HDD upgrading : new toshiba 1.8'' HDDs ?!

[usul]

Hi everyone !

Ok, there are already few topics on upgrading the A3 HDD with at least, a successful upgrade with a 80 gb HS082HB from Samsung. But i'd like to get some news of the different experiences of changing the A3 HDD :

-any trick for formating and putting the firmware back on the new hdd ?
-what reference of the new HDD ?
-Is it just needed to get a PATA HDD or the ATA-7 inteface is compulsory ?? (cf the 120gb toshiba MK1231gal ATA-3/ATA-4)
-the 30 000 maximum number of files on the A3 is a reliable piece of info ?


As I decided to get a new battery (thx otter') I feel like changing my A3's HDD to get a 80 or even better a 120 GB HDD.

I looked for 1.8'' HDD single platter (=5mm thick) and i found that toshiba announced new single platter 1.8'' HDD up to 160gb (google "MK1634GAL") with really low consumption. slim, big capacity and low consumption and PATA/IDE : sounds perfect for the A3 !! (they use that HDD in the new ip*d classic btw)

Yet you can't buy it yet on ebay or wherever (if someone can find it somewhere plz tell me !!!)

Thx for reading and if you're inspired plz share !!

A3 rules (but would rule more with a bigger HD

[i2van]

AFAIK Transcend TS120GSJ18M uses MK1231GAL HDD (costs ~80-90$)

Transcend TS120GSJ18M

http://www.transcendusa.com/Products...No=0&ModNo=248

MK1231GAL

http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Pat...MKxx31GAxSpecs

I would like to know is it istallable into A3? It looks like it's fully compatible, but who knows...

About formatting:

• File system is FAT32
• Cluster size is 16K (for my A3 30GB)
• Format HDD into Linux (any live CD will do the job), not Windows! Formatting in Windows makes HDD invisible for player.

UPD:

http://www.misticriver.net/forums/da...tml#post597980

Yes, but the previous ZIF drives (MK1231GAL etc.) are also PATA - they just use a different connector.
From the photo in the press release this new one also looks to be ZIF/LIF. The connector on the hard drives originally fitted to the iRivers (which protrudes from the top of the main metal casing) appears to be absent.

[usul]

mmmh...I'm almost sure the 1231gal and the new 1234GAL serie have the same PATA (ie 40 pins) ZiF (ie just the "stripe" to slip in the connector) : same company and same specs...

Btw I can't see what difference from the picture they refer to in the quote...

My guess is that the 1231 would work on the A3...but i'd like to get a lower consumption HDD if possible, and maybe 160gb (but if the 30 000 max files limit exists maybe 120 gb is enough....)

But there's no price yet for these new HDDs...

[i2van]

You can buy Transcend TS120GSJ18M and use HDD from it. It's hard to find these 1,8" HDD in stores...

About new 160GB drive interface compatibility I also think that there are the same.

Power consumption for MK1231GAL and MK1634GAL the same:

MK1231GAL http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Pat...MKxx31GAxSpecs
MK1634GAL http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Pat...Specifications

[usul]

Originally Posted by i2van

Power consumption for MK1231GAL and MK1634GAL the same:

MK1231GAL http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Pat...MKxx31GAxSpecs
MK1634GAL http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Pat...Specifications

True...but toshiba claimed 24% less consumption than the 1231 : maybe it's just advertising ; )

I have no rush to change my HDD, so I'll wait a bit for the 1x34 (see the price...) or go for the 1231 (120 gb is far enough ^^)

[usul]

Finally I understand where the 24% less consumption come from : under japanese law, one should calculate the consumption in power for 1 gigabyte. So, same watt + more space on the single platter = less consumption, but in "battery time", it's the same !

So, I ordered on ebay a 1231gal (as 120 gb is far enough!) and don't wait for the new 1x34gal.

I'll keep the board informed if it works ok in the A3 ^^'

[i2van]

Originally Posted by usul

Finally I understand where the 24% less consumption come from : under japanese law, one should calculate the consumption in power for 1 gigabyte. So, same watt + more space on the single platter = less consumption, but in "battery time", it's the same !

It could be also an error on description page

Originally Posted by usul

So, I ordered on ebay a 1231gal (as 120 gb is far enough!) and don't wait for the new 1x34gal.

I'll keep the board informed if it works ok in the A3 ^^'

Looking forward for it!

[abyss x]

same. I also wonder whats the capaciy limit that u can put on the A3. Still, a 100GB CF card sounds better.

[i2van]

Originally Posted by abyss x

same. I also wonder whats the capaciy limit that u can put on the A3. Still, a 100GB CF card sounds better.

• CF cards are more expensive then HDDs
• CF speed should be taken into account: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlash#Speed
• CF Energy saving is questionable (I presume that PMP screen is real power eater, not HDD)

[abyss x]

Acually the speed looks good for the X300 and the X 600 series (they also have this cards, lol)

[i2van]

Originally Posted by abyss x

Acually the speed looks good for the X300 and the X 600 series (they also have his cards, lol)

All is good except the price though...

[usul]

I have received my 120gb mk1231gal : I'll get it at the post office and do the job this week-end...I'll take some pictures !

Btw, I've seen that the new 160gb mk1634gal is on sale (200$) on ebay.com !!

[abyss x]

sounds cool... A3 with 160 GB..
A punch for Cowon.. lol

[usul]

ARGH !

After opening the A3 like a coconut (damn screws !) and changing the HDD, I can't format it...

The Fat32format prog advised by Cowon for formating gives me error messages (can't find device geometry or can't open device...)

So I'm quite stuck...I'll double check the connection (but there is no problem there i think)

I've read about formating under linux can be an idea...but can't find which cd live to use and which way to do that...

Thx for any help ^^

[i2van]

Try

• GParted
• SwissKnife

Cluster size should be 16K

From http://www.jetaudio.com/forums/showp...47&postcount=1

Howto format under linux

1. where is the iAudio?
In my case:
/dev/sde

2. be sure is unmounted

#umount /dev/sde

3. format the disk

#mkfs -t msdos -F 32 -S 16384 -I /dev/sde

- mkfs is a front end to all the linux supported file systems (you coudl use mkdosfs directly)

-t is the type of file sytem, for this device is fat

-F is for the type of fat system. You must use 32 otherwise it will defautl to 16

- S is the logic sector size, examples: 8192, 16384, or 32768

-I Normally you are not allowed to use any 'full' fixed disk devices. mkdosfs will complain and tell you that it refuses to work. This switch will force mkdosfs to work properly.

So the following line will format the device (in my case /dev/sde) to fat32 with 16 logic-sector-size

# mkfs -t msdos -F 32 -S 16384 -I /dev/sde

4. Reboot

Just unplug the device from the PC and turn it on, select language and you are ready

The command above will format the device with fat32 16 logic sector size.

You can use GParted Live CD to do that.