Firewire connector for what. USB or FireWire, - Which audio card interface is better? FireWire: What is it

FireWire (S400) has a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 400 Mbps, nevertheless Hi-Speed \u200b\u200bUSB with 480 Mbps in tests behind. Why? Everything rests on the implementation of the FireWire bus, which provides more reliable data transmission than USB.

USB can only work with one external device to the port, which is why High-End PCs are equipped with eight ports. Of course, you can use the USB concentrator to add ports, but the performance of this solution can change significantly.

With FireWire, the situation perfect is different, since all successively connected devices form a logic chain (with point-point links), and the protocol also allows the use of physical branches. Due to this, you can stretch enough long chains. However, if you need to remove the intermediate device, then the connection for all devices in the chain will have to be interrupted for a short time. But one feature of FireWire is unchanged - separation of available bandwidth between all devices.

FireWire is not going to stop at 400 Mbps. In May 2002, the IEEE 1394B standard was approved, which raises the transfer rate to 800 and 1600 Mbps (S800 and S1600).

Firewire - Newest History

The first FireWire standard was published in 1995 called IEEE 1394. Providing a transfer rate up to 400 Mbps, this port (also called I.Link from Sony or Lynx from Ti) exceeded all known protocols at the time. In addition, the FireWire standard allowed to start and unplus the connection during the operation ("hot plugging").

Standard 1394 is a bus protocol that can connect up to 63 devices. Unlike networks on a coaxial cable or SCSI, FireWire devices can be connected not only sequentially, but also organize branches. The cable is not necessary to terminate the resistor, and the address addresses are distributed dynamically without any user participation.

Recently, Firewire's standard found his place and among high-end motherboards. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, VIA and others offer cheap FireWire controllers. In addition, despite the smaller peak theoretical bandwidth compared to Hi-Speed \u200b\u200bUSB, the IEEE1394 standard gives a slightly higher transmission rate and less load on the processor - subject to the use of high-quality FireWire chips.

This cable is also used to work with old FireWire devices connected to the 1394B controller.

The interface is based on six contacts that go into two twisted pairs of wires for data transmission and two wires for power supply. This configuration allows the supply voltage between 8 and 30 V with a current to 1.5 A.

The maximum cable length from one device to another is 4.5 meters at full speed. At the same time, directly to the chain can be connected, maximum, 17 devices. Closed chains and loops are not allowed. However, the most common configurations consist of 1-3 devices.

One more advantage of FireWire should not be underestimated: compared to Hi-Speed \u200b\u200bUSB, FireWire devices without any problems work under Linux and Mac OS.

In laptops, instead of a six-contact FireWire connector, a smaller four-pin I.LINK is often used. How useful is this connector for mobile applications - the question is controversial. Some users prefer to connect FireWire devices, while others avoid connections to extend battery life. It should be noted that the i.LINK connector is devoid of two wires.

FireWire is a good alternative to connect to a network of a small number of computers, since the speed of 400 Mbps even the old FireWiRE adapters exceeds the 100BaseT speed for simple network tasks (see tests).

Many users do not even know about the possibility to organize a small network through the FireWire ports. If you link two computers, it will be enough for one port FireWire for each of them. However, for networks with three or large number of PC, the situation is different. You will need to use two ports for systems inside the firewire chain (one to the input, one on the output), while the end computers require only one port.

Hi-Speed \u200b\u200bUSB can also be used for small networks, although there will be special cables for this.

The biggest problem when organizing a USB or FireWire network occurs with the operating system. FireWire networks work under Linux and Mac OS. However, only Windows is supported by the IPv4 Over 1394 protocol, as a result of which you can use only IP protocol (however, it is the most common). A DHCP server will be able to work on the FireWire network, so you will have to assign all IP addresses manually.

Using FireWire will enter certain safety risks. Data transmitted between computers over the FireWire network can be intercepted on the intermediate node. At the same time, Ethernet on the basis of switches does not allow other computers to track traffic between two machines (with the exception of the use of the switch with the port mirroring function). If you don't bother such security problems with security, then FireWire will provide a solution that is quite sufficient for the home network. In addition, such a network works faster than 100-Mbps Ethernet.

