Problems with Firewire ports on powerbook? at DVinfo.net

Sammy Smith · January 16th, 2006, 05:36 PM

Hello all,

Sure this has been covered in the past but still...want to connect Lacie firewire drive to my powerbook's FW800 and my Canon MVX25i dv cam to the FW400 to use in Final Cut Pro HD 4.5.
Read there have been some problems as they share the same bus.
What problems are there and can it be fine?

best
Sammy

Jonathan Jones · January 16th, 2006, 09:41 PM

Hi Sammy,
I have a nearly identical setup and have not had any problems, so this is just a guess, but I would venture to guess that potential problems that might be expected would be dropped frames due to maxxing out the thruput on the same bus. This might especially show itself as problematic if using the multi-cam function of FC Studio, but with single cam input via FCP 4.5, I wouldn't think you are going to have any such problems.

Like I said, I haven't had any problems with the setup at all, but other things that might add to it would probably be not enough RAM in your powerbook, running low on storage space on your scratch disk, or a slow drive on your LaCie external.....but I think most LaCies are 7200 RPM, and the newest portables are 5400 RPM. If adequate space remains on the disk for any requisite swap file management, you are probably good to go.

Dave Perry · January 16th, 2006, 11:45 PM

Sammy,

All current Macs share a single FW bus, even 400 and 800 share the same bus.

You might look into getting a PCA FW card for your PowerBook. Then you will have 2 discrete FW busses. They are relatively cheap, around $60. Same is true for the PowerMacs as well.

Andrew Khalil · January 17th, 2006, 09:55 AM

I have had issues capturing to a Lcaie firewire800 drive with a Camera connected to the 400 port. Basically, the computer didn't recognize the camera at all. I solved the problem by buying a firewire800 pci card and using it instead of the onboard 800 port.

January 16th, 2006, 05:36 PM	#1
Sammy Smith New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 8	Problems with Firewire ports on powerbook? Hello all, Sure this has been covered in the past but still...want to connect Lacie firewire drive to my powerbook's FW800 and my Canon MVX25i dv cam to the FW400 to use in Final Cut Pro HD 4.5. Read there have been some problems as they share the same bus. What problems are there and can it be fine? best Sammy

January 16th, 2006, 09:41 PM	#2
Jonathan Jones Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Healdsburg, California Posts: 1,138	Hi Sammy, I have a nearly identical setup and have not had any problems, so this is just a guess, but I would venture to guess that potential problems that might be expected would be dropped frames due to maxxing out the thruput on the same bus. This might especially show itself as problematic if using the multi-cam function of FC Studio, but with single cam input via FCP 4.5, I wouldn't think you are going to have any such problems. Like I said, I haven't had any problems with the setup at all, but other things that might add to it would probably be not enough RAM in your powerbook, running low on storage space on your scratch disk, or a slow drive on your LaCie external.....but I think most LaCies are 7200 RPM, and the newest portables are 5400 RPM. If adequate space remains on the disk for any requisite swap file management, you are probably good to go. __________________ "Are we to go on record, sir, with our assertion that the 'pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers' are, in point of fact', magically delicious?" - Walter Hollarhan before the House Subcommittee on Integrity in Advertising - May, 1974

January 16th, 2006, 11:45 PM	#3
Dave Perry Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 796	Sammy, All current Macs share a single FW bus, even 400 and 800 share the same bus. You might look into getting a PCA FW card for your PowerBook. Then you will have 2 discrete FW busses. They are relatively cheap, around $60. Same is true for the PowerMacs as well. __________________ Dave Perry Cinematographer LLC Director of Photography • Editor • Digital Film Production • 540.915.2752 • daveperry.net

January 17th, 2006, 09:55 AM	#4
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	I have had issues capturing to a Lcaie firewire800 drive with a Camera connected to the 400 port. Basically, the computer didn't recognize the camera at all. I solved the problem by buying a firewire800 pci card and using it instead of the onboard 800 port.