Newb FireWire question

[bensmerglia]

i see a firewire port on the back of my computer but the computer is very close to my wall so i cant really look at how many pins there are.

computers have 6-pin ones, though, right? i need to decide whether or not to get a 4/4 connection or a 4/6 connection.

thanks.

 

[Zensteve]

A PC computer has 6-pin.

Not sure about Macs.

 

[bensmerglia]

great. i have pc. thanks, zen!!

 

[arniepix]

Sony computers tend to have the 4 pin connector. Most other computers should have 6 pin connectors. The latest "Power Macs" will have both 6 pin (400 Mb) & 9 pin (800 Mb) connectors.

 

[film8ker]

My PC has a 4 pin connector. If you can feel the shape of the port, a 4 pin will be a very small (like 3/8 inch) square port, and a 6 pin will be at least twice as large and is bullet shaped (square with one end notched outwards). Is it really that hard to move the computer away from the wall a few inches to look and be sure before you waste money?

 

[King Goldfish]

Is he talking about a 1394?

My firewire has 2 connecter points on both sides each. so im thinking 4 points.

I dont see pins though.


*Confused*

 

[film8ker]

Check this out: http://www.vittoni.it/catalog/images/1394-6M4M-018.jpg. The one on the RIGHT is the 6-pin, and the one on the LEFT is the 4-pin.

The port for the 6-pin looks like: http://www.bean.cz/b4u/obr/clanky/rozhrani/fwire.jpg

Here’s one more that lays it out well: http://www.sb.fsu.edu/~xray/Manuals/FireWire_Linux_files/image009.jpg

 

[King Goldfish]

I dont get it.


Both ends are on my cable. I have what says to be 6 pins that plugs into the fire wire card itself and what says to be 4 pins is what sticks into my camera.

 

[Zensteve]

Sure, your cable is going to have connectors on each end...

It's the devices at each end that matter.

4 to 4

4 to 6 (reversable)

 

[King Goldfish]

Sure, your cable is going to have connectors on each end...

It's the devices at each end that matter.

4 to 4

4 to 6 (reversable)

No, What I was saying was the photo that shows both types of plugs male ends are on both ends of my cable. the 4 goes to the camera and the 6 to the firewire port in the computer.

I hope I wasnt confusing you. But are you saying that some cam corders have it the other way around? like the 4 pin is in the computer while the 6 pin is on the camera?




hehe.. this is reminding me of a Abbot and Costello skit

 

[film8ker]

I don’t know of any camera that uses a 6pin, but many computer components do. The only difference between the 4 and 6, is that the extra two leads on the 6 carry a power charge, it doesn’t carry any additional information nor is it any faster.