New Firewire drive - how to hookup to G4 Dual 500 (with Firewire 400)

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New Firewire drive - how to hookup to G4 Dual 500 (with Firewire 400)

I know that I need some sort of converter cable ... but there are tons of them, with varying pins and male and female ...

I need to do this to backup files in order to have backup and move them to a Mac I will buy when I have the files moved.

This is an old Mac that won't let me update to Snow Leopard if that helps.

PowerMac g4 Dual 500, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Apr 1, 2010 4:52 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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239,177 points

Apr 1, 2010 5:00 PM in response to Lavona

Hi there,

Are you saying this drive only has FW/800 9-pin ports?

Most have both FW/400 6 pin & FW/800 9 pin.

But, if you have a FW/400 cable already you can use one of these...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/FIR1369AD/

Or if the drive only has 9-pin one of these...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/1394B96036/

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Answer 2

Lavona Author

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Apr 1, 2010 5:21 PM in response to BDAqua

I bought a Firewire 800 / Firewire 400 cable and it isn't the right one ... neither of it's connectors fits the port on the Mac. Thus I'm confused.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,177 points

Apr 1, 2010 5:53 PM in response to Lavona

Hmmm, must be looking at the wrong port, the FW/400 port is this shape...

The FW/800 is this shape...

Is that what the cable ends look like?

You should have 2 FW/400 ports...

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermacg4/ports/powermac_g4_dpseries.html

Message was edited by: BDAqua

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Answer 4

Lavona Author

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Apr 1, 2010 6:33 PM in response to BDAqua

No, the cable does not look like that, it does not have the matching end for the port.

http://images.buzzillions.com/imagesproducts/01/97/cablestogo-2m-ieee-1394b-firewire-800-9-pin-4-cable_4234744175.jpg

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,177 points

Apr 1, 2010 6:44 PM in response to Lavona

Wrong cable, that's for special devices 4 pin I think... sorry no converters either.

You need one like this 9 pin to 6 pin...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/1394B96072/

Or if the Drive has FW/400 also, one like this...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/1394A66072/

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