Is connecting Firewire faster than 3.0? My 3.0 right now is really slow (Off 3.0, TV shows hiccup a lot and gifs load really SLOW). Is this better?
1584495
Theoretically, USB 3.0 should smoke Firewire. You may be running USB 2.0 and not realize due to drivers not installed or any number of reasons. In particular, are you sure the port you are using is actually a 3.0 port? Connected via a working 3.0 the transfer bottleneck is literally the drive itself, not the connection.
1584496
Firewire is great with video and photographs; I would go with firewire 800 (1394b) vs. 400 (1394a)
1584497
You can try using firewire to isolate a possible problem, but no, Firewire (at its fastest) is 800Mbps. Versus 5000Mbps for USB3 (5Gbps.)
294678
Try and use - plug into - Firewire as it is faster than USB2.USB Speed = 400 Mb/s Firewire 800 = 800Mb/s
2221055
What type of firewire did you get to download the video from the camera to the PC? I have tried the Belkin one that others have bought, but the PC doesn't recognize it.
1226094
Just called Apple; Firewire 800 is Not backwards compatilbe with Firewire 400. It won't work :(
2279410
I have the 256 model, same drive. I use it as a bootable backup drive. It works. It's a little sluggish compared to a firewire connection.
1922974
I only use a FireWire cable from my PC for power. Mine works fine that way.
265147
I am sure it must be. Actually I use Firewire so the question does not arise.
1183002
Don't know the answer to the first question but it is bootable, but I was only able to boot via USB, not FireWire.
2098860
Working on my mac mini perfectly. USB3.0 and OSX Mavericks. I have not used the firewire port but I assume it will work well.
947081
I'm sorry. I didn't see this question until just now. I am not sure. Is the firewire on the 2008 iMac the old type that was kind of a hexagon shape? If so, then no, this hard drive does not have that type of firewire port on it. If it is the newer type it won't work. But it should still work through USB, but just may be slower at the data transfer. Hope this is helpful.
204691
The Firewire model I purchased from Amazon is an older model that is being closed out. The newest model from WD is USB 3.0 and the newest iMacs are USB 3.0. My iMac is Firewire 800 and USB 2.0. I am very pleased with the WD drive and I use the Firewire cable(supplied) and the Firewire 800 port on my Imac.
1208773
Hi there. No, there is no firewire or other port. There is just the one USB.
1027382
The USB to FireWire cable is flawed in just about every way, USB reads digital and FireWire reads analog signals, there is no way for one to translate for the other. This is a bad investment. Try an analog to digital converter, a little pricier but they will work.
1631966
YES... I use my firewire connections frequently, and buy drives with two inputs so I can serial connect. Also gives flexibility to one more port option. I use a mac mini, and all USB ports are full - so this gives another option...
1557701
If your MAC is equipped with a USB 3 port use it to connect the drive. Ignore Firewire. If you only have a USB2 port available, use Firewire. Fastest connection possible is USB 3 with current technology!
550602
Probably not. FireWire is either 400 or 800 Kbps, and both thunderbolt and USB 3 are faster.
701789
Correct. FireWire is only used for connecting a camcorder or external hard drive.