For our test, we used Cards made by Century Global. Cards 1394B, known as the V1, are based on the TSB82AA2 chip from Texas Instruments, which Windows immediately defines as an OHCI-compatible device 1394. Unfortunately, in which mode the chip works, it is difficult to understand. The manufacturer does not supply its drivers or utilities.

Each of the adapters supports three ports of 1394b, which can operate in any configuration - with three terminals, or inside the FireWire network with an additional terminal.

Century Global prudently provided a 64-bit PCI interface card. With a transmission rate of 800 Mbps (or 100 MB / s), the standard 1394B almost reaches the bandwidth bandwidth of the 32-bit PCI bus per 33 MHz (132 MB / s). In practice, however, the PCI bus works even slower, because it serves all connected devices. Sound card, USB Controller (Mouse, Keyboard, Web Camera, Printer, Scanner) and TV Tuner - All these devices consume PCI bandwidth. Therefore, the theoretical bandwidth of the PCI is available only in rare cases.

Three connectors allow the map to work as a "FireWire concentrator" on the network.

Thanks to the use of the 64-bit PCI interface, the 1934B controller is not limited to the 32-bit PCI bandwidth.

One of the main applications of the 1394B standard is to connect high-speed external rigid disks. The Fire800 case can connect 3.5 "hard drives with UltraAata interface, and the device already supports the FireWire 800 standard.

Among the standard functions there is a regular FireWire interface (1394a) and the Hi-Speed \u200b\u200bUSB port, which significantly increases the capabilities of the connection.

Thanks to a small aluminum rack, you can install Fire800 to a vertical position.

For tests, we used the Western Digital WD2500JB rigid disk at 7200 rpm with 8 MB cache - one of the fastest hard drives on the market.

Compared to other hard drive enclosures, Fire800 is very compact.

Test system

This time we used two test systems, because they wanted to compare the data transfer rate of 1394B and 100 Baset Ethernet. In addition to our test system for connecting a hard disk (System 1), we also used a second computer with similar performance. Both computers were equipped with 3C905TX or 1394B V1 cards from Century Global.

Random Access Time, MS, Less Better

Reading performance, MB / s, more or better

Recording performance, MB / s, more or better

Network bandwidth (minimum - average - maximum), Mbit / s, more - better

Response time (minimum - average - maximum), ms, less-better

The number of transactions per second (minimum - average - maximum), more-better

Real network bandwidth, time to transfer 4.3 GB, less is better

Conclusion

The FireWire 800 standard, or IEEE 1394B, transmits data at a speed of up to 54 MB / s paired with an external hard disk, easily overtaking other alternatives that we have tested before. When working as a network adapter, the standard 1394B provides a transfer rate to 400 Mbps. If you transmit data to several hundred megabytes, then get the bandwidth of about 30 MB / s, which far exceeds Ethernet 100 Mbps (see tests).

The FireWire Standard is not ideal for network traffic. When used as a network interface, FireWire has a significant drawback - it is necessary compatibility with numerous applications, and not just the transfer of network traffic. In addition, IPv4 OVER 1394 is unlikely to be optimized for maximum performance. In addition, the implementation of the network under Windows cannot boast a good reputation, unlike UNIX / Linux.

As we have already mentioned above, when building a network on FireWire, certain security problems arise. At the same time, the connection of two FireWire computers will provide higher speed than 100-Mbps Ethernet. On the other hand, the network with three or more computers create additional traffic, reducing the FireWire data rate. Therefore, it is difficult to say when the decision on Ethernet becomes more efficient.

Despite some disadvantages, we hope that controllers 1394B will take their decent place on motherboards, because the presence of a high-speed interface is often useful.

FireWire devices are well combined with the PCI Express bus, since 250 MB / s canal will be quite sufficient to connect the FireWire adapter - without the appearance of a "bottleneck".

In the time of the appearance of the first computers that support serial data transmission, the idea appeared to create a single port standard and cables capable of transmitting any information at high speed. In the period of universal chase standards, a consistent high-speed IEEE 1394 bus appeared, later refined by Apple and renamed FireWire, which was designed to resolve chaos that reigned on a computer medium 25 years ago.

Despite the fact that Firewire lost the War with USB, this port can still be found in various devices: both in a professional segment and consumer (including a musical business). In the material set out below, in detail, consider FireWire. What is it? Where is used? And is Firewire need today?

