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| Thread ID: 59990 | 2005-07-19 06:48:00 | Advice please - USB 2.0/Firewire card | Tukapa (62) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 373420 | 2005-07-19 06:48:00 | :confused: Hi all I am just looking for some advice please. I am wanting to get a USB 2.0 PCI card as I only have USB 1.1 on my PC. I have just bought a USB 2.0 external hard disk enclosure as I recently acquired a 160GB hard drive that I want to use for back ups. I have 3 x 80GB hard drives installed in my aging but reliable PC. I thought it might be a good opportunity to get some firewire ports as well and have looked at a combo card. I was looking at the following and wondered if some of you in the know could tell me if this would do the trick for me. www.trademe.co.nz I am well versed on the USB front re speeds etc but as I have never used firewire I don't know what the latest technology is. I asked what speed firewire is on this card and it is Firewire 400 apparently. Any advice gratefully received! :D Thanks Tukapa |
Tukapa (62) | ||
| 373421 | 2005-07-19 08:51:00 | Anyone? | Tukapa (62) | ||
| 373422 | 2005-07-19 09:10:00 | Generally firewire is used (mainly) for digital cams, though some other peripherals use it as well. Im not sure of the topspeed of firewire, but I know USB2 is capable of 400+Mbps. You might want to make sure your PSU can handle the extra power draw for peripherals being attached (depends of course how many you will be using) |
Myth (110) | ||
| 373423 | 2005-07-19 09:45:00 | There is firewire 400 and 800, there are not many products out there that are 800, a few high end video camera's and external drives..400 is fine. | plod (107) | ||
| 373424 | 2005-07-19 09:46:00 | USB 2.0 is rated at 480Mbps and firewire is rated at 400Mbps But because of the architectures of the 2 interfaces Firewire is still much faster, anywhere from 16% to 70% faster depending on the type and amount of data being transferred And with firewire2 not far off it will kick USB2 in the ass at 800Mbps |
bartsdadhomer (80) | ||
| 373425 | 2005-07-19 10:00:00 | The only theoretical advantage USB2 has over firewire is its ability to daisychain 127 devices (theoretically). In practicality 127 devices would slow the system down to an almost standstill Firewire can only daisychain 63 |
Myth (110) | ||
| 373426 | 2005-07-19 11:11:00 | Thanks all...I guess I should upgrade me power supply...generic 300W carting the load for: Athlon XP2200+ 768MB Ram 3 x 80GB Hard Drives DVD-Writer 1.44MB FDD GeForce4 MX440 64MB AGP Video card (hey I don't play many games!!!) 5.1 channel PCI soundcard and surround speakers Winfast PCI TV Tuner card and remote 10/100 network PCI card ADSL modem PCI card Currently using 3 x USB for digital camera, printer and MCE remote About to put in a 5 x USB 2.0/3 x Firewire PCI card and run a 160GB USB 2.0 external hard drive. Do you think I am about to fry my power supply? |
Tukapa (62) | ||
| 373427 | 2005-07-19 11:36:00 | USB 2.0 is rated at 480Mbps and firewire is rated at 400Mbps But because of the architectures of the 2 interfaces Firewire is still much faster, anywhere from 16% to 70% faster depending on the type and amount of data being transferred And with firewire2 not far off it will kick USB2 in the ass at 800Mbps Firewire 800 is here now and has been for a while, so need to wait for it.. |
plod (107) | ||
| 373428 | 2005-07-19 12:00:00 | Firewire 800 is here now and has been for a while, so need to wait for it.. Yes but as you have already stated there are few devices that support it as yet |
bartsdadhomer (80) | ||
| 373429 | 2005-07-19 12:35:00 | GeForce4 MX440 64MB AGP Video card (hey I don't play many games!!!) Thats all I have in mine ... I don't game either, considering I bought it second hand a couple of years ago, and its caused no probs since... Im happy with a low powered card :cool: |
Myth (110) | ||
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