FireWire issues...?

[xandris]

This is my first post to the board.  I am a very experienced computer user, but have come across some trouble with my EX58A-UD5 motherboard.  I bought an Acomdata Tango external enclosure for a 250GB HDD.  This drive has 2 FW, and one USB connector.  According to the information from Acomdata, the enclosure should be powered properly by a 6 Pin FW400 cable, which the motherboard has one on the back, and one on the front of my case from the internal header.  The problem is, the enclosure doesnt do anything when JUST plugged into the FW port.  If I plug in ONE of the USB connectors and then connect that to the enclosure with the FW, the drive lights right up and there isnt any problems.  It also works fine when just connected to the computer with the USB ONLY.  Unfortunately, I dont have any other FW products to use for testing.  I have also tried using TWO different FW cables.  I suppose its possible that the enclosure is at fault, but would the FW ports even work AT ALL if it was in fact the enclosure?  Also seems unlikely this would affect BOTH FW ports on the enclosure.  The drivers on the MB are properly installed and functioning.  Its just the power thats the problem.  Any ideas?

[Dark Mantis]

it sounds to me like the external case isn't receiving enough power from the firewire port alone. Even though you said it should be self powered I would ahve thought that it would need an external power source as well. Is it a 2.5" or 3.5" drive?

[xandris]

2.5 SATA, 5400 RPM.  It came out of my MacBook Pro.  Kind of defeats the purpose of using the FireWire if I have to plug in a USB anyways to power it.  Im going to try with a FW800 to FW400 cable on my MacBook Pro and see if it works.  Had to order the cable as the local store didnt have a reasonably priced cable in stock.  Havent been able to test with MacBook at all yet.  IF that works, Ill just throw a FW800 Card into my desktop and use that.

[Dark Mantis]

Please let us know how you get on and if you are still having problems.

[Dark Mantis]

I think I have figured out your problem. There is a choice of firewire cables, one has four connections and one has six. To use a self powered drive such as yours is you need to use the six connection cable.

[xandris]

Sorry.  I used 3 different 6 Pin cables.  None of them work.  My next step is to try a 9 Pin FW800 to 6 Pin FW400 cable with my MacBook Pro.  I really think its the motherboard not powering the bus.  Which it SHOULD be doing.  If thats the case I think ill have to RMA the board.  Should be NO problems bus powering a 2.5, 5400 RPM drive. 

[Dark Mantis]

The board would be able to power your enclosure without any trouble. I seem to remember when I was looking through your drive case manual that it said something about having to get the power from a USB cable even though you were using a Firewire cable to transmit the data.

[xandris]

The manual says thats only the case when using a 4 Pin connector from the motherboard.  I am not using the 4 pin connector, I am using the 6 pin.  With the 6 pin, it should be able to be bus powered.  I found a FW800 to FW400 cable at work.  I will be trying on my Mac tonight.

[Dark Mantis]

Right let us know what happens.

[xandris]

Mac doesnt power it with FW800 cable either.  Taking the enclosure back to the store for an exchange or maybe ill look elsewhere for a different enclosure.  Glad to know its not my motherboard though!

[xandris]

I found a Verbatim HDD with FW800 and USB 2.0 at Frys for $105.  It works stupidly fast on my Mac, but with the provided FW800 to FW400 cable, it transfers at 2.1MB/Sec.  Ridiculous.  I give up.  At least the bus powering works.  Thanks for the suggestions.

[Dark Mantis]

Thanks for the information even though it may not have been a thoroughly perfect outcome.