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Green circuit board with three FireWire ports on a metal bracket

STARTECH

STARTECH PEX1394B3 2× FireWire 800 + 1× FireWire 400 expansion card

SKU CH-KH03-3WXKE MPN PEX1394B3

Adds two FireWire 800 ports and one FireWire 400 port via PCI Express, supporting 800/400/200/100 Mbps transfer rates and hot-swapping

  • TypePCI Express to 1394 Card
  • External USB PortsPCI Express
  • External 1394 Ports3x 1394 Ports
  • Standard1394A/1394B
  • Data Transfer Rate800/400/200/100 Mbps
  • Operating Systems SupportedWindows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003, Mac OS 10.2.4 and up

Model PCIe 1394b

  • PCI 1394a
  • PCIe 1394b

Struck-through versions exist but are not stocked here.

  • Adds two native FireWire 800 ports via a PCI Express slot
  • Connects legacy 400 Mbps devices through the included FireWire 400 port
  • Hot-swap support lets you plug or unplug drives without powering down
  • Compliant with 1394 Open Host Controller Interface Specification 1.1
  • Works with Windows 98SE through Server 2003 and Mac OS 10.2.4+

Three-port FireWire expansion card

The StarTech PEX1394B3 adds two FireWire 800 ports and one FireWire 400 port to a desktop computer through a PCI Express slot. It is designed for users who still connect legacy camcorders, audio interfaces or external hard drives that rely on the IEEE 1394 interface. The card uses a native single-chip controller for broad compatibility with older Windows and Mac operating systems.

Bandwidth limited to 800 Mbps peak

The card follows the 1394A and 1394B standards with maximum transfer rates of 800, 400, 200 and 100 Mbps. Real-world throughput will be lower because of protocol overhead and the PCI Express bus generation installed in the host system. Devices that demand sustained bandwidth above 800 Mbps cannot be supported by this adapter. Hot-swapping is supported so drives can be connected or disconnected without a reboot.

Simple PCI Express installation

Insert the card into any free PCI Express slot, secure the bracket and attach the internal power cable if required by the specific board revision. The open host controller interface specification 1.1 means most supported operating systems load a driver automatically. The main issue installers encounter is forgetting the auxiliary power connection, which leaves the ports unpowered even though the card is detected.

Highlights

  • Adds two native FireWire 800 ports via a PCI Express slot
  • Connects legacy 400 Mbps devices through the included FireWire 400 port
  • Hot-swap support lets you plug or unplug drives without powering down
  • Compliant with 1394 Open Host Controller Interface Specification 1.1
  • Works with Windows 98SE through Server 2003 and Mac OS 10.2.4+

Specifications

BrandStarTech.com
ModelPEX1394B3
TypePCI Express to 1394 Card
External USB PortsPCI Express
External 1394 Ports3x 1394 Ports
Standard1394A/1394B
Data Transfer Rate800/400/200/100 Mbps
Operating Systems SupportedWindows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003, Mac OS 10.2.4 and up
FeaturesCompliant with 1394 Open Host Controller Interface Specification 1.1
Hot-swapping feature allows you to connect and discount devices without powering down the system
Maximum data transfer rate of 800 Mbps
Weight0.45
Shipping weight0.22 kg
Package size208 × 145 × 41 mm

Questions about this item

Should I pick this three-port card or a two-port FireWire 800 model?

This card gives you two 800 Mbps ports plus one 400 Mbps port in a single PCIe slot, so you keep the faster connections while still supporting legacy 400 Mbps devices.

Will I actually see 800 Mbps throughput when the card is installed?

The card is rated for a maximum 800 Mbps link speed; real-world throughput will be lower due to protocol overhead and the performance of the connected device.

Does the PCI Express slot limit the card to 400 Mbps?

No, the PCIe interface provides enough bandwidth for the card to run its two 800 Mbps ports and one 400 Mbps port at their rated speeds.

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