FireWire 800 Questions & Answers

LaCie FireWire 800 PCI Card • DESIGN BY SISMO	FireWire 800 Questions & Answers
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4. FireWire 800 Questions & Answers

What Does IEEE 1394 Mean?

IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) refers to the engineering corps that developed the 1394th standard, de- fining the high-performance serial input/output (I/O) bus used to connect peripheral devices. There are now two standards: IEEE 1394a, which refers to the original standard adopted in 1995, and IEEE 1394b, which refers to the new standard, adopted in 2002.

What Is The Relationship Between IEEE 1394, FireWire, iLink And DV?

These four names all refer to the same interface:

✦✦ IEEE 1394 is the term commonly used in the computer in- dustry.

✦✦ FireWire is the brand name used by Apple.

✦✦ iLink is the brand name used by Sony for both consumer electronics and personal computers.

✦✦ DV is short for “Digital Video,” and is used as the logo for the interface on most video camcorders.

What Are The Benefits Of The FireWire Interfaces?

The FireWire interface is a fast, cross-platform serial bus, and is ideal for digital audio, video and graphic applications that de- mand plenty of bandwidth. Both versions of FireWire offer Plug & Play connectivity, so all you have to do is plug in your drive and begin using it, they also allow up to 63 devices to be connected via a single bus and offer peer-to-peer connectivity, enabling multiple computers and FireWire devices to be connected at the same time. FireWire also supports both isochronous and asyn- chronous capabilities, meaning that it can guarantee real-time data delivery, so there is no danger of inaccurately ordered or delayed frames.

What Is The Difference Between FireWire 400 And FireWire 800?

Essentially, the main difference between the two interfaces can be summed up in one word: speed. FireWire 800 effectively doubles the bandwidth of the original FireWire 400 interface. The new FireWire 800 interface offers truly impressive results, with speeds up to 800Mb/s for a single bus, and even greater for several buses in RAID0 configurations.

Other key advancements include the support of increased ca-

bling distances and a newly enhanced arbitration architecture.

Utilizing cables constructed of professional-grade glass optical fiber, when both devices are connected via a FireWire 800 hub, FireWire 800 can burst data across 100 meters of cable.

The new arbitration scheme greatly improves on the existing architecture by incorporating advanced 8B10B data encoding (based on codes used by Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel), which reduces signal distortion, and also improves the arbi- tration time by prepping the arbitration while the current data packet is being sent, so that data is sent as soon as the current transmission is completed.

What Are The Ideal Uses For FireWire?

FireWire helped fuel a revolution for digital content creators, and was awarded a 2001 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for its contribution. Due to its high bandwidth and support of both isochronous and asynchronous data delivery, FireWire has found a very successful place in both the computer and consumer electronics industries. Whether connecting game consoles, personal video recorders, home stereo equipment, digital TVs, hard drives, CD/DVD-RW drives, printers, scanners, tape drives or other digital hardware equipment, FireWire is well-suited to handle all these various requirements.

With the advent of the new FireWire 800 standard, the revolu- tion created by the original will only grow. For those working with digital video, the new standard will enable new bandwidth- intensive applications, such as multiple-stream, uncompressed, standard-definition video.

Will FireWire 400 Devices Run Faster When Con- nected To A FireWire 800 Port?

Unfortunately, this is not the case. In order to attain FireWire 800 speeds, both the device and port have to be FireWire 800 enabled. For instance, an external hard drive with a FireWire 800 9-pin connection will only reach FireWire 800 transfer rates when it is connected to a FireWire 800 9-pin host bus adapter card via a properly certified FireWire 800 9-pin to 9-pin beta cable.

When a FireWire 400 device is connected to a FireWire 800 port, the FireWire 400 device will only operate at the original FireWire 400 speeds.

800 specifications

LaCie, a well-known brand in the storage solutions industry, has consistently delivered high-quality products that cater to creative professionals and everyday users alike. One of its standout offerings is the LaCie 800, a powerful storage device designed to meet the demanding needs of data-intensive applications. This article will delve into the main features, technologies, and characteristics of the LaCie 800.

The LaCie 800 is engineered to provide lightning-fast performance with its advanced Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. This technology allows it to deliver data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, enabling users to move large files swiftly and efficiently. For professionals working with high-resolution media, such as 4K video editing or high-quality photography, this speed can significantly enhance workflow and productivity.

In addition to Thunderbolt 3, the LaCie 800 is also backward compatible with USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2 interfaces. This versatility ensures that users can connect the device to a wide array of systems without needing to invest in additional adapters. The dual connectivity options also provide greater flexibility when working across different devices and platforms.

The LaCie 800 is renowned for its durability and reliability. It features a robust aluminum chassis that not only looks sleek but also provides protection against shocks and temperature variations. This rugged design ensures that the drive can withstand the rigors of mobile use, making it ideal for photographers and videographers who are constantly on the move.

One of the standout characteristics of the LaCie 800 is its high capacity. Available in multiple storage options, ranging from a few terabytes to several, it can accommodate extensive libraries of files, including high-resolution images, videos, and professional-grade audio. This large capacity, combined with its fast transfer speeds, makes it an excellent companion for data-heavy projects.

Additionally, the LaCie 800 comes with integrated security features that protect sensitive data. With encryption options and data recovery solutions, it ensures that users' information remains secure and accessible only to authorized personnel. This makes the LaCie 800 not just a storage device, but a comprehensive solution for data management.

In summary, the LaCie 800 stands out for its exceptional performance, robust build, versatile connectivity options, and substantial storage capacity. Its advanced features make it an indispensable tool for creative professionals and anyone looking for reliable, high-speed storage solutions. Whether in the studio or on location, the LaCie 800 delivers the performance and reliability that users can depend on.