swapping hard drive in iHP-1xx

[Faustian Bargain]

First post here, congratulations on a pretty successful forum startup.

I'm thinking seriously about getting the iHP-120. Hearing about the firmware hacking project is giving me confidence that the various issues I've read about will be resolved eventually.

I'm also considering waiting for the iHP-140, but waiting is hard. So I looked up the hard drives at Toshiba, and the 40GB is nearly identical in spec to the 20GB used in the -120. Only significant difference is, the 40GB is 8mm thick where the 20GB is 5mm.

Can anyone tell me if there is enough space to squeeze the larger drive in the iHP-120?

Thanks

/Andrew

[Odie]

A few people have opened up their ihp-120's

Unfortunately they've been asked the same question, and have answered that there is not enough clearance inside the ihp-120's case for the thicker drive.

The specs for the ihp-140 show that it's thicker as well, so I guess iRiver had to make the casing bigger to accommodate the thicker drive.

- Odie

[divad6719]

Hearing about the firmware hacking project is giving me confidence that the various issues I've read about will be resolved eventually.

Don't take those rumours as gospel or base a decision on them, pretty unsubstantiated as yet.

You should wait for the 140 if thats what your after, I couldn't wait for the 120 so bought the 100. I regret it now (just a little bit ) and wish I had waited, but there you go. I'm happy enough but it always lurks in the back of my mind.
Also is it worth the risk of destroying a new machine just to change the hard drive ?

Cheers

[Faustian Bargain]

Originally Posted by divad6719

....(snip)
You should wait for the 140 if thats what your after, I couldn't wait for the 120 so bought the 100. I regret it now (just a little bit ) and wish I had waited, but there you go. I'm happy enough but it always lurks in the back of my mind.
Also is it worth the risk of destroying a new machine just to change the hard drive ?

Cheers

no, i agree with you there. anyway it would take me a while to max out 20gb, so it's not like i would need the other drive right away. i was just thinking for the future...after the warranty's up, and space is getting tight.

but if it just won't fit...

i wonder if a kind of spacer or gasket could be fabricated, to expand the thickness of the -120 case.

man i hate waiting.

/Andrew

[Odie]

Well, if you want or need 40 Gb then it's best to wait for the ihp-140, because the only other way to upgrade to 40gb would be if toshiba or some other manufacturer comes out with a single-platter 40gb 1.8" hard drive.

And I agree with divad, the rumours of a 3rd party firmware project have not been confirmed, so it's best to treat them as false when making a buying decision on the iHP.

- Odie

[Zeni]

Yeah, there's DEFINITELY a difference in size between the iHP-140 and the iHP-120/100, sure in any case it's still tiny, but man, what a difference a couple millimetres makes, yeesh.

[seadzz]

Judging by the spacing of the end cap screws a spacer will not work to allow putting a thicker HD into a 1XX. If the case was split then it would be possible (similar to the ipod). Since all the pcb's, battry and hd go in from the top or bottom there is just no way.

If on the otherhand makers of HD's other than Tosh make thinner 40GB drives then it may be possible to fit one in.

This does not take into account making the new HD electrically compatible with the ihp which is another whole kettel of fish.

sdz