Hi there,

If just found a ZIF to IDE adapter on the Span . com website, product code IA18Z

This adapter makes a mechanical connection from connector device to the common connector version (44pin, 2.00mm pitch).
1.8” devices need 3.3V voltage feed. The facility for converting from 5V to 3.3V is integrated.
Only use with 40pin, Pitch = 0.50mm Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connector 1.8’’ Hard Disk Drives!

This should (provided we can squeeze it in) mean we can fit any of the new 80GB (or 100GB) Toshiba HDDs or the new SSDs

Right, where do we find some 80GB drives???

Rich

has anyone managed to fit an 80 or 100 gb drive with an adaptor into a tr as yet??

Pants, the connector is the wrong one…

The HDDs have a ATA 50 pin connector… and the adapter goes to a ATA 44 pin connector, as in a std 2.5” HDDs connector…

Ho Hum!

And just as i noticed the 100GB 1.8” drives become available at Span.com!

Bugger bugger!
  Rich

Oh What a bad news !
I really had dreams to buy a 100gb HDD for my TR depending on this connector :(
So .. could we find anthor connector works on TR ?

Perhaps the cable that they now use for the TZ or whatever it is will be compatable???  I guess they still use the same surface mounted connector on the motherboard, but with just the ZIF ribbon cable hanging off it instead of the 50 pin male…

I’ve found the pinout for the ZIF connector here:
 

Anyone know the pinout for the ATA-50 pin conndector?

Perhaps something could be fudged together…

Someone smack me around the face with a wet kipper if I’m barking up the wrong tree, but I’m now home with TR parts in front of me and it looks to me like SSD hdd will plug and play using Toshiba 50 pin connector, (in theory). the only issue being the huge cost, and if larger ones will keep the 50 pin type connector / small form factor.

As for the 80gb / 100gb standard 1.8” hdd with zif connector, can we not use the connector previously linked, (zif to 44pin IDE), unsolder & remove the IDE plug from it and solder the Tr Hitachi Hdd ribbon, (again with socket removed), to this zif to 44 pin connector, and in theory there should be enough room to hide it all around the drive….

If someone can confirm I’m not nuts, I’ll get all the parts and try it

[quote author=“BladeRunner”]Someone smack me around the face with a wet kipper if I’m barking up the wrong tree, but I’m now home with TR parts in front of me and it looks to me like SSD hdd will plug and play using Toshiba 50 pin connector, (in theory). the only issue being the huge cost, and if larger ones will keep the 50 pin type connector / small form factor.

As for the 80gb / 100gb standard 1.8” hdd with zif connector, can we not use the connector previously linked, (zif to 44pin IDE), unsolder & remove the IDE plug from it and solder the Tr Hitachi Hdd ribbon, (again with socket removed), to this zif to 44 pin connector, and in theory there should be enough room to hide it all around the drive….

If someone can confirm I’m not nuts, I’ll get all the parts and try it

That’s the spirit!
I reckon that fudge might work.
I guess the Hitachi ribbon gives you a bit of length to play with, which is never a bad thing!
I’d love to know if the motherboard connector is gonna be the same on the TZ as it is on the TR tho…  If the position and pinout were the same, it would just be a case of ordering the new ZIF connector/ribbon from Sony when it’s available.  Fingers crossed…

There are lots of different connectors on different drives. It would be great if someone took the time to put cables in a scanner and “photographed” it (in really high quality) if they have disassembled equipment for other reasons.

Especially the HDD-connector on the mainboard, I dont know if the pinout are known on the TR. Is it some kind of industrly standard?
If a photo is good enough (where the traces are visible) you can probably find out the pinout (as it’s known on the HDD).

It would be good to have a “second source” of cables beside Sony.

It is possible to etch flexible PCB’s at home, they are availible with photoresist. Its not easy, but possible.

/Bushman

The pinout of the TR mobo connector will be quite easy to do with the Hitachi connector, and a continuity meter. I will get on to that, I also have a good macro camera so will try to get some decent pics.. What is the connector on the Tr main board called? or is it a sony special?

To test out the zif to Hitachi connector mod I’d rather not buy / kill a new 100gb zif hdd in testing as I don’t really need one either, so will a zif verson of a 30 or 40 gb hdd be the same?

close ups of mainboard plug, and hitachi ribbon:- (images are links to fullsize picture)

Really great pictures!

These connectors seems to be somewhat similar (but not identical) to the one in the TR:
http://www.samtec.com/ftppub/pdf/erf8.pdf
http://www.samtec.com/ftppub/pdf/erm8.pdf

What pitch (distance between each pin) is it on the connector on the mainboard of the TR?

There are 24 “distances” in the connector with 25 pins on each side, so measureing the distance with a simple ruler will probably do.

“NAIS 336” seems to be printed on one of the connectors, guess it’s manufactured 2003 week 36 by NAIS who seems to be aquired by Panasonic/Matsushita (http://www.nais-e.com redirects)

/Bushman

I think I have found the part:

It’s from P5KS series from Panasonic:

Ordercode socket (that we would like on a cable):
AXK5S50?47YG
? depends on the hight we would like. A simple hight measurement would show which part is used.

Bladerunner, please confirm if the dimensions are correct.

/Bushman

Well found bushman, from reading the pdf & measuring the socket I conclude this is what would be the same plug as on Hitachi ribbon:-

Panasonic Narrow Pitch-Type P5KS

15.75 mm L

5.00 mm H

AXK5S50047YG  5.0mm (mated height) 50 contact Tough Contact Socket

AXK6S50547YG  5.0mm (mated height) 50 contact Tough Contact Header

The contact socket is the same part whatever, the change in height either higher or lower is gained by changing the header so higher / lower may work better with a custom plug.

so for instance:-

4mm (mated height) = AXK6S50447YG

6mm (mated height) = AXK6S50647YG

However unless you wanted to get involved in soldering a new header on the mobo you are stuck with the height it is now, the socket is one size fits all :wink:

zif to 44pin arrived today too :-

Wouldnt it be possible to use a standard 2,5” cable and something like this http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiftleiste and build an extension cable to place the adapter elsewhere in the case where is a bit more space ?
Apart from the space problem: Is this adapter technically working in the TR-Series with a ZIF drive ?

Has anyone been succesfull yet? My Toshiba drive just failed and its pretty hard to find oem like replacement over here. These new ZIF drives are quiet easy to find and the pricing is also better. So… are there any adapters that would let me install a ZIF drive to the TR connector?