Firewire cable help

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Level 2

155 points

Firewire cable help

I have a firewire 400 external HDD that I'd like to get connected to my i3 iMac 3.06 GHz (2011, I think. Model Identifier: iMac11,2). Having a hard time finding the right cable. I got one that connects OK to an MBP, but not to the iMac. All I get from About This Mac is:

FireWire Bus: Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec.

How can I tell what cable will work? The HDD part is no mystery—it's the iMac side that's confusing. It's a bit hard to match up the iMac's f/w port with cable pics on the web, so I am thinking I would need more info about the cable. TIA.

(Don't think it matters, but OS = 10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 29, 2015 7:56 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Community+ 2025

Level 10

741,167 points

Aug 29, 2015 8:01 PM in response to Bruce Smith2

A FireWire 400 to 800 cable, also known as 6-pin to 9-pin.

(132564)

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Answer 2

Bruce Smith2 Author

Level 2

155 points

Aug 29, 2015 10:25 PM in response to Niel

I did get a 400 to 800, although not sure if it's 6-9. I'll check. I notice the port on the iMac is smaller than the port on the MBP IWBN if Apple would describe the port in addition to the bus. Thanks,

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Answer 3

kaz-k

Level 9

51,084 points

Aug 29, 2015 10:42 PM in response to Bruce Smith2

http://www.amazon.com/b?node=464396

Firewire 800 connector is smaller than Firewire400 one.

6pin Firewire 400 connector is smaller than normal Firewire one.

iMac11,2 has one Firewire800 port.

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Answer 4

Rudegar

Level 10

180,138 points

Aug 30, 2015 3:18 AM in response to Bruce Smith2

different cable connectors

http://media2.comcast.net/anon.comcastonline2/support/helpandsupport/businesscla ss/help_articles/HOW6773-firewire.png

different port connectors

http://www.unm.edu/~tbeach/terms/images/firewireBIG.jpg

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Answer 5

Bruce Smith2 Author

Level 2

155 points

Aug 30, 2015 8:15 AM in response to Rudegar

I unplugged and compared firewire cables. Although the terminus of the iMac end of the 800/800 and the 800/400 didn't look the same—one had a small, plug-like object in its center; the other did not—they were obviously the same overall size. The short story is that I got the cable in question seated in the iMac's port, the drive appears on my desktop, and it is available r/w. Sincere thanks to all!!

(BTW, the iMac does show more info about the drive, although not about the connecting cable.)

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