This article takes a close look at the StarTech.com MPEX1394B3 Mini PCIe FireWire 800 x2 / 400 x1 Card, with a focus on the points where installations most often go wrong.
Overview
The StarTech.com MPEX1394B3 Mini PCIe FireWire 800 x2 / 400 x1 Card (MPEX1394B3 below) adds FireWire ports through a Mini PCI Express slot.
It provides two FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b, 9-pin) ports and one FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a, 6-pin) port, with transfer rates up to 800 Mbps. The short answer: it suits compact PCs that have a free full-size Mini PCIe slot with actual PCIe signaling, owned by people who want to keep using existing FireWire gear.
If your desktop has a free PCIe x1 slot, a regular PCIe FireWire card is easier to install and easier to find. The MPEX1394B3 earns its place in one situation: machines that cannot take a full-size PCIe card.
Mini-ITX boards, small-form-factor PCs, and embedded or industrial PCs where Mini PCIe is the only expansion option left are where it makes sense.
It supports plug-and-play and hot-swapping of FireWire devices, so you can connect external storage, video capture devices, or audio interfaces only when you need them.
Quick Guide: Buy or Skip
| Your situation | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Free full-size Mini PCIe slot and existing FireWire gear | Strong candidate |
| Desktop with a free PCIe x1 or larger slot | Prefer a standard PCIe FireWire card |
| Only a half-size slot | Not compatible |
| mSATA-only slot | Will not work (no PCIe signal) |
| No FireWire devices | Not needed; USB or Thunderbolt is enough |
| Planning to buy new external storage | Little reason to choose FireWire |
As the table shows, the decision hinges on two things: the type of slot you have and whether you already own FireWire equipment. Slot type is hard to judge by eye, so the compatibility guide below explains how to check it.
Compatibility Guide
Slot size: full-size only
The MPEX1394B3 is a full-size (about 30 x 51 mm) card compliant with PCI Express Mini Card 1.2.
Its listed dimensions of 51 x 30 mm match the full-size standard. On a half-size (about 30 x 27 mm) slot, the retaining screw hole lands partway along the card, so it cannot be secured.
Check photos or the manual for your motherboard to confirm the screw posts are spaced for a full-length card.
Confusing it with an mSATA slot
This is the most common mistake. mSATA uses the same connector shape as Mini PCIe, but carries SATA signals.
The MPEX1394B3 will physically fit an mSATA-only slot and simply not be detected. Check whether your manual calls the slot mSATA, mSATA/mPCIe shared, or Mini PCIe, and for shared slots, whether the BIOS needs to be switched to PCIe mode.
Laptop-specific limits
Some branded laptops use a BIOS whitelist that only accepts approved wireless cards, and will refuse to boot with anything else. Laptop Mini PCIe slots are also usually occupied by the Wi-Fi card, and removing it costs you wireless networking.
On top of that, there is the physical problem of getting external ports out of a laptop chassis, so treat laptop use as an advanced project.
M.2 is a different slot
Most recent PCs use M.2 rather than Mini PCIe.
M.2 Key A/E slots (for wireless cards) have a different shape and will not accept this card directly.
Adapters exist, but operation is not guaranteed, so we do not recommend buying this for a PC that only has M.2.
Connectors and cables
| Port | Pins | Standard | Bus power |
|---|---|---|---|
| FireWire 800 x2 | 9-pin | IEEE 1394b | Yes |
| FireWire 400 x1 | 6-pin | IEEE 1394a | Yes |
| (Reference) 4-pin devices | 4-pin | IEEE 1394a | No |
The FireWire 800 ports are backward compatible with IEEE 1394a-2000 and 1394-1995 devices, but you need a 9-pin to 6-pin or 4-pin cable. Many consumer DV camcorders use 4-pin jacks (including those labeled i.LINK), so plan on buying a 6-pin to 4-pin cable.
The 4-pin connector carries no power, so the camera must run on its own battery or AC adapter.
Power: watch out for bus-powered devices
A Mini PCIe slot can supply only limited power compared with a standard PCIe slot. The card is designed to accept an optional external power source, intended for bus-powered FireWire hard drives and audio interfaces.
If you plan to use bus-powered devices, check the product page or StarTech.com documentation for how external power is connected before you buy.
OS and drivers
Windows 10/11 include a standard IEEE 1394 driver, and the card is usually recognized without extra installation. Linux also has FireWire drivers in the kernel, but the manufacturer does not guarantee operation there.
macOS operation is not guaranteed either. For professional equipment, also check what host controller the equipment vendor recommends.
Product Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | MPEX1394B3 |
| Data transfer rate | 800 Mbps (FireWire 800), 400 Mbps (FireWire 400) |
| External ports | FireWire 800 (9-pin) x2, FireWire 400 (6-pin) x1 |
| Card specification | PCI Express Mini Card 1.2 |
| Supported slot | Mini PCIe (full-size) |
| Dimensions | 51 x 30 x 5 mm |
| Weight | about 90 g |
| Warranty | 2 years |
The manufacturer is Canada-based StarTech.com, which provides a 2-year warranty and lifetime free technical support.
Mini PCIe FireWire cards are rare, and for compact systems that cannot take a full-size PCIe card, this is close to the only practical choice.
At capture time on August 29, 2026, the price on Amazon.co.jp was ¥7,150.
