Latest iMac with Firewire Ports

[Sawday]

Can someone please advise what the most recent 27" iMac is that had Firewire ports. Thank you.

 

[IWT]

Hi Sawday

This Link is to a page on EveryMac.com where you can find what you are looking for - I hope

https://everymac.com/systems/by_capability/macs-with-usb-firewire.html

Ian

 

[ferrarr]

Looks like the 2011 model is the last iMac to have FireWire (800) ports.

 

[Slydude]

You don't have to limmit your search to models with built-in Firewire ports. I have a Thundnerbolt to Firewire adapter that allows my late 2015 iMac to use Firewire devices. The connection on the end of the adapter is Firewire 800 but if you need the Firewire 400 connection there are cables that work with this adapter. Just make sure to get a quality cable.

 

[chscag]

Looks like the 2011 model is the last iMac to have FireWire (800) ports.

Yep. My 2011 iMac was the last Mac that I remember that had a FW 800 port. I remember buying an Iomega external hard drive that had FW 800, FW 400, and USB 2 input ports. (I still have it stowed away in my junk closet.)

 

[chscag]

Hey Sly...

What are you using that needs FW 800? An old Sony Video Camera, maybe?

By the way, I still have an assortment of FW 800 and FW 400 cables that are getting moldy. LOL

 

[Sawday]

Hey Sly...

What are you using that needs FW 800? An old Sony Video Camera, maybe?

By the way, I still have an assortment of FW 800 and FW 400 cables that are getting moldy. LOL

Three Iomega FW800 hard drives.

 

[Slydude]

There are some DVRs that have active firewire ports thus making it possible to transfer a program frim the DVR to the computer. The process works but is a time consuming pain in the rear because the files would then have to be converted to something more useful. Every once in a while I still find something I want to watch that's set to copy freely but not often.

The main reason I have that adapter around is I still have a firewire drive or two kicking around.

 

[chscag]

Thanks Sly. That's really interesting about being able to transfer from a DVR via Firewire. I think the DVRs that my ISP provide all have HDMI and USB ports, no FW.

And for Sawday:

I thought I was the only one that still had an Iomega external drive with FW. It's a great drive but slow as heck when using USB. I no longer have access to FW as my iMac is one of the newer ones.

 

[Sawday]

Thanks for the replies all. My reasoning was that although I was waiting to get a new iMac they seem a bit late arriving (if indeed they will) so to tide my over I was contemplating buying a used/recondition one without too much investment in new drives etc. My current iMac, which has been exceptional, has started to display a number of problems (powering down overnight, not powering up on command, spinning ball esp with Excel and when viewing/prinitinf pdfs...) so I'm looking to change before it fails completely. I was rather hoping that a machine just a few years old might fit the bill but 2011 is a tad old unless I can get one very cheap.

 

[Slydude]

@Sawday The only issue I have only had one issue using the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter: The Thunderbolt connectots do not lock in place. So, if you move the screen around or have lots of other connects (USB etc) the Thunderbolt connections will sometimes pull loose. Not a major issue unless you routinely move the screen a bit to change the viewing angle or routinely connect/disconnect something from one of the rear ports.