PC cards can provide additional FireWire ports.
A FireWire IEEE 1394A adapter allows you to connect devices using this standard to your laptop or desktop computer. Depending on your specific needs, you can choose from a variety of adapters that convert data to the FireWire IEEE 1394A format or from this format to another standard like USB 2.0.
Background
Apple introduced the 1394A standard in 1995. This interface, which is also known as Firewire, i.Link and Lynx, connects peripherals to a computer, allowing them to transfer data. Audio and video equipment often uses this interface. The FireWire standard has a data transfer capacity range between 400 and 3,200 megabits per second.
From FireWire
A Firewire adapter can provide an interface between an 1394A port on a peripheral and the newer, smaller 1394B FireWire ports on modern computers. This type of 1394A adapter prolongs the longevity and usefulness of external hardware that would otherwise be incompatible with newer computers. Firewire adapters can also convert Firewire ports to a different data transfer standard. For example, one type of adapter converts a female FireWire 1394A port into a female USB port. This type of adapter allows you to add additional USB ports to your computer.
To FireWire
Other Firewire IEEE 1391A adapters add Firewire ports to your computer. These adapters typically come on a card that plugs into a PC Card or ExpressCard slot on the computer. These adapters allow you to connect Firewire devices to your computer. If you don't have a free motherboard slot, an Ethernet-to-FireWire adapter can serve the same purpose.
Considerations
Consult the product description of a FireWire IEEE 1394A adapter to determine if the adapter will provide an adequate data transmission rate. The IEEE 1394A adapter may have transfer rates that are slower than another standard. FireWire has a maximum speed of 3.2GB per second, while USB 3.0, for example, supports 4.8GB per second. If speed is a priority, consider adding a faster type of port.
Tags: IEEE 1394A, FireWire IEEE 1394A, IEEE 1394A adapter, your computer, 1394A adapter
