USB-FW adapter?

Dreamcast270mhz · Dreamcast270mhz #1 (**permalink**)

03-22-2010, 07:37 PM

I have an IOMagic USB DVD-DL Lightscribe drive i would love to use for CD booting on my mac, but sadly I can't. Will this work?: USB FIREWIRE 1394 CABLE TRAVEL KIT 6 ADAPTER CONVERTER - eBay (item 110481684606 end time Apr-15-10 00:03:37 PDT)

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

03-22-2010, 10:47 PM

The cable adapters and kit are OK but just because you convert a USB connector to Firewire does not mean you'll get the FW speed you need to boot your G4. In other words it won't work. You need a FW CD or DVD drive to boot with.

Regards.

Dreamcast270mhz · Dreamcast270mhz #3 (**permalink**)

03-25-2010, 07:25 PM

Are you serious!? USB is 480Mbps, FW400 is 400Mbps, it should be fine?

Slydude · Slydude #4 (**permalink**)

03-25-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamcast270mhz

Are you serious!? USB is 480Mbps, FW400 is 400Mbps, it should be fine?

First, just because USB is 480Mbps and FW400 is 400Mbps doesn't mean USB is faster in the real world. I have seen numerous reports on the web suggesting that for sustained speed FW 400 is consistently faster.

Second, I don't think the problem booting Power PC Macs from USB drives is due to speed. After all the Intel Macs boot from USB without problems. I think it is more of an issue that the firmware is not written with USB booting in mind.

Dreamcast270mhz · Dreamcast270mhz #5 (**permalink**)

03-26-2010, 09:07 PM

so that kit 'should' work, barring any speed issues!?

bobtomay · bobtomay #6 (**permalink**)

03-27-2010, 12:14 AM

USB and FW are inherently different. Everything I have read indicates a FW to USB adapter will not work.

I have seen a few places that say it will, but they admit they've never used one. I have never seen a single forum post, blog post, review or anything else by someone using a USB to FW adapter that says it does indeed work.

I have also never seen such an adapter on a single, what I would call, reliable or at least semi-reliable site. No such adapter exists on newegg, tigerdirect, bestbuy, fry's, amazon, monoprice, owc, or any other site I can think of real quick.

But hey, for $6.95, why don't you get it and report back to let us know if it works or not. I am curious and sure there are others beside myself that would like to know from someone that has actually bought one of these things.

Dreamcast270mhz #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 21, 2010 Posts: 98 Mac Specs: Power Mac G4 MDD 1.5 GHZ (OC) 1.25 GB Ubuntu and Leopard INTEL SUCK IT!!	03-22-2010, 07:37 PM I have an IOMagic USB DVD-DL Lightscribe drive i would love to use for CD booting on my mac, but sadly I can't. Will this work?: USB FIREWIRE 1394 CABLE TRAVEL KIT 6 ADAPTER CONVERTER - eBay (item 110481684606 end time Apr-15-10 00:03:37 PDT) Intel SUCKS!!! PPC Dominates PowerMac G4 MDD 1.5Ghz 1.25GB 10.5 AND Ubuntu 9.1 Powerbook G4 15" 1.5Ghz 768MB 10.5 Ibook G4 12" 1.33Ghz 768MB 10.4.11
	QUOTE Thanks

Dreamcast270mhz #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 21, 2010 Posts: 98 Mac Specs: Power Mac G4 MDD 1.5 GHZ (OC) 1.25 GB Ubuntu and Leopard INTEL SUCK IT!!	03-26-2010, 09:07 PM so that kit 'should' work, barring any speed issues!? Intel SUCKS!!! PPC Dominates PowerMac G4 MDD 1.5Ghz 1.25GB 10.5 AND Ubuntu 9.1 Powerbook G4 15" 1.5Ghz 768MB 10.5 Ibook G4 12" 1.33Ghz 768MB 10.4.11
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,828 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	03-27-2010, 12:14 AM USB and FW are inherently different. Everything I have read indicates a FW to USB adapter will not work. I have seen a few places that say it will, but they admit they've never used one. I have never seen a single forum post, blog post, review or anything else by someone using a USB to FW adapter that says it does indeed work. I have also never seen such an adapter on a single, what I would call, reliable or at least semi-reliable site. No such adapter exists on newegg, tigerdirect, bestbuy, fry's, amazon, monoprice, owc, or any other site I can think of real quick. But hey, for $6.95, why don't you get it and report back to let us know if it works or not. I am curious and sure there are others beside myself that would like to know from someone that has actually bought one of these things. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

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chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,040 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	03-22-2010, 10:47 PM The cable adapters and kit are OK but just because you convert a USB connector to Firewire does not mean you'll get the FW speed you need to boot your G4. In other words it won't work. You need a FW CD or DVD drive to boot with. Regards.
	QUOTE Thanks

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