FireWire: What is it?

Firewire is a specialized interface developed by Apple in early 1992. This is a standard for high-speed data transmission between a computer and other devices connected to it. First, the FireWire controller was introduced only in Apple computers, but other market players did not make themselves waiting for a long time. Already a year later, a dozen companies and machinery producers were attached to their gadgets.

The interface was developed and moved popular to IT companies at that time under its own names. Sony ordered a new standard name I.Link, and Texas Instruments gave him the name Lynx. The standard exists so far, but is no longer popular, as the same Apple came up with a replacement in the form of a more productive Thunderbolt. FireWire controllers are installed in laptops, video cameras, hard drives, printers, as well as sound cards.

Interface history

The idea of \u200b\u200bcreating FireWire originated in the ranks of the Committee on the standards of microcomputers in 1986. The task was set to combine several standards in one single. Apple has been taken by this carrying on himself, submitting to the world of FireWire (IEEE 1394). A few years later, other companies joined the promotion of a new standard. Microsoft, for example, insisted on the fact that FireWire must be installed in all manufactured computers. Many options for using a new controller were invented, but over time, interest in it is ugas.

Despite the fact that FireWire is still the most advanced and powerful standard, especially for IT specialists, starting in 2010, it stopped implementing new devices, as Apple required deductions for each controller installed in someone else's device.

Key Features

• FireWire supports hot connection feature. That is, you can change the configuration of the entire bus without turning off the computer and restart applications that work with it.
• In the past, the approval was that FireWire is the fastest data standard. In fact, it was so, the speed of ports reaches 3200 Mbps. This is more than USB 2.0.
• Devices equipped with the FireWire standard can interact with each other without connecting to a computer.
• FireWire cables can transmit multimedia signal in real time.
• Unlike proprietary standards, an open architecture is used, which means it can be applied without the use of specialized software.
• The FireWire bus is given contacts that provide power to low-voltage devices.
• It is possible to connect up to 63 devices at a time.

Firewire specifications

FireWire ports, depending on generation, differ in a number of features:

• IEEE 1394 - This standard was finally adopted and approved in 1995. The first armed with the new standard manufacturers of camcorders, in particular the Sony company, which started promoting the interface under its own LINK name. Despite its positioning, at that time the controller also fell to taste and those who were engaged in the production of portable hard drives. The reason for this was a high data transfer rate. It reached 400 Mbps. The cable length was not more than 4.5 meters.
• IEEE 1394A - In 2000, the standard has been updated. The main changes affected the study of compatibility between different devices. Also added a small delay on the tire reset. The delay was introduced to protect against resetting settings when "hot" reconnect.
• IEEE 1394B - the next update occurred in 2002. Significantly increased data processing. Changed FireWire cables and connectors for connecting them. Only port design has changed. The standards of the interface remained the same and to support compatibility appeared specialized FireWire adapters for the old generation to the new (IEEE 1394B). The structure of the cables themselves has changed, they began to be made from fiber. The data transfer rate rose to 1600 Mbps. The cable length rose to 100 meters.

Types of connectors

FireWire ports have several differences, depending on the generation of the interface. There are options with different numbers of contacts, as well as additional power elements:

• IEEE 1394 - This FireWire port has no power and is equipped with 4 contacts. One twisted pair of wires is used to transmit information from the device to the device and the second twisted pair for receiving information from other devices. Such a connector is installed in laptops and video cameras with interface support.
• IEEE 1394A - the updated FireWire controller is equipped with two more contacts that are responsible for the interface power.
• IEEE 1394B is the last generation of the interface, equipped with two more additional contacts for transmitting and receiving information, as well as backup contact.

Firewire sound cards

DJs and musicians are large fans of IEEE1394. One of the most popular FireWire interface applications is a musical business. This standard has all the necessary specifications to work with musical instruments, sound cards and mixers. The interface supports simultaneous parallel operation with 52 channels. IEEE1394 has high discharge and sampling frequency.

To implement all the features of the interface, a sequential connection of several audible cards is applied in operation, one after another, on the only bus (up to 6 audible cards). This is necessary if you are already the owner of a sound card on 8 channels, and this quantity is missing, then you can attach several more cards. Some sound cards, such as Motu Traveler MK3, are originally designed with a further association and expansion.

