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StarTech 4-Port PCI 1394a FireWire Adapter Card, TAA (PCI1394MP)
StarTech.com

StarTech 4-Port PCI 1394a FireWire Adapter Card, TAA (PCI1394MP)

Bottom line: The StarTech.com StarTech 4-Port PCI 1394a FireWire Adapter Card: Adds 4 FireWire 400 ports (3 external, 1 internal) through a single PCI slot; main trade-off: legacy PCI slot only, won't fit modern PCIe-only motherboards.

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By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For retro PC hardware and period-correct parts, synthesises manufacturer documentation, community compatibility lists and marketplace listings rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Adds 4 FireWire 400 ports (3 external, 1 internal) through a single PCI slot
  • ✓ Up to 400 Mbps transfer, fully IEEE 1394a and 1394-1995 compliant
  • ✓ Low-profile bracket included for small form factor (SFF) desktops
  • ✓ Plug-and-play and hot-swap; drivers built into Windows and Mac OS
  • ✓ Backed by StarTech.com lifetime warranty plus free lifetime tech support

Cons

  • ✗ Legacy PCI slot only, won't fit modern PCIe-only motherboards
  • ✗ FireWire 400 caps at 400 Mbps, slower than FireWire 800 or USB 3
  • ✗ Mac support only tested up to OS 10.4; newer macOS unverified
  • ✗ Internal port is shared with an external one, not independent

Manufacturer description

This 4 Port (3 External/1 Internal) PCI 1394 FireWire Adapter Card lets you connect iPods, MP3 players, portable drives, digital camcorders and more to your desktop computer. The FireWire adapter card supports hot-swapping, so you’ll be able to plug, unplug, and swap your FireWire peripherals with ease. Guaranteed to work with both PCs and Macs, the 4 port PCI FireWire Adapter Card is backed by StarTech.com’s Lifetime Warranty and FREE LIFETIME tech support. Plus, the adapter provides both standard profile and low profile/half-height brackets for adapting to slimline or small form factor…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored StarTech.com StarTech 4-Port PCI 1394a FireWire Adapter Card using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the expansion cards category. StarTech.com's expansion cards lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for expansion cards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

  • 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

Full Specifications

BrandStarTech.com
StylePCI 1394a
Style NamePCI 1394a
Unit Count1 Count
Model NumberPCI1394MP
Mfr Part NumberPCI1394MP
Number of Items1
Compatible DevicesFireWire-compatible devices
Hardware InterfaceFireWire 400, PCI
Warranty DescriptionLifetime warranty

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StarTech 4-Port PCI 1394a FireWire Adapter Card, TAA (PCI1394MP)
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