An internal Firewire Port Card is a device that connects to a computer’s internal bus and provides Firewire ports for external devices. Firewire is a serial bus protocol that is mainly used for connecting external storage devices, such as hard drives and DVD burners. It is also used for connecting digital video cameras, audio interfaces, and other peripherals. Some of the renowned brands are Apple, Sonnet, and OWC.
Choosing the right internal firewire port card is difficult as there are many factors to consider, such as the type of ports, the speed of the ports, and compatibility with your computer. To make it easier to find the exact internal firewire port card you’re looking for, we rounded up the best internal firewire port cards on Amazon, according to thousands of customer reviews.
Check out our favorite internal firewire port cards in the list below, and keep reading for our buying guide.
Our Editor’s Best Internal Firewire Port Cards Reviews
- 1. PCIE-1394A will allow users add 4X 1394A (3X 6Pin and 1X 4Pin) interface on Windows PCs, Servers and industrial devices for 1394A device data transfer. Help users light up old type 1394A devices on new PCs and import data from old device such and DVs etc.
- 2. Designed on FireWire 400 datalink protocol on 1394A interface will be make sure users get 400Mbps (50MB/S) max data transfer rate. Auto detect 1394A firewire device and negotiates the connection speed to 100Mbps, 200Mbps, 400Mbps.
- 3. Compatible with IEEE 1394A OHCI (Open Host Controller Interface) 1.1 standard interface devices such as Digital Cameras, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM Drive, DV camcorders, Hard drives, Media equipment, 1394A Video and Audio devices and Printers.
- 4. Plug and Play on Windows 98, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 (32/64bit) and Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012R2, 2012, 2008R2, 2008, 2003R2, 2003 (32/64bit). Please NOTE: Due to setting issue, some PCs need to install Windows Legacy Driver.
- 5. PCIE 1.1 X1 interface, will provide 2.5Gbps bandwidth for all 4-Ports 1394A card. PCIE 1.1 standard design will work on PCIE 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0. PCIE X1 interface will works on PCIE X1, X2, X4, X8, X16 slot.
- Works With Various Types Of FireWire 800 & FireWire 400 Devices Including External Hard Drives, DV Camcorder, Digital Camera, CD-RW/DVD-ROM Drive And Other Audio/Video Devices
- Provides Two FireWire 800 (1394b) Ports And One FireWire 400 (1394a) 6-Pin Port
- Enjoy Data Transfer Rates Of 100, 200, 400 and 800 Mbps
- Built-In 4-Pin Power Connector (Adapter May Be Required)
- Supports Hot-Swapping & Plug And Play
- 1-Lane (x1) PCI-Express with transfer rate 2.5Gb/s full duplex channel
- 3x External Ports (2 * 6 Pin + 1 * 4 Pin)
- Compliant with PCI-Express Revision 1.0a. Support 400/200/100Mbps data transfer rate
- Compliant with IEEE 1394 OpenHCI Specifications V1.0 and V1.1
- Attention: Don't Support hot-plugging. Before installation, Turn off the power and then plug in the power cord.
- 3 external, 1 shared internal FireWire400 port, with supported data transfer rates up to 400 Mbps
- Compliant with IEEE 1394a
- 2000 as well as 1394-1995 standards
- Includes Low Profile installation bracket
- Plug-and-Play and hot-swap compatible
- PCIe IEEE 1394 firewire adapter is backward compatible with devices in 400/200/100Mbps transmission speed. Provide with a low profile bracket and a firewire cable, your best choice of firewire card for PC.
- Works with Various Types of FireWire 800 (1394b) and 1394a Devices Including Portable Hard Disk, DV Camcorder, Digital Camera, CD-RW/DVD-ROM Drive and Other Audio/Video Devices.
- VIA chip, compliant with PCI Express Base Specification 1.0a and compliant with IEEE 1394-1995, 1394a-2000 and OHCI 1.1 Standards.
- Plug and play. It support Windows 98se/me/2000/XP/server 2003/Vista/7 32 bit /64 bit /win8/win10/Mac OS.
- No drive required, 1394 devices are built into Windows 98 2nd and above (included) operating systems, It does not need to download driver separately.
- Compliant with PCI Express Base Specification 1.0a
- Compliant with IEEE 1394-1995, 1394a-2000 and OHCI 1.1 Standards
- PCI Express 1-lane(x1) FireWire adapters works with PCI Express slots with different lane width
- Installs in any available PCI Express slot and supports data transfer rates up to 400Mbps
- Three external and One internal 6-pin FireWire(1394a) ports to support DV camcorders, hard disk, removable drives, scanner, digital cameras and other FireWire audio/video devices
- 1-Lane (x1) PCI-Express with transfer rate 2.5Gb/s full duplex channel
- 3x External Ports (2 * 6 Pin + 1 * 4 Pin)
- Compliant with PCI-Express Revision 1.0a. Support 400/200/100Mbps data transfer rate
- Compliant with IEEE 1394 OpenHCI Specifications V1.0 and V1.1
- No drive required, plug and play. Support Windows 98se/me/2000/XP/server 2003/Vista/7 32 bit /64 bit /win8
- 1-Lane (x1) PCI-Express with transfer rate 2.5Gb/s full duplex channel
- 3x External Ports (2 * 6 Pin + 1 * 4 Pin)
- Compliant with PCI-Express Revision 1.0a. Support 400/200/100Mbps data transfer rate
- Compliant with IEEE 1394 OpenHCI Specifications V1.0 and V1.1
- Attention: Don't Support hot-plugging. Before installation, Turn off the power and then plug in the power cord.