Comparison with USB-Audio

FireWire is an ideal option for portable sound cards, and this is despite the fact that in most cases sound cards with FireWire support are more expensive, while USB cards are more affordable. An important advantage is the same data transfer rate. FireWire This indicator is significantly higher, which means that this interface is ideal for use during living speeches, where work is important without delays and "sticking". The USB is not so good in this regard, since when working with it, problems may occur with a tangible signal delay (from the tool to the device to output).

A serious disadvantage of audible cards that supports only FireWire controller, you can call a long and complex setting. Optimize a large set of devices and make them work together very difficult. With USB-AUDIO there are no such problems, since they all support the fast setting function. It is enough to connect it to the computer, how everything will start working immediately.

But USB does not support the hot replacement devices. Previously, there were also problems with reconnecting sound card. If you disconnect the USB card while working in a computer virtual studio, then, most likely, it will immediately forget about it, and when you have connected, you will have to restart the application through which you removed the sound and configure the entire system again. In the case of FireWire, this will not happen. In fairness it is worth noting that this problem passes computers running Mac OS, where working with sound is tied to Core Audio.

Other applications

Firewire, being a network port, oddly enough, was involved not only in the field of data transmission over the network and audio, but also in many others.

• In external memory storage - In the past, FireWire could often be found in external media, it contributed to the high speed of the standard. The speed of the controller was higher than that of USB 2.0, therefore such hard drives were popular in the professional sphere.
• Network connections - UNIX operating systems, such as Mac OS and Linux, still support FireWire, where it can be used to transmit data on the Internet. Microsoft abandoned this feature with windows Vista in 2005.
• In cameras - ironic, but it is the very first version of the use of FireWire so far in the go and remains quite popular. On the market you can still meet many cameras, the video streams from which is transmitted through Firewire cables.
• In iPod. - There were versions of a portable player in which the charging and synchronization of music took place with FireWire. With the release of the iPod Nano of the 4th generation in Apple decided to go to USB. Nevertheless, a long time could be found FireWire adapters for iPod and iPhone.

Instead of imprisonment

Today, FireWire is small. Applications, popular in the past, such as: Connecting hard drives and debugging devices are no longer quoted. Yes, it is unlikely to be able to find modern gadgets that support this standard. Firewire remained the lot of professionals and die there. The only thing that is now coming the FireWire standard, in terms of consumer use is the simultaneous connection of a large number of sound cards, which are cut about many DJs and sound engineers. Actually, pay attention to the sound card itself with FireWire support, it is worthwhile to those who need a high signal processing rate, and those who record the signal more thanwith 18 audio channels. All other options for using FireWire both in sound and where else is not relevant.

It should be started with the list of rules that need to follow when capturing video from a digital video camera. But everything is much easier! The rule is one - the capture is made only by the interface. IEEE 1394. (He is Firewire., he is iLINK.). For confusion in the names, you can thank PR technologists of companies who at one time to drag the blanket on themselves, "stamping" for its company, its own name of the standard. To the great joy of beginners, this interface is increasingly called faceless IEEE 1394., and more and less flashed confusing "branded" names.

Perhaps someone asks: What about the USB port? What is the purpose of the manufacturer added this interface to the camera? And it is only intended for copying digital photos from a memory card, a rare camera now does not have the ability to do digital pictures. If someone from readers "familiar recently merged video via USB", the Council is one: carefully ask, not on your mobile phone browsing such a video?

And yet, "justice for the sake of and order for": USB and memory cards are used not only exclusively for photos. The fact is that some camera models still allow branded Utilities capture DV video via USB2.0, although it is possible to correctly call this method with a large with stretch.

In any digital video camera there is a socket, an externally resembling a mini-USB port, but it has smaller sizes and is often indicated by letters DV And alongside i.. Those who have a not very old laptop, do not have to think - most likely there is already a built-in IEEE 1394 port, and in a set with such a laptop there are cords. Just connect! But what to do owners of standard boxes from the store, called "home computer"? Rarely, some of them on the motherboard there is such a port. Yes, and when buying a computer, of course, we did not think about the possibility of video processing. Solution - in the picture. Standard PCI fee IEEE-1394. And the cord to it, the manufacturer does not call itself (apparently, from modesty).

