Design
Product colour	Green
Mean time between failures (MTBF)	149905 h
Internal
Hot-swap
Features
Chipset	Texas Instruments - XIO2213B
Data transfer rate (max)	0.8 Gbit/s
Plug and Play
Logistics data
Harmonized System (HS) code	84733020
Products per master (outer) case	28 pc(s)
Master (outer) case width	331 mm
Master (outer) case length	504 mm
Master (outer) case height	237 mm
Operational conditions
Operating temperature (T-T)	0 - 70 °C
Storage temperature (T-T)	-20 - 90 °C
Operating relative humidity (H-H)	0 - 90%
Packaging data
Cables included	FireWire
Package width	175 mm
Package depth	144 mm
Package height	32 mm
Package weight	200 g
Mounting brackets included
Manual
Ports & interfaces
Host interface	PCIe
Output interface	IEEE 1394/Firewire
Expansion card standard	PCIe 1.1
Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports	3
FireWire 400 ports quantity	1
FireWire 800 ports quantity	2
System requirements
Windows operating systems supported	Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 Education x64, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Enterprise x64, Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Home x64, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Pro x64, Windows 11, Windows 11 x64, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Enterprise x64, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Basic x64, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Home Premium x64, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Professional x64, Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Starter x64, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Windows 8, Win
Mac operating systems supported	Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan, Mac OS X 10.12 Sierra, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Mac OS X 11.0 Big Sur, Mac OS X 12.0 Monterey, Mac OS X 13.0 Ventura
Server operating systems supported	Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2019
Linux operating systems supported
Technical details
Compliance certificates	CE, RoHS
Sustainability compliance
Weight & dimensions
Width	58 mm
Depth	90 mm
Height	20 mm
Weight	43 g

The Startech.com PEX1394B3LP is a PCI Express expansion card for integrating FireWire interfaces into desktop computers. It features three connectors: two FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b) ports with 9-pin female sockets and one FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) port with a 6-pin female socket. The card is designed as a Low-Profile model, making it suitable for small-form-factor enclosures, with an optional standard slot bracket included for larger PC enclosures. The host interface complies with the PCIe 1.1 standard, enabling installation in compatible systems. The maximum data transfer rate is 800 Mbit/s, with the FireWire 400 ports supporting up to 400 Mbit/s. The card is equipped with a Texas Instruments XIO2213B chipset, designed as a native PCI Express solution without a bridge chip, ensuring direct and efficient data connection.

Applications

The card enables connection of FireWire devices to PCs lacking integrated FireWire interfaces. Typical applications include connecting DV camcorders, external hard drives, digital cameras, or other high-speed peripheral devices. The combination of FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 ports ensures broad compatibility with both older and newer devices. Support for Plug & Play and Hot-Swap allows for easy installation and device exchange without requiring a system restart.

Features and Specifications in Detail

The card includes an internal power connector (4-pin, Molex Large Drive Power), enabling direct power supply to FireWire devices with higher power requirements through the card. The card is green in colour, with dimensions of 58 mm (width) × 90 mm (depth) × 20 mm (height), and weighs 43 g. It is designed for use in systems with an available PCI Express x1 slot or higher. The operating temperature range is 0 °C to 70 °C, with storage temperature ranging from -20 °C to 90 °C, at a relative humidity of 0 to 90 % during operation.

Technical Explanation

The use of a native PCI Express chipset (without a bridge chip) ensures a direct connection between the PCIe bus and the FireWire ports. This reduces latency and enhances data transfer reliability. The IEEE 1394b standard (FireWire 800) supports transfer rates up to 800 Mbit/s, while the IEEE 1394a standard (FireWire 400) supports up to 400 Mbit/s. The card is backward compatible with older FireWire standards (1394-1995, 1394a-2000), allowing connection to legacy devices. The MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) is 149,905 hours, indicating high reliability.

Compatibility and Accessories

The card is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows 7 to 11, Windows Server 2003 to 2019, macOS (from 10.6 to 13.0), and Linux (from version 3.5.x, LTS versions). The delivery includes the PCI Express FireWire card, a FireWire cable, a Full-Profile slot bracket, a software CD, and an instruction manual. The card is suitable for use in 32- and 64-bit systems, as well as in 5 V and 3.3 V PCI slots.

Installation and Mounting

Installation is performed by inserting the card into an available PCI Express x1 slot. The included slot brackets (Low-Profile and standard) allow mounting in various enclosure formats. Power supply is via the internal 4-pin connector, which must be connected to an appropriate power supply within the PC. The software CD contains the necessary drivers and installation instructions for supported operating systems.

Operational Advantages

The card provides a cost-effective and reliable solution for extending FireWire functionality in desktop systems. The combination of two FireWire 800 and one FireWire 400 port enables simultaneous use of multiple devices. The Hot-Swap feature allows connecting and disconnecting devices without restarting the system. Compliance with CE and RoHS standards ensures adherence to European safety and environmental regulations. The warranty includes a Lifetime hardware warranty.

The card is suitable for use in both professional and private environments where fast and reliable connection to FireWire devices is required. The delivery includes all necessary components for easy installation and operation.