Firewire - Mobo Header or add-in card...any performance difference?

[Budarow]

I'm building a new PC and need to use firewire for video purposes. Do I have to buy a mobo with a Firewire header (to bring the firewire port to the front of the case) in order to get the best performance? Or can I buy a mobo without a firewire header and add a PCI card with firewire or maybe buy a Creative sound card with the breakout box which will bring the firewire to the front of my case?

Thanks,

Bud

 

[OdiN]

Considering the PCI bus has maximum bandwidth of 133MB/s and I believe Firewire tops out at 800Mbps, I think you're fine either way.

 

[corkyg]

Agree with Odin - but if you want access to Firewire B peripherals, the PCI card can give that option if you get one that has both A&B.

 

[Budarow]

Thanks peeps. Seems like the cost to get a decent OCing mobo WITH firewire built in costs an extra $40-$50 (i.e., got to go with the "platnium or premium" line of mobos).

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Budarow
I'm building a new PC and need to use firewire for video purposes.

Try to find a firewire card that uses a Texas Instruments controller chip rather than one that uses a VIA chip.

SIIG NN-830112-S2 - PCI 32bit, 1 x 1394a, 2 x 1394b :thumbsup:

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Budarow
I'm building a new PC and need to use firewire for video purposes.

Try to find a firewire card that uses a Texas Instruments controller chip rather than one that uses a VIA chip.

SIIG NN-830112-S2 - PCI 32bit, 1 x 1394a, 2 x 1394b :thumbsup:

Thanks Blain. That's a nice card, but the price seems kinda stiff.

 

[erwos]

Good 1394b cards aren't cheap. Buy a cheap card, and you might get hit with a performance difference on the chipset-level.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Budarow
add a PCI card with firewire or maybe buy a Creative sound card

I recall reading somewhere that the Firewire built into those sound cards didn't perform as well as dedicated cards, but it could just be my imagination.

Originally posted by: Blain
Try to find a firewire card that uses a Texas Instruments controller chip rather than one that uses a VIA chip.

Yeah, I had issues with VIA chipset PCI cards for some strange reason, but the same (or similar) VIA chipset cards seemed to work fine if they were integrated into the motherboard. Strangeness... I picked up a couple of used TI chipset OEM IBM cards off eBay for pretty cheap. I think it was under $10 each shipped, but it was a 2 or 3 pack. No issues.

 

[JustaGeek]

How about NEC uPD72874:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815265003

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Budarow
Seems like the cost to get a decent OCing mobo WITH firewire built in costs an extra $40-$50 (i.e., got to go with the "platnium or premium" line of mobos).

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
How about NEC uPD72874:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815265003

Neither the NEC card nor "a decent OCing mobo" support firewire 1394b, like the SIIG card.
If you're serious about the quality of your video projects, $40-$50 for a card isn't unreasonable at all.