, i.e. copy-paste some code from the H340 section to use it for your X5).

[4xer]

Why do I feel like eating KFC after reading all this.

[cxrazy]

Its the advertising. I actually went out and got KFC after the 3rd post...

God thank the Kernel!

[mat]

oh how I hate the colonel, with his wee, beedy eyes...he puts chemicals in his chicken that makes you crave it fortnightly smart-arse.

[Ian_Locke]

back on topic...

has there been anyone who has cracked one open to determine these sizes and "wiggle" space? Im sure the rockbox staff has, but it seems to me they are busy on releasing the new Rockbox for the other DAPs... I would do it, but Im still in warranty and I need to send mine in as well. So, someone jump in, try the water...

[Koijima]

no...

As for KFC, their "chickens" (notice the "") don't have feet, so they can't call it fried chicken, get fried chicken from a supermarket, it seems they're everywhere.

[cxrazy]

KFC is gross...

I only eat babies. Kinda crunchy if you get a good batch. :)

[Rianu]

i like little children - i just can't eat a whole XD

[fivespeed]

I haven't looked at the size comparisons on hard drives in this post, not really inclined to research until someone actually replaces their hard drive and writes about it. However, just to let you know, if you have an X5L, you can remove the larger battery by simply unplugging it and the unit will power on without it. This should save a lot of room.

[Eamo]

Is there a tutorial about for the actual process of replacing a 30gig hard drive in an X5? Cheers