CF Card to 1.8" inch ZIF Adapter for PowerBooks?

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I spotted these on eBay this AM and wondered if this (flex circuit?) cable might be compatible with the NuBus Architecture PowerBook IDE flex circuit cable connectors? :?:

CF Card to 1.8" inch ZIF Adapter PCB + Ribbon Cable for IPOD 3rd Gen Video

Has anyone tried it yet? It seems like a standard flex cable. If workable, it would be very convenient for a PB hack that might not have room for the 2.5" form factor adapters.

 

[CelGen]

I bet you good money the pinouts would be different.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Well, there are CF-to-2.5"-ATA adapters already that should be plenty small. (I have one that, ironically, I use on a 2.5"-to-3.5" adapter...)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

1.8" is a whole different kettle of fish as compared to 2.5" adapters. I thought I'd ask, the connectors are all wrong on the 190/150/5300/2300c/1400 generations, they're not even ZIF, never did know what to call 'em. Now I'm figuring it's a more modern cable with alternate ground lines, so the pitch is probably off from what a ZIF connection would have been back in the day, even if that was what Apple had used.

Neat stuff though!

 

[Mk.558]

Have you considered something like these?

 

[trag]

1.8" is a whole different kettle of fish as compared to 2.5" adapters. I thought I'd ask, the connectors are all wrong on the 190/150/5300/2300c/1400 generations, they're not even ZIF, never did know what to call 'em.

the ZIF is basically just a flat flex cable of the proper pitch and number of conductors. Digi-Key sells a wide variety. Also the connectors for said cable.

It should be a relatively simple matter to match up the pinout of 2.5" IDE with the 1.8" ZIF IDE and build a tiny circuit board to translate between connectors. Once that's done, slide a 1.8" ZIF cable into the connector on your adapter and slide the other end into somethign like this:

Toshiba MK2431GAH 240GB iPod 1.8" HD

Although lower capacity versions are available for considerably less money. You would think that the 1.8" drive would leave room in the 2.5" bay for the cable adapter.

This is the type of hard drive that the Dell Latitude D420 and D430 use, which incidentally, make excellent Hackintosh laptops. I just finished installing Snow Leopard on a D430 and am in slow motion testing. Looks good so far. The D430 can commonly be had for about $50, but as you can see, a 240GB hard drive cost almost twice that amount.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Thanks, trag, I'll have to check out those parts DigiKey, those PATA cables look just about perfect for moving chunks of signals around inside 'Books & Duos! Have you got any idea about what the MoBo connectors Apple used for IDE and SCSI flex cables are called?

@Mk.558: thanks, the black one looks just about perfect for my 2300c and PB150 hacks. Using one of those should leave plenty of room in the HDD Bay for installing the Asante Micro EN/SC.

 

[trag]

Thanks, trag, I'll have to check out those parts DigiKey, those PATA cables look just about perfect for moving chunks of signals around inside 'Books & Duos! Have you got any idea about what the MoBo connectors Apple used for IDE and SCSI flex cables are called?

Unfortunately, no. Identifying the family and model of connector is usually a giant pain. Sometimes a careful examination of the existing connector will at least turn up a manufacturer's mark, which can be a time saving clue.

 

[trag]

If you're trying to get newer drives into the old PowerBooks which are equipped with IDE, consider this adapter:

http://www.shopsintech.com/product_info.php?products_id=760&osCsid=b750d12e1ea4eb9de41a5d4793ec7a22

That will get you a modern MSATA solid state hard drive installed anywhere a 2.5" IDE drive would have previously gone. For $16, it seems like a pretty good deal.

MSATA drives are still kind of pricey, but the smaller ones, which is all you'd need in an old Mac, are $55 - $75.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I'm going for very small and inexpensive . . .



. . . I ordered one from the link that Mk. posted.

Of course, I've had ZERO luck with the adapters I have on hand already, but I haven't tried very hard at chiplet formatting yet . . .

. . . oo many other irons in the fire. :-/

 

[Mk.558]

My suggestion is that you buy one of these (or similar) because even though the price tag is jacked up, they have fixed-disk mode and I'm pretty sure the card will not be the source of str("PROBLEM"). See this PDF for a brochure.

They are made with SLC (Single Layer Cell) flash chips, not MLC which is what most stuff is these days. SLC (according to what they say) lasts longer, but is more expensive and has a lower density (less capacity per unit area). Still, good quality MLC should outlast the lifespan of the device by 200% if it's not abused.

I'm sure there might be other brands with Fixed Disk Mode enabled media but Transcend is the only one I personally know of.

EDIT: Also you'll most likely have to break a pin off that thing for it to fit. Should be...Pin 20, IIRC, I'd have to look at my CF-IDE adapter in the soon-to-be-retired 2300cTB.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

What formatting utility should I use? I'm an HDT guy, but I think I've got another couple of choices lying around.

 

[Mk.558]

Dunno. For the Duo 230/100 or the 2300cTB, I just used 7.5.3 patched version. Never had a problem -- instantly recognized and that was it.

 

[techknight]

itead studio in china offers flat flex cable PCB service now. Wonder if you know the pinouts you could draw up a replacement cable to break out into whatever in your PCB cad software, such as eagle or pulsonix or whatever.

they will produce FFC PCBs.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

That's fabulous news, now maybe I can break out the Duo's Docking connector to the HDD bay for installing the PCMCIA Card Cage from the 1400 in there! That should be a lot easier than doing an FRP board, but I'm pretty sure it'll be quite expensive.

It's time to find out what all these freakin' connectors on the PB ribbon cables are! ;D