FireWire, also called IEEE 1394 or i. LINK, high-speed computer data-transfer interface used to connect personal computers, audio and video devices, and other professional and consumer electronics .
Is FireWire still used?
Firewire didn't die. It's still in use in many high-end setups , and you can still buy Firewire drives today. But it definitely became a niche product, with even Apple eventually dropping the port from its MacBooks. Thunderbolt currently looks to be heading the same way.
What would a FireWire cable be most useful for?
Firewire is most often used to connect digital camcorders, external hard drives , and other devices that can benefit from the high transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps) supported by the Firewire connection. The iSight camera used for chatting on the Mac connects using a Firewire cable.
Is FireWire the same as USB?
FireWire is also known by the term IEEE 1394 High Performance Serial Bus, and USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. The main difference between the two is that FireWire is made to handle more data than USB , particularly audio and visual information.
How do I connect FireWire cable to my computer?
Like USB, FireWire is a plug-and-play connection; a FireWire port can support 63 devices (using a daisy-chaining technique). Just connect a device to your PC by using a FireWire cable — run the cable from the device to the FireWire port on your PC, and you're ready to roll!
What can I use FireWire 800 for?
The FireWire standard moves data at 400 Mbps, with the faster IEEE-1394b standard — FireWire 800 — moving data at 800 Mbps. An isochronous standard, FireWire streams data in real time and, as a result, is commonly used to connect set-top boxes and other audio equipment .
Are all FireWire cables the same?
FireWire has two versions, and unlike USB 2.0 and 3.0, they ‘re not backward compatible . They don't even look remotely alike, which can lead to some confusion. The older standard, FireWire 400, is a flatter connector with one rounded side, and the faster 800 version resembles a fat USB connector.
Why did we stop using FireWire?
Intel decided to withdraw its support for FireWire— to pull the plug on efforts to build FireWire into its chipsets —and instead throw its weight behind USB 2.0, which would have a maximum speed of 480 megabits a second (more like 280, or 30 to 40 MB/s, in practice).
What has replaced FireWire?
This past summer Apple announced its 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro with a surprising omission: no FireWire port. In its place is Apple's latest peripheral connector, USB 3.0 , which provides equivalent performance and is widely used in recent Windows PCs.
Which is faster USB 3.0 or FireWire 800?
FireWire 800 was about half as fast as USB 3.0 in our write tests, turning in scores ranging from 55 MBps and 60 MBps. The read scores were faster, though at 72.3 MBps and 74.5 MBps, they were still considerably slower than USB 3.0.
Should I use USB FireWire?
In general, FireWire devices support a higher bandwidth than USB 2.0 , and therefore can send more data faster. ... A FireWire device can stream data in both directions at the same time, while USB requires the sent packets of data to finish transmission before the device can receive more data.
Can I connect FireWire to USB?
No, it is not possible to connect a FireWire interface to your computer's USB port via a FireWire to USB adapter since this connection is not sufficient to run a FireWire audio interface.
What can you connect to a FireWire port?
FireWire, which is also called IEEE 1394, is a connecting device used primarily for adding peripherals to a computer. FireWire is often used for connecting external hard drives and digital camcorders that benefit from a high transfer rate. These transfer rates are often up to 800 Mbps.
How do I convert FireWire to HDMI?
The answer is no. There is no FireWire to HDMI cable or Firewire adapter except for Smart TVs as they have an input HDMI connection. The solution is to utilize an expansion card like a PCI-X card , an output device with SDHC / SDXC memory cards, or built-in Firewire in the receiver device.
Can I add FireWire to my laptop?
The primary, and for the most part only way to add a supported firewire connection to a laptop is with a firewire expresscard adapter . In most cases, to find a laptop with an expresscard expansion slot, you'll need to look at the “Business” class laptops from the major manufacturers.
How do I turn on my FireWire port?
To TURN ON the External Drive and the Mac Computer:
Plug one end of the interface cable into the drive and the other end into your Mac's FireWire or USB Port. For External Drives WITH a power switch – turn the power switch to the ON position.
