I need a good FireWire PCI card for capturing video.

[mob]

Hi guys!

I am trying to find a FireWire card so I can capture HD (and also SD) video.

I am currently shopping around for a FireWire PCI adapter but there are so many out there and I have no idea which one is good and which one is bad.

Are they basically all the same? Is there anything I need to look for specifically?

Can you recommend me a good one to buy?

Thanks!

[budz]

Here's one for $8.99 that I've used for years with no problems. Don't get one that has the VIA CHIPSET. Hurry if you want the one below cuz it says "ALMOST GONE". It's a great deal for $9.00.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AFW-4300C&cat=CCD

[mob]

Thanks for that recommendation budz

So you are able to capture HD with that card as well?

Here is the one I was planning on buying before I started this topic:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815265003

It has one of those 4-pin power connectors on it. I don't know what that is for but I am assuming it gives it an extra boost of power?


The price is only different by a few dollars after shipping. Do you think that one is better or worse than the one you showed me? I am definitely going make a purchase by the end of today.

[aedipuss]

the 4pin molex power supply connector is there in case you are using 1394 powered devices. for cams that's not needed at all. i use these as they have a 9pin internal header to allow connection to a front panel plug.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124034

[budz]

Thanks for that recommendation budz

So you are able to capture HD with that card as well?

Here is the one I was planning on buying before I started this topic:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815265003

It has one of those 4-pin power connectors on it. I don't know what that is for but I am assuming it gives it an extra boost of power?


The price is only different by a few dollars after shipping. Do you think that one is better or worse than the one you showed me? I am definitely going make a purchase by the end of today.

I've used that ADAPTEC PCI FIREWIRE CARD when I used to capture with my CANOPUS ADVC-100. I don't do much capturing these days as I have a PIONEER 220-S Dvd Recorder. I've never did HD capturing as well. That ADAPTEC card is fine for what you want to use it for. As I've mentioned don't use a firewire card that has VIA chipset because you'll have compatibility issues. IMHO get the ADAPTEC PCI FIREWIRE CARD from geeks.com. Those cards used to cost about $25.00 a few years ago so you're getting a deal at $9.00.

[mob]

the 4pin molex power supply connector is there in case you are using 1394 powered devices

Ahh yes, now I understand. Thanks

IMHO get the ADAPTEC PCI FIREWIRE CARD from geeks.com. Those cards used to cost about $25.00 a few years ago so you're getting a deal at $9.00.

Alright then. That's the one I'll get. I'm going to order it later tonight. This model is like 4 years old but if you say it's good I'll take your word for it because I have no clue when it comes to these things

Thanks for the help.

[aedipuss]

Here's one for $8.99 that I've used for years with no problems. Don't get one that has the VIA CHIPSET. Hurry if you want the one below cuz it says "ALMOST GONE". It's a great deal for $9.00.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AFW-4300C&cat=CCD

not sure why you don't like the via chipset 1394 adapters but, the ones i've been using for the last 6 years in 3 different comps have worked flawlessly.

[budz]

Here's one for $8.99 that I've used for years with no problems. Don't get one that has the VIA CHIPSET. Hurry if you want the one below cuz it says "ALMOST GONE". It's a great deal for $9.00.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AFW-4300C&cat=CCD

not sure why you don't like the via chipset 1394 adapters but, the ones i've been using for the last 6 years in 3 different comps have worked flawlessly.

Because long ago when I began video capturing there were some who had posted here in videohelp.com that they used firewire cards that had the VIA CHIPSET but ran into compatibility issues using certain hardware. Like the CANOPUS ADVC-100.

[2Bdecided]

the 4pin molex power supply connector is there in case you are using 1394 powered devices.

Are you sure? My ADVC110 seems to get powered very well without anything like that on the Firewire card.

(Mine is the cheapest I could find - it does HDV and DV perfectly).

Cheers,
David.

[juststarting]

The trouble with Geeks is that their shipping is so-o-o-o outrageous. Their price might seem like a good deal, but they sure make up for the price with their shipping.

[edDV]

For the record, HDV (video and audio) uses similar 25Mb/s transfer protocol to DV video so the card sees no difference HDV vs DV even though HDV is internally MPeg2. Other HD formats (e.g. DVCProHD) are file transferred under packetized network protocol over IEEE-1394.

[budz]

The trouble with Geeks is that their shipping is so-o-o-o outrageous. Their price might seem like a good deal, but they sure make up for the price with their shipping.

Being in Hawaii the 3-5 days ground shipping is reasonable for me which is USPS.