[ IEEE 1394 CONTROLLER // EXPANSION CARDS ]
StarTech PEX1394A2V
2-port PCIe FireWire 400 adapter with two external 6-pin IEEE 1394a ports. Verify the exact board label and revision before service.
MODEL SCOPE: StarTech PEX1394A2V. Specification distinctions below identify 1394a/1394b rates, physical bus and power limitations; host OS and driver support can change by revision and release.
Specifications and compatibility
| Exact model / SKU | StarTech PEX1394A2V |
|---|---|
| Controller chipset | StarTech identifies the OHCI FireWire controller family; the public PEX1394A2V listing does not identify a silicon part number. Verify the board/revision PCI ID instead of inferring a chip. |
| PCI bus / lanes | PCI Express x1 (single lane). |
| IEEE 1394a rate | IEEE 1394a / FireWire 400, up to 400 Mb/s per link. |
| IEEE 1394b rate | Not a 1394b / FireWire 800 adapter. |
| Ports and connectors | Two external 6-pin IEEE 1394a connectors. |
| Power / bus-power notes | 6-pin connectors can carry FireWire bus power subject to the card’s implementation and host power budget. No separate auxiliary card-power input is identified in the cited listing; use 4-pin peripheral cables only for data. |
| OS driver compatibility | OHCI-class IEEE 1394 driver support is operating-system/release dependent. Check StarTech’s driver/support page for the exact OS; do not assume legacy FireWire applications or modern OS releases are supported. |
| Host compatibility | Requires a PCIe x1 slot (or a longer compatible PCIe slot wired to support it); not compatible with conventional PCI slots. Confirm firmware/OS OHCI support and device power needs. |
Installation and archival notes
- Match the card’s printed model/revision and connector layout to the cited maker documentation; do not infer a controller IC or current limit from the connector alone.
- IEEE 1394 link rate is negotiated with the peripheral and cable. A FireWire 800 connector does not make a 400-Mb/s device or cable operate at 800 Mb/s.
- Use ESD precautions; validate system bus wiring, driver version, peripheral power source, and application-level compatibility before replacing a working legacy host.
Manufacturer and standards sources
- StarTech — PEX1394A2V product specificationsManufacturer product reference for the named part; check the specific board revision and documentation availability.
- StarTech — PEX1394A2V manualAdditional maker documentation or official model-family reference.
- IEEE — IEEE 1394-2008 standardIEEE 1394 bus/protocol standard reference; card-level details are in the manufacturer documentation.
- Linux kernel — FireWire subsystem documentationOHCI/FireWire software-driver reference; platform-specific support remains OS-release dependent.