Prices change with sales and stock, so check the product page for the current price.Check the retailer's page for the latest user reviews.
The rating is decent, but the sample is small, and many reviewers may be using different slot types or operating systems from yours.
For accessories, assume that a low-profile bracket and external power cable are not included, and use the product photos to confirm what is in the box and how the ports are presented (on the card itself or on a cabled bracket). In a compact PC, where you route the ports out of the case can decide whether the installation works at all.
Real-World FireWire 800 Speed
800 Mbps works out to roughly 100 MB/s in theory, and real transfers are slower depending on the device, cable, and drive.
In other words, the MPEX1394B3 is not about speed. It is about bringing existing FireWire equipment back into use.
People with a clear goal, such as capturing footage from a DV tape camcorder, keeping a FireWire audio interface, or controlling measurement gear that only speaks FireWire, will get the most out of it.
Comparison with Alternatives
| Product | Interface | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| StarTech.com MPEX1394B3 | Mini PCIe (full-size) | Compact and embedded PCs |
| Ableconn PEX-FW107 | PCIe (low-profile capable) | Desktops and slim PCs |
| Kuroutoshikou IEEE1394B-PCIE | PCIe (low-profile capable) | Desktops and slim PCs |
The Ableconn PEX-FW107 is a PCIe 1394b/1394a card built on the TI XIO2213 chipset, and the Kuroutoshikou IEEE1394B-PCIE is also a PCIe card. If you have even one free PCIe slot, these are simpler to install and avoid bracket headaches.
Choose the MPEX1394B3 only when a PCIe slot is physically absent or already taken.
Installation Steps
Shut down the PC, unplug the power cable, and wait a few seconds.
Use the manual to confirm the Mini PCIe slot location and type (full-size, or shared with mSATA).
Insert the card at an angle, press it down, and secure it with the screw.
Plan the route for getting the ports outside the case (bracket position and so on).
Boot up and, on Windows, confirm that an IEEE 1394 host controller appears in Device Manager.
If you use bus-powered devices, connect them only after external power is in place.
If the card is not detected, first check in the BIOS that the slot is enabled and not set to mSATA mode. If it still does not appear, the slot most likely lacks PCIe signaling.
Best Use Cases
- Mini-ITX and small-form-factor builders who need FireWire for audio interfaces or external drives.
Even without a full-size PCIe slot, a full-size Mini PCIe slot is enough to add FireWire ports.
- People who want to keep using older FireWire camcorders or capture devices with a current PC.
Most modern PCs lack FireWire, and this card lets you use the gear you already own, even if only until your DV tapes are digitized.
- Engineers working with embedded or industrial PCs that need to control FireWire devices.
The card is compact, and hot-swap support makes swapping devices during operation easier.
On the other hand, if you have no FireWire devices, USB or Thunderbolt will serve you better. It also will not work in PCs with no Mini PCIe slot, or newer PCs that only have M.2.
Things to Consider
This card is for Mini PCIe slots only. It will not fit standard PCIe x1 or x16 slots on desktop motherboards.
Because it is full-size, it cannot be mounted in half-size slots, and it will not work in mSATA-only slots even though they look identical.
Plan the port routing first. Compact cases often have no spare openings, and you can end up with a card that is installed but ports you cannot get outside.
Assume the low-profile bracket and external power cable are not included, and gather what you need in advance.
You will often need adapter cables. Using a 4-pin FireWire 400 device, as most DV camcorders are, requires a separate 6-pin to 4-pin or 9-pin to 4-pin cable.
The chipset is not listed in our data. FireWire audio interfaces and professional gear can be sensitive to the host chipset.
If your equipment vendor recommends a specific chipset, check StarTech.com's documentation for this card's chipset before buying.
Read the listing carefully. The Amazon listing shows the seller and shipper as Amazon US, so it may be an import listing.
Check delivery times and return terms before ordering. StarTech.com also sells similarly named FireWire cards, including PCIe versions, so confirm the model is MPEX1394B3 from the images and title when buying from search results.
**The review count is small.
FAQ
Q: Can I install this card in a standard PCIe slot on a desktop PC? A: No.
It is designed exclusively for Mini PCIe slots and will not physically fit a standard PCIe slot. If your desktop has a free PCIe slot, choose a PCIe FireWire card instead.
Q: Will it work in an mSATA slot? A: Not in an mSATA-only slot, because the slot carries no PCIe signal.
A shared mSATA/Mini PCIe slot may work once switched to PCIe mode in the BIOS.
Q: Will my FireWire 400 devices work? A: Yes.
The FireWire 800 ports are backward compatible with IEEE 1394a-2000 and 1394-1995 devices. Devices with connectors other than 6-pin, such as 4-pin, need an adapter cable.
Q: Can I use it in a laptop? A: In theory, yes, if a full-size Mini PCIe slot is free.
In practice, the slot is usually taken by Wi-Fi, BIOS whitelists may block it, and routing ports outside is difficult, so we do not recommend it for laptops.
Q: Is it faster than USB 3.0?
A: No. FireWire 800 tops out around 100 MB/s in theory, well below USB 3.0.
This card is about using existing FireWire equipment, not speed.
Product Disclosure (Amazon)
- Manufacturer: スターテック(STARTECH.COM)
- Seller: Amazon US
- Fulfilled by: Amazon US
- Model: MPEX1394B3
- ASIN: B004NNYJ34
- Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.