- Ports: 2x 1394B firewire ports, 1x 1394A firewire port, 1x 1394A firewire internal header (Shared Port)
- 1-Lane (x1) PCI-Express with transfer rate 2.5Gbps Full Duplex channel
- Compliant with PCI-Express Revision 1.0a
- Support provisions of IEEE Standard P1394b-2002
- Compliant with 1394 Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) specification Revision 1.1 and 1.2 draft
- FAST DATA TRANSFER: This PCI Express to firewire adapter reduces performance bottlenecks by offering support for data transfer rates up to 400Mbps to each port
- VERSATILE USE: Each 2 port PCI express 1394a firewire card comes pre-configured for low-profile and includes two full-profile brackets for versatile use with low profile and standard computer cases
- INCREASE CAPACITY: This PCIe serial port card allows you to add two FireWire 400 connections to your desktop computer using one PCIe expansion card slot
- WIDE COMPATIBILITY: For broad compatibility the PCIE firewire adapter supports Windows and macOS 10. 10-10. 13 and includes full profile and half height installation brackets
- THE STARTECH ADVANTAGE: StarTech offers a 2-year and free lifetime technical support on this PCIe 1394 card and has been the IT pro’s choice since 1985
Best Internal Firewire Port Cards Buying Guide
Before choosing the best internal FireWire port cards you should consider following options:
1. Types of Cards Available: FireWire cards come in three different types: internal port card, external port card, and PCIe card.
Internal port cards are the most common, plugging into one of the computer’s existing internal PCI slots. The computer will then have FireWire support even if the operating system doesn’t have support built-in.
External port cards are a good option if you want to connect FireWire devices to a computer that doesn’t have FireWire built-in. External port cards can be daisy-chained together to allow for the connection of multiple FireWire devices.
PCIe cards are the newest, most powerful cards available. They can support the newest generation of FireWire and Thunderbolt devices, including hard drives and high-resolution video.
2. Speed: The speed of the card you purchase will depend on the devices you intend to connect.
If you’re connecting external drives, video cameras, or other peripherals, you don’t need a high-speed card. Standard FireWire cards will work fine.
If you want to connect high-resolution video cameras and some high-end digital video editing equipment, you’ll want an internal PCIe card.
3. Supported Standards: When choosing a FireWire card, you should make sure it supports the standards you need. The most common standards supported by FireWire cards are FireWire 800 (also known as IEEE 1394b), FireWire 400, and FireWire 800+USB2.
FireWire 800 supports data transfer speeds up to 800Mbps. It’s the fastest standard, but not as commonly supported.
FireWire 400 supports data transfer speeds up to 400Mbps. It’s the most common supported standard.
FireWire 800+USB2 supports data transfer speeds up to 800Mbps. It’s the newest standard, which supports both FireWire and USB 2.0.
The FireWire 800+USB2 standard is the most versatile, supporting the highest speeds and connecting to both FireWire and USB devices.
4. Port Configuration: You should make sure the card supports the port configuration you need. FireWire cards can come with one or two ports.
You can purchase single-port cards and daisy-chain them together if you need multiple ports.
5. Power Requirement: Not all FireWire cards require power, but most do. If you want to connect a FireWire device that will require power, such as an external hard drive, you’ll need an internal port card.
If you want to connect a FireWire device without a power requirement, such as a FireWire camera, you can purchase an external port card.
6. Portability: If you’re planning to use the FireWire card in different computers, you’ll want to purchase an internal or external port card.
Internal FireWire cards can easily be swapped in and out of different computers, so long as they support the same standards as the card. External FireWire cards can be connected to a computer that doesn’t have FireWire support.
What else you should know about internal firewire port cards
1. What are the best internal firewire port cards for expanding my computer’s capabilities?
There are a few different firewire port cards that are available on the market, but the best ones are typically the ones that come with a high quality chipset and have a good reputation for being reliable. Some of the best firewire port cards include the Belkin Firewire Card, the SIIG Firewire Card, and the StarTech Firewire Card.
2. What are the different types of internal firewire port cards available?
There are three different types of internal firewire port cards available:
1. PCI Firewire Port Cards: These cards plug into a PCI slot on the motherboard and provide Firewire ports that can be used to connect Firewire devices.
2. PCIe Firewire Port Cards: These cards plug into a PCIe slot on the motherboard and provide Firewire ports that can be used to connect Firewire devices.
3. USB Firewire Port Cards: These cards plug into a USB port on the motherboard and provide Firewire ports that can be used to connect Firewire devices.
3. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each type of internal firewire port card?
The benefits of an internal firewire port card are that it can provide additional ports for connecting devices and can be used to connect devices that require high data transfer rates. The drawbacks of an internal firewire port card are that it can be difficult to install and may not be compatible with all motherboards.
4. Which internal firewire port card is best for my needs?
The best internal firewire port card for your needs depends on the specific requirements of your computer system. Some factors to consider include the number of ports needed, the data transfer speed required, and the compatibility of the card with your motherboard.
5. How do I install an internal firewire port card?
Most internal firewire port cards will come with installation instructions. However, if you don’t have the instructions or if they are not clear, the process is generally as follows:
1. Locate an available PCI slot on your computer’s motherboard.
2. Insert the firewire port card into the PCI slot.
3. Connect the firewire port card to the appropriate power source (usually the power supply).
4. Connect the firewire port card to the appropriate data source (usually the computer’s hard drive).
5. Install any drivers or software that came with the firewire port card.
6. Reboot your computer.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best internal firewire port cards. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best internal firewire port cards will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.