Interesting Anyway it is best to have the audio device at the end of the chain from what I've read from items before. Many Drives are 800 and Audio are still running 400 which would preclude you to put a 800 drive before the audio device since your higher speed device should be at the beginning of the chain and the connections dictate that. Since iMac only has one FW800 port, this would be true. Wonder how it would be to have a FW800 replicator hub on one of these chipsets though.
On 2/22/11, Esther <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Justin, > > I'm not sure there is a definitive answer to your question, because for most > model computers multiple suppliers are used, so there is no guaranteeing > that an answer from one user will ensure that the model you buy will have > the (older) Texas Instruments chipset. Here's a relevant recent post (e.g. > last week) to the ProSound web site that contains links to help you follow > up your answer: > > <begin quote> > As you mentioned, Apple has indeed changed their Firewire chipset in some > models to the LSI/Agere FireWire chip-set with which many have seen with > whom, including audio interface stalwart RME where the issues has been > extensively documented in their forum. There has been a great deal of > discussion in the RME forum which ended in a conclusion that when using > Mac’s containing the LSI/Agere chipset their audio devices only work when a > FireWire drive is placed between the audio interface and the computer. It’s > an odd problem, but I can honestly say that you wouldn’t be the first. While > I can’t confirm that your computer has this chipset, all the information you > need is contained in these lengthy forum posts: http://bit.ly/MacFW and > http://bit.ly/MacFW2 and http://bit.ly/MacFW3 > <end quote> > > The three links provide more information about work-arounds, including the > order in which you should connect to devices, to deal with this problem > which has been stated as: > "Apple for the first time uses a PCIe to FW controller in the new iMacs, > from Agere. Obviously this one needs some driver optimizations to operate as > good as the formerly used PCI TI chips." > > You can also go directly to the RME forum firewire thread page: > http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewforum.php?id=4 > which has sticky threads for "Workaround for Fireface/iMac problem" and > "Hardware Alert: FireWire solutions with Agere FW chip" and read some of the > discussion. Also, I'm not sure how bad the current problem is; there was > one early batch of LSI/Agere chipsets (revision 6) that really broke things, > but that was a while ago, and I think most recent devices using this chip > may be at revision 8. > > An old post (from the first link) summarized this as: > <begin quote> > FireWire connection problems with Apple computers: > > 1. TI chipsets (older iMacs, Macbook, Macbook Pro): no problems > > 2. LSI PCIe chipsets (newer and current iMacs, Macbook, Macbook Pro): > > - FW643 (FW800, PCI ID 5901) and FW533 (FW400, PCI ID 5903) Revision 6: > connection problems, stop after playback starts - solved with a FW repeater > (e. g. Lindy cable, external Lacie FW HD) > > - FW643 (FW800, PCI ID 5901) and FW533 (FW400, PCI ID 5903) Revision 7: no > problems > > Revision 7 Chipsets are also identified as: FW643E and FW533E. > > The included chipset can be identified (partially) while pressing CMD + S > during the boot signal ("Firewire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5901 built-in now active, > ...") or via the console (see below). > <end quote> > > HTH. Cheers, > > Esther > > On Feb 22, 2011, at 13:59, Justin Kauflin wrote: > >> I'm thinking about purchasing the 27 inch iMac but had one question before >> making the leap. Does anyone have any idea whether the newest models have >> a Texas Instruments chipset for the Firewire port? >> >> I called Apple, and they wouldn't say. This was a real bummer, as >> the chipset on this thing is going to be a deal breaker for me. >> >> If anyone has one of these models and isn't sure how to find out what >> the chipset is, as far as I know, you can find it out if you have boot >> camp running. The device manager in Windows tells you the manufacturer of >> the chipset.. >> >> Thanks to anyone who might be able to hook me up with this info. >> >> Justin >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > -- Vince Mistretta My Tech / Programming mailbox -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
