LaCie Rugged Hard Disk User Manual - 2.3. Cables and Connectors
user manual | page 11
2.3. Cables and Connectors
2.3.1. FireWire
FireWire 400, also known as IEEE 1394, is a high-speed serial input/output
technology for connecting peripheral devices to a computer or to each other, and
FireWire 800 is the implementation of the new IEEE 1394b standard.
Pushing the speed barrier to new limits, FireWire 800 offers increased bandwidth and
extended cabling distance between devices. FireWire 800 is ideal for bandwidth-
intensive applications, such as audio, video and graphics. Benefits of FireWire 800
include:
• Resourceful architecture: FireWire 800 reduces delays in arbitration and signal
distortion, and increases throughput.
• Backwards compatibility: adapter cables allow FireWire 400 devices to operate
under the FireWire 800 port.
FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 also share the following features:
• Hot-pluggable: devices can be added and removed while the bus is active.
• Isochronous data delivery: no dropped frames – FireWire supports real-time data
delivery.
• Flexible: up to 63 devices can be connected on a single bus.
Please see 6. FireWire Questions And Answers for a more detailed discussion of
FireWire’s uses and capabilities.
FireWire Cables
There are two categories of FireWire cables on the market: FireWire 800 cables, which feature the 9-to-9-pin, 9-to-6-pin,
and 9-to-4-pin cables; and the original FireWire cables which feature the 6-to-6-pin and 6-to-4-pin cables.
2. Your LaCie Drive
9-to-9-pin cable:
Connects FireWire 800 devices to FireWire 800 ports.
6-to-6-pin cable:
Connects FireWire 400 devices to FireWire 400 ports.
6-to-4-pin cable:
Connects FireWire 400 devices to iLink/DV ports.
DV icon
FireWire icon
iLink icon
FireWire Icons
Theses icons will help you easily
identify the FireWire interface. They
appear on FireWire cables, and
next to the FireWire port connectors
on certain computers.