Intel iMac: 1 or 2 FireWire Ports?

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Intel iMac: 1 or 2 FireWire Ports?

The icons on the back of my Intel-based iMac clearly identify 2 FireWire ports. Only one of them, however, accepts my FireWire cable (for WD MyBook). The other port appears designed to accept a totally different cable that I cannot identify!

Are there 2 different levels of FireWire that require individual port configurations?

Message was edited by: nkh

iMac 24/2.8/2GB/500GB/SD, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Feb 10, 2008 6:23 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 10, 2008 6:36 AM in response to nkh

1 is firewire 400, the other is firewire 800

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Answer 2

Feb 10, 2008 8:16 AM in response to nkh

You can get an inexpensive adapter to enable use of both ports, if your devices only have connections for one. See one here:

[http://www.amazon.com/Sonnet-FireWire-400-Adapter-FAD-824/dp/B0000CDJPQ]

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Answer 3

nkh Author

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Feb 10, 2008 12:17 PM in response to Templeton Peck

Hi Templeton,

Further search on my part suggests that both ports are FireWire 400. One of the ports is for the 4 pin FireWire cable (without supplied power from the iMac); the other port is the more-conventional 6 pin FireWire cable (extra 2 wires for power).

Please correct me if you feel this is incorrect.

nkh

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Answer 4

nkh Author

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82 points

Feb 10, 2008 12:25 PM in response to Red Jacket Mike

The link you have provided would be fine if my iMac had a 9-pin FireWire Port (FW 800). But the iMac does not have a 9-pin port --- only 1 4-pin port and 1 6-pin port (both FireWire 400 compatible).

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Answer 5

Feb 10, 2008 12:50 PM in response to nkh

The 24 in. 2.8 GHz iMac has two firewire ports as previously stated: one is Firewire 400, the other is Firewire 800.

You can check the specs here (click on Compare Specs/Complete Specs)...

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=br owse&mco=7B723680&node=home/shop_mac/family/imac

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Answer 6

nkh Author

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Feb 10, 2008 12:54 PM in response to A Mitchell

Could you point me to where this is stated explicitly?

Not that I doubt you --- but I don't see where this is stated.

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Answer 7

nkh Author

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Feb 10, 2008 12:59 PM in response to A Mitchell

Sorry, I apologize. I found where this is stated. But I was under the impression the FW 800 utilized a 9-pin port...

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Answer 8

Feb 10, 2008 1:40 PM in response to nkh

Firewire 800 is 9-pin.

There are 3 types of firewire connections:

4-pin firewire 400
6-pin firewire 400
9-pin firewire 800

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Answer 9

nkh Author

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82 points

Feb 10, 2008 2:03 PM in response to Templeton Peck

Thanks for your patience with me!!!

I am quite sorry --- what appeared at first to me to be a 4-pin port, I find on closer inspection it is indeed a 9-pin port!!!

So... all of you who responded were quite correct: The iMac has 1 6-pin FW400 port and 1 9-pin FW800 port. The smaller-appearing FW port (furthest from the right hand edge viewed from the front) is the FW800 port.

My apologies to all for my being quite blind! (and more than a bit obtuse...)

Thanks,
nkh

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