What's the difference in Firewire 4pin and 6 pin?

[Theguynextdoor]

Just wondering? Also is there any difference between USB2.0 and Firewire? I use Firewire 4pin to 6pin cable to transport my AV from my digicam to my PC. But it has a USB outlet too but doesn't work. My coworkers also tell me there's a new firewire coming out. Just wondering if any of this is true.

 

[mechBgon]

Adaptec FireConnect 800, an example of 1394B. I'm waiting for PCI-Express versions.

USB and Firewire are exactly the same, and so are Ford and Chevy. Or something.

 

[xylem]

Firewire has a theoretical max throughput of 400 Mbps, USB 2.0 max theoretical of 480 Mbps. However, firewire has a higher sustained transfer rate, based on the comparisons I've seen, and is the superior interface. The newer firewire that your coworkers speak of is probably Firewire 800, which has a max throughput of 800 Mbps, and is already in production, though not widely so.

edit: Also, 4 pin firewire is data only, 6 pin has data plus power.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

The 2 extra pins carry power for small devices.

 

[corkyg]

Boston Dangler is right - 4 pin F/W carries no voltage - just data. 6 pin carries power for the device. Camera ports always are 4 pin because they have their own power.

 

[imported_ceefka]

mechBgon : from SIIG they have 1394a on PCI-E This requires a 1x PCIe slot.

They have several 1394b PCI-cards so I'd expect one on PCIe too. I wonder if that would require a x4 slot.

 

[imported_rod]

Yeah, what everyone has said sounds right.

6-Pin firewire connects have 4 pins for data, and two to suply power. 4-Pin connectors carry no power, only data.

Also, Firewire is faster than USB and USB2.0, and firewire 800(1394b) is faster than firewire 400(1394a).

Firewire 800 > Firewire 400 > USB 2.0 > USB 1.1

RoD

 

[MobiusPizza]

Originally posted by: rod
Yeah, what everyone has said sounds right.

6-Pin firewire connects have 4 pins for data, and two to suply power. 4-Pin connectors carry no power, only data.

Also, Firewire is faster than USB and USB2.0, and firewire 800(1394b) is faster than firewire 400(1394a).

Firewire 800 > Firewire 400 > USB 2.0 > USB 1.1

RoD

And FireWire LAN rocks :?

 

[Mickey21]

But gigabit LAN is the roxorz...