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FW omission in new laptops

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Author	Topic: FW omission in new laptops
Raduga Member	posted 16 December 2013 13:14 Dear SSC, My dear old computer is finaly dead. Searching for new one, I realized that new laptops on the market don't support FW, or even smart-card slot to install FW there. What is your suggestion? I work with pc computers. Thanks! IP: Logged
SSC Administrator	posted 16 December 2013 18:23 One option is to use a PCIe card for FireWire expansion if you purchase a computer with a free PCIe slot. If you wouldn't mind installing Windows and assembling a computer from a kit, you could get an Intel NUC with Thunderbolt and use the Apple Thunderbolt/FireWire adapter. We use that configuration here at Symbolic Sound. Let us know if you are interested in how you would set that up. The NUC with the required add-ons comes to approximately $450 (but that does not include the cost of Windows OS). IP: Logged
ChristianSchloesser Member	posted 17 December 2013 04:30 Hi Raduga, I am currently looking for a new solution too. Till know we used two Macbooks running OS X for our live performance. One for Kyma and one for other stuff. Both where synced via ethernet. We decided to switch to one really powerful laptop now which handles Kyma and all the other software we use. I am thinking to switch after over 20 Years form Apple Mobile Hardware to PC Hardware. I still have a powerbook 180 here... it was my first Mobile computer and it still works! It is from 1992! Some of the ASUS "Gameing" laptops have thunderbold installed by default. They should work with the Apple Tunderbold <> Firewire adapter too. I did not test that ... but maybe somebody with a new ASUS Laptop can confirm that? My main reason why considering to "switch" is the experience with lots of Macbooks of friends and colleagues of mine in the past 2-3 years. I was a an ADC member for many years and i also used to help many friends repairing their stuff when it comes to apple hardware failures ... From my point of few the new Macbooks have two really big flaws ..the new Retina Macbooks are not expandable at all and they are nearly impossible to fix if there is even the smallest problem. This would be no problem if their where build bullet- proofed like some Industrial-PCs... . or like the powerbook 180 back then.. ;-) Anyway i did not made a final decision yet. All the best Christian IP: Logged
Raduga Member	posted 17 December 2013 09:11 Hi, many thanks on solutions to SSC and opinions to Christian. I didn't decide yet, what to do, it seems that no solution is really perfect. May I share with you my doubts: I tried to gather more info about Intel Nuc and I came into version DC3217BY, which comes with Thunderbolt, but has no USB 3.0 (instead 3x USB 2.0), which seems poor if you have to use external harddisk. Is there a newer version on the market? On the other hand, among new PC laptops there are few laptops with express card slot or thunderbolt, all very pricy. In the following link Presonnus listed some links to such computers and to supported express-card firewire adapters, no mention of TB (the article is over a year old). Express-card solution provides two FW800 ports, but even this way some tests show that alegedly not all Express card FW adapters use the full speed with both FW ports. If I am correct, both Intel Nuc Kit or "normal" Thunderbolt-equiped laptop would provide only one FW800, which would mean connecting Pacarana to computer and sound interface to Pacarana's other FW port. This way one would need to physicaly switch cables every time when using sound interface with other audio software.(?) I feel like I'm missing more information and knowledge to be able to make the right decission. Looks like audio users are forgotten by computer manufacturers (or at least pushed into buisness class), but this is another discussion. All the best, Raduga IP: Logged
SSC Administrator	posted 17 December 2013 12:23 quote: If I am correct, both Intel Nuc Kit or "normal" Thunderbolt-equiped laptop would provide only one FW800 One solution to the single port issue might be to use a FireWire 800 hub. We use FW hubs at the office and for traveling. IP: Logged
Raduga Member	posted 17 December 2013 13:12 This is good news, thanks! So how shall I start, can you guide me? This is the link that I forgot to paste to previous mail, in the case it would be of use to somebody: http://support.presonus.com/entries/21804044-Finding-a-PC-laptop-to-use-with-your-firewire-audio-interface IP: Logged
douglasdifranco Member	posted 17 December 2013 18:21 SSC, Which hub are you using? IP: Logged
SSC Administrator	posted 17 December 2013 21:13 Different ones, for example the Unibrain for FireWire 800 or the Belkin 6-port for FireWire 400. IP: Logged
Raduga Member	posted 19 December 2013 06:43 Dear SSC, I decided to use Express Card to get 2 x FW 800. How demanding is communication that runs between kyma and pacarana in the matter of bandwith (I use it for live processing, multichannel), does one need to be careful with actual performance of FW provided by Express Cards of different manufacturers? Thanks! IP: Logged
SSC Administrator	posted 19 December 2013 09:04 To be safe, we recommend using a FireWire card made with the TI or Lucent chipsets. IP: Logged
trotz Member	posted 24 December 2013 03:25 Yes. Some FW interfaces do not work with some cards and most of the times it is a matter of trial and error. IP: Logged

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