FireWire 800 / FireWire 1394b is the new version of the popular FireWire interface which doubles the throughput of the original IEEE-1394a / IlinkDV / FireWire 400 interface from 400Mbps to 800Mbps!

Firewire 800 cables are commonly used on mass storage devices, Mac Pro, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, iMac and also digital video devices.

"Bilingual" Firewire cables allow you to connect older Firewire 400 devices to newer Firewire 800 ports.

Technical Specifications

● Twisted pair construction and triple shielding reduces cross talk and maximizes data transfer rate.
● Fast data transfers, rated up to 800Mbps (limited by device/port speed).
● Meet FireWire 800 and 1394b specifications.
● Plug-and-Play, hot swap compatible, allows connection and disconnection of FireWire 800 devices without shutting down computer.

Each connector is a different size and configuration of connector. The 4 pin and 6 pin are ieee 1394a / Firewire 400 / ILinkDV compliant which supports speeds up to 400mbps. The 9 pin connectors are ieee 1394b / Firewire 800 and support up to 800mbps. The ieee 1394b are generally backward compatible with the slower Firewire 400 version but the speed would be limited to 400mbps when connected together.

4 pin is the smallest of the connectors and is generally found on portable devices such as camcorders and some laptops. It's a small rectangular shaped connector with an indent on one side.

The 6 pin is the most ubiquitous and is found on most devices like desktops, laptops, external drives, etc. It is similar in size to a USB and similar in shape. It is a flat rectangular connector with beveled edges on one side making the ports look like an elongated "D."

The 9 pin is the most recent type. It is found on newer high speed devices and computers. It is a block shaped, rectangular connector.