It seems - the insensity itself, and the cost of such a good now about $ 10-15. But it is all that is required for the "correct" distinguishing of digital video on a computer hard disk for further processing. If you, of course, became the necessary program. However, further searches will be killed you that the notorious capture can be performed and using "Combine programs", and even at all using the built-in Windows XP, although primitive, but the video editor called Windows Movie Maker.

So, print this photo and - in the nearest shop of computer components! Let you do not bother the price, because it is no secret that overnight the bright sticker named the famous manufacturer is sometimes asked through the Noname-product. As a rule, fees and cables "izusseypuhu" from unknown manufacturers work at no worse than those sold in colorful boxes. If you want to first hear the opinions of other people, read the appropriate in the forum.

And finally, the last advice (if you have not gone to the store). Grab your camcorder with you. The fact is that the manufacturers are embedded in the cameras of various types of IEEE 1394: 4 or 6-pin. Accordingly, there may be different boards, different cables. Ask the seller to pick you up such a fee and such a cable that fit to each other, and, of course, to your camera.

It remains only to insert a fee in a PCI-slot of the computer (in Windows XP drivers installed automatically), and connect the chamber. Keep in mind: To ensure that your camera is recognized as a digital video device, it should be enabled and located in Play mode, while those cameras, where there is a Video / Memory mode switch must be included in Video mode. During the installation of the drivers, the necessary files on the drivers to your camera can be requested.

If you connected everything as it should be, in Device Manager Two new item will appear:

And in the tray near the clock there will appear the icon, denoting the Digital Video Department Ready for Work:

Now your camera can work in a bundle with a computer as a DV camcorder, obeying the commands of the management program. About these programs, read in the appropriate section Guide.

FireWire - Computer Lexicon enriched in just such a term due to the development of information technologies in the mid-90s. And for sure this name did not slip away from the attention of a single user, not to mention computer professionals. What is the cause of great popularity that this technology used, and what is it today?

The FireWire standard is borne as a version of the standard high-speed serial IEEE 1394 tire, designed to connect peripheral devices to a personal computer. The author of this implementation was the notorious company Apple. The main advantage of FireWire was that it provided a connection to 63 devices and data transmission at a speed of up to 400 Mbps. In essence, the IEEE 1394 standard is a description of the serial tire, as well as means providing a connection between one or more peripheral devices and a computer processor.

Devices equipped with FireWire, as well as other IEEE 1394 implementations, possess the following features:

• The port with a simple connector located on the rear panel of the computer and on the peripheral devices of various types.
• The possibility is simple to combine devices into chains in various ways without the use of terminators.
• Using a thin serial cable that is distinguished from a thick parallel parallel port cable.
• High data transfer rate, which makes it possible to deal with multimedia applications (200 Mbps and above).
• The possibility of hot connect and disable devices.
• The ability to connect directly to multiple devices without connecting them to a computer.
• Power supply over bus.

It was originally assumed that various IEEE 1394 implementations will be replaced for all parallel and serial interfaces, such as, COM () and external SCSI serial port.

Principle of operation of the interface

There are two levels on which the FireWire interface is running, one of which is a bus inside the computer, and the other is designed to connect between the computer and the device using a serial cable. The first versions of the standard were provided for the inner tire the transfer rate of 12.5, 25 and 50 Mbps, and the cable interface at the same time maintained the speed of 100, 200 and 400 Mbps. When IEEE 1394 is capable of switching to any of the available speeds when itemies occur.

The functions of the internal serial tire are also to ensure the overall use of the memory space connected to it. Each device can use 64-bit addresses, which provides flexibility when configuring devices in chains and organizing device trees connected to one connector.

IEEE 1394 provides two types of data transfer - asynchronous and isochronous. Asynchronous method is more suitable for traditional applications that load data and then save them. In this method, the data transmission is initialized, which can then be interrupted after the buffer will be the required amount of data. The isochronous method supports permanent predetermined data transfer rate. For multimedia applications, this method reduces the need to use buffering and facilitates the conclusion of continuous content.

