Firewire 800 or 400?

[Gamble]

I'm looking in my Mac Info and it shows this under firewire

FireWire Bus:

Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec

So does this mean when getting an external soundcard i need one capable of 800 as opposed to 400?

I was looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Griffin-401...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1246292049&sr=8-1

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Not necessarily - FW800 is backward-compatible with FW400, but using a 400 device slows down all 800 devices daisy-chained to it on the same bus. You do, however, need an adapter or 800-to-400 cable to use 400 devices with an 800 port.

 

[Gamble]

Just ordered myself:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CDJPQ/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

and

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000A09IUS/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

Hope that sorts me >.<

 

[catachip]

Just ordered myself:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CDJPQ/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

and

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000A09IUS/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

Hope that sorts me >.<

That should be fine. It will work. However, do you have a Firewire 400 cable? It is not clear on that product page whether the sound device actually comes with one.

 

[Gamble]

I don't think i do, and i tried looking too but couldn't see whether it did. Reckon its worth me ordering one just incase?

 

[Makosuke]

Depends on how much of a hurry you're in. Waste of money if you don't mind waiting for a second order or buying one locally if it doesn't come with a cable, waste of time if you want to use it as soon as it arrives.

For reference, assuming it doesn't come with a FW400 cable (which wouldn't be particularly surprising, though it might well), you'd have been better off just getting a FW800-FW400 cable and bypassing that adapter entirely. For example:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Firewire-IEEE1394B-800-Cable-Lead/dp/B001IUM9R8/ref=pd_cp_ce_2

 

[SaSaSushi]

Not necessarily - FW800 is backward-compatible with FW400, but using a 400 device slows down all 800 devices daisy-chained to it on the same bus. You do, however, need an adapter or 800-to-400 cable to use 400 devices with an 800 port.

This is simply not true. With the USB bus this was the case but with Firewire's bilingual mode both 400 and 800 devices that are on the same bus operate at their optimal speeds.

To the OP you don't need a Firewire 800 soundcard, nor do I know of any, but if you have one of the newer Macs with only a Firewire 800 port you will, as mentioned, need a Firewire 800 -> 400 adapter. Prior generation Macs (like my mid-2007) had both a Firewire 400 and 800 port. The Firewave will work fine for you.

 

[gilbert1020]

800 for sure, much faster

 

[SaSaSushi]

800 for sure, much faster

Something tells me you read no further than the title thread.

The question was not whether Firewire 800 is faster than 400, which is fairly obvious. The OP asked if he would be able to use Firewire 400 devices connected to the Firewire 800 port or whether he would require a Firewire 800 device. He can absolutely use 400 devices by using an 800>400 adapter.