StarTech 3-Port 2b 1a 1394 Mini PCI Express FireWire Card, TAA (MPEX1394B3)
Bottom line: The StarTech.com StarTech 3-Port 2b 1a 1394 Mini PCI Express FireWire Card is a specs-and-price decision rather than a crowd-consensus one in the expansion cards category. Check the specification table below against one or two close alternatives — on price and spec fit, not on star ratings.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 2 external 9-pin FireWire-800 ports with support for data transfer rates up to 800 Mbps
- ✓ Backed by StarTech.com's warranty and support channels
Cons
- ✗ Confirm socket / form-factor / power-rating compatibility against your build before ordering
- ✗ Price, stock, shipping and returns are set by the retailer and may have changed since this page was last updated
Manufacturer description
The MPEX1394B3 3-Port Mini PCI Express FireWire Card is a PCI Express to FireWire-800/FireWire-400 adapter that enables you to add external FireWire connectivity on very small form factor or embedded systems. The PCIe FireWire card provides two FireWire-800 ports and one FireWire-400 port, this adapter card supports the latest external FireWire storage devices at data transfer speeds of up to 800 Mbps. Using the Mini PCI Express (Mini Card) form factor, this adapter card is designed for use in the latest very small form factor computer systems, such as Mini-ITX or custom embedded solutions…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored StarTech.com StarTech 3-Port 2b 1a 1394 Mini PCI Express FireWire 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
- 2 external 9-pin FireWire-800 ports with support for data transfer rates up to 800 Mbps
- 1 external 6-pin FireWire-400 port with supported transfer rates up to 400 Mbps
- Compliant with PCI Express Mini Card specification 1.2
- Optional external power support for high-powered FireWire devices
- Compliant with IEEE 1394b and backward compatible with IEEE 1394a - 2000 as well as 1394-1995 standards
Full Specifications
| Brand | StarTech.com |
|---|---|
| Style | Classic |
| Style Name | Classic |
| Model Number | MPEX1394B3 |
| Mfr Part Number | MPEX1394B3 |
| Compatible Devices | Mini-ITX |
| Hardware Interface | FireWire 800 |
| Warranty Description | 1 year warranty |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 2"L x 1.2"W x 0.2"H |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00065030842914 |
Ready to buy?
StarTech 3-Port 2b 1a 1394 Mini PCI Express FireWire Card, TAA (MPEX1394B3) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
Related Expansion Cards
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Raspberry Pi AI Projects: A 2025 Builder's Guide
- M5 vs DGX Spark vs Strix Halo vs RTX 6000: AI Workload Guide
- RTX 3060 12GB vs RTX 3090 for Local LLMs (2026)
- Intel Arc B580 & Arc Pro B60 24GB vs RTX 3060 12GB for Local LLMs
- Get Up to $900 Off a Dell PC: Gaming & Everyday Deals
- GameSir G7 SE vs 8BitDo Pro 2: Best Wired-Feel Controller for PC & Steam Deck
- Open-Weight Models Caught Up on Cyber Benchmarks in Four Months — What That Means for Your Rig
- Stable Diffusion on Intel Arc vs RTX 3060 12GB: Which Budget GPU Renders Faster?
- Best Retro Console Reissues to Buy in 2026
- Intel Arc Pro B60 Creator 24GB: Workstation GPU Guide
- Best Gaming Mouse for Warzone & FPS Esports in 2026
- Best 1440p Monitor for the RTX 3060 in 2026: Picks That Actually Match
- Ryzen AI Max 395 Laptop: Specs and AI Performance
- Qwen 3.6-27B in Full VRAM on a 5070 Ti: 50K Context at 4.256bpw, Real Numbers
- Best Gaming Mouse Pad for Competitive FPS in 2026: 5 Picks Ranked by Glide, Tracking, and Sweat Resistance
- MiniCPM5-1B: The 1B Model That Beats Reasoning Peers by Knowing When to Shut Up
- Meta Is 'Token Managing' Now: Cut Local-LLM Cost on a Single RTX 3060
- Started a Homelab a Month Ago — Is a Ryzen 5 5600G Enough?
- Samsung Winds Down Chip Production Six Days Before Strike: What Memory Buyers Should Do Right Now
- Sound Blaster Audigy FX vs Sound Blaster Live! for Period-Correct Win98 Builds
- Best Controller for Retro Emulation on PC: 8BitDo Pro 2 vs GameSir G7 SE
- Qwen 3.8 vs Kimi K3: Which Open-Weight Model Fits a 12GB Rig?
- Best Sim Racing Setup for 2026: Wheels, Shifters and Pedals
- Best PC Controllers for Cross-Platform Gaming in 2026
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090