Also, the IEEE 1394 standard requires a requirement for the maximum cable length, which can connect two devices in the chain - 4.5 m. In the event that several devices are connected to the circuit, the distance between the computer and the farthest element of such a chain can be much larger .

History and present technologies

From the time of the interface, several IEEE 1394 versions were developed. In the latest version, S3200, the data transfer rate reached a level of 3.2 Gb / c. However, this technology has not been standard for the world of personal computers, and there were several reasons.

At the time of its appearance, IEEE 1394 was considered much more promising than a similar USB technology, which in its earlier version could maintain the data transfer rate of only up to 12 Mbps. However, the fact that the latter ended up turned out to be more common, played a higher cost of devices supporting FireWire. The disadvantage of FireWire is also weak compatibility between different versions of the standard, which is expressed in particular in the fact that the port for older interface versions has a connector that differs from the port connector for new versions.

In addition, the licensed policy of Apple's licensed policy, which limits the sale of devices equipped with it was widespread. Currently, most modern PC motherboards no longer have a FireWire port in its composition, and this tire is used only in some specialized top-level systems.

Conclusion

Despite the high performance and flexible configuration capabilities, the IEEE port of 1394 has not become a universal port for connecting high-speed devices. Nevertheless, there are still many motherboards that are equipped with connectors for connecting FireWire devices, as well as peripheral devices that support this technology.

All information technology, one way or another, is spinning around the data, or simply speaking, information. Each information technology is dealt with either using data or data processing or data transfer. FireWire port is designed to quickly transfer data between different devices. Compared to USB 2.0 interface, it provides a higher data transfer rate. In this article, we will tell about the IEEE 1394 interface, or as it is usually called FireWire.

FireWire is a serial tire developed by Apple in collaboration with other companies. She became a de facto standard on all Apple computers and many digital devices, such as digital video cameras, printers, etc. On Apple computers is used as FireWire, in Sony devices as iLINK. and Lynx In devices from Texas Instruments. Despite the fact that one interface is hidden under different names, the FireWire port is called a 6-pin connector, and the ilink is four-contact.

Additional contacts serve to power the device. As mentioned above, this technology serves as high-speed transmission of real-time data between and peripheral devices. The fact that this sequential tire means that the data is transmitted one by one bit of contractions. Compared to older technology, designed to transmit data, for example, parallel to the SCSI bus (for details on the interface), this technology is cheaper and more profitable. Despite the fact that such ports are more expensive than USB 2.0, they have a higher productivity.

FireWire 400 provides a speed of 400 Mbps / second, the new standard 800 (IEEE 1394B or FireWire 1394) provides speeds up to 800 Mbps per second.

FireWire 400, has 4 and 6-pin connector, the new FireWire 800 standard uses a 9-pin connector.

Both versions of devices support Plug and Play technology (hot device technology), which allows you to connect peripheral devices (video cameras, etc.) without having to turn off and restart the computer.

Compared to USB 2.0, such ports are more expensive for implementation, so this interface has not found applications in connecting devices such as flash drives. There are special adapters on sale (FireWire adapters), allowing you to connect FireWire devices to USB.

To achieve the maximum data transfer rate, the 9-pin cable must be used with the port 800. FireWire 800 and 400 have backward compatibility. However, in reverse compatibility mode, the maximum data transfer rate does not exceed 400 Mbps per second. It can provide power to connected devices. The 6-pin and 9 pin port provides power to connected peripherals with a capacity of up to 45 W.

For which devices are used port FireWire
Given the high data transfer rate that this technology can provide, the interface was originally designed to connect digital video cameras. This interface allows you to transmit data over long distances, it prompted it to use it in multimedia studios. It is the main port for data transfer in Apple computers, including Mac desktops and MakBook.

External hard drives equipped with FireWire interface can be connected to the corresponding port on the PC. They are used to connect scanners and printers with a computer. Each port can support up to 63 devices at the same time. It can connect devices in the network topology tree and can support a peer connection.

Although this port is not as wide as USB 2.0, the new FireWire 800 interface provides data transfer rate up to 800 Mbps per second. This makes it a better serial interface, in the case of using devices and applications that require high data rate, such as camcorders.

Everywhere, where there is a need for high data transfer rates over long distances, the FireWire 400 or Firewire 800 interface is the preferred selection.