USB 2.0 v. Firewire?

[t.cruise]

I haven't used any FireWire peripherals yet. If an external hard drive has a choice of
two interfaces (USB 2.0 and Firewire), would using FireWire show a SIGNIFICANT increase of
data transfer speed?

T.C.

 

[Chuck Davis]

I haven't used any FireWire peripherals yet. If an external hard drive has
a choice of
two interfaces (USB 2.0 and Firewire), would using FireWire show a
SIGNIFICANT increase of
data transfer speed?

T.C.

USB 1.1 = 12 Mbps USB 2.0 = 480 Mbps Firewire 400 Mbps & 800 Mbps.
For USB 2.0 the effective sustained rate is about 400 Mbps.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I haven't used any FireWire peripherals yet. If an external hard
drive has a choice of two interfaces (USB 2.0 and Firewire), would
using FireWire show a SIGNIFICANT increase of data transfer speed?

No.

 

[Melvin]

That's the most qualified No I've ever seen.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

I haven't used any FireWire peripherals yet. If an external hard
drive has a choice of two interfaces (USB 2.0 and Firewire), would
using FireWire show a SIGNIFICANT increase of data transfer speed?

T.C.

Depends on the system. USB 2.0 is advertised to top out at about 480 Mbps
while Firewire (IEEE 1394) tops at 400 Mbps. But in my experience the
Firewire always seems to be a bit faster. There is also the new FireWire 800
standard,
(IEEE 1394b) FireWire 800 reportedly doubles data throughput to 800 mbps.

You need to investigate the differences for yourself.

Google
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="firewire+versus+usb+2.0"


--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol
http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Don Burnette]

I haven't used any FireWire peripherals yet. If an external hard
drive has a choice of two interfaces (USB 2.0 and Firewire), would
using FireWire show a SIGNIFICANT increase of data transfer speed?

T.C.

No, the difference in speed of USB 2.0 and Firewire is negligible, I dount
you would notice any difference at all.