Ask Me Help Desk - Firewire PCI card

Is it possible for a malfunctioning firewire PCI card (you know, that you put in mobo PCI slot and you get, say 3 "1394" slots) so is it possible that it PERMANENTLY damages FW equipment that you plug in it? I mean permanent damage probably to their firmware, not just malfunction a long as they are connected. Coz mine, it was on the mobo, when a voltage problem caused the mobo and graphic card to burn. And now I have a problem on my 1394 audio interface that I can't sort at all! Can it have been caused but the firewire PCI card? It seems extreme. :eek:

Quote:

Originally Posted by babagau

Is it possible for a malfunctioning firewire PCI card (you know, that you put in mobo PCI slot and you get, say 3 "1394" slots) so is it possible that it PERMANENTLY damages FW equipment that you plug in it? I mean permanent damage probably to their firmware, not just malfunction a long as they are connected. Coz mine, it was on the mobo, when a voltage problem caused the mobo and graphic card to burn. And now I have a problem on my 1394 audio interface that I can't sort at all! Can it have been caused but the firewire PCI card? It seems extreme. :eek:

The quick answer is yes. Anytime you have an electrical connection between two electronic devices, there is always a chance that one could damage the other; especially if one of the failing cards fails beyond the scope of the manufacturer's testing intent. One example of this would be that a large metallic screw is dropped onto a card causing a mass short circuit; the results of which are passed on to any connected devices.

Thank you xphelper, I forgot to mention that the device is powered by wall socket and not the firewire. A friend of mine suggested that I should also check the stability of the voltage at my house. Can it still have been damaged by the PCI FW card, although it transmits only data? Maybe the house's current is so unstable that the card cannot operate properly. But, still all other electrical appliances are fine. Do you think this is more propably the case? I'll try check the FW device at another house.

Hello babagau,

You must have power to transmit data and any electrical short (like the screw example I used) can place an unexpected voltage on that data transmission connection. Please understand that I am not implying that happened. I was only just trying to answer your "is it possible" question.