Differences between FireWire and USB

FireWire vs. USB

FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394) and Universal Serial Bus (USB) are serial bus interfaces for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. Developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, FireWire was initially created by Apple and later standardized as IEEE 1394. USB was developed by a group of companies including Intel and Microsoft, with the standard officially released in 1996.

While both were designed to provide a more effective connection than previous serial and parallel ports, they differed in their technical design and market adoption. FireWire was initially faster and was favored for applications requiring high-speed, continuous data transfer, such as digital video and audio. USB was less expensive to implement and gained widespread support across a broader range of consumer devices.

Comparison Table

Category	FireWire	USB
Initial Release	1995	1996
Data Transfer	Isochronous (real-time data)	Packet-based
Network Topology	Peer-to-peer	Host-based (master-slave)
Device Connectivity	Up to 63 devices (daisy-chaining)	Up to 127 devices (via hubs)
Initial Speeds	FireWire 400: 400 Mbps	USB 1.1: 12 Mbps
Later Speeds	FireWire 800: 800 Mbps	USB 2.0: 480 Mbps; USB 3.0: 5 Gbps
Power Delivery	Up to 30V and 1.5A	Typically 5V; up to 0.5A (USB 2.0) or 0.9A (USB 3.0)

Venn diagram comparing Differences between FireWire and USB

Technical Differences

A key architectural difference lies in their network topology. FireWire uses a peer-to-peer network, allowing devices to communicate directly with each other without needing a host computer. This was advantageous for tasks like transferring video directly from a camcorder to an external hard drive. In contrast, USB employs a host-based system where all communication is managed by the computer.

FireWire's isochronous data transfer provides a constant, real-time data stream, which made it reliable for professional audio and video applications where consistent bandwidth is critical. USB, on the other hand, transfers data in packets, which can be more susceptible to interruption if other devices are competing for bandwidth.

Another notable feature of FireWire was its ability to daisy-chain devices, connecting one device to another in a series, with a maximum of 63 devices on a single bus. USB devices connect to a central hub or directly to the computer, supporting up to 127 devices.

Market Adoption and Evolution

The cost of implementation played a significant role in market adoption. USB's simpler technology and the absence of patent fees made it a more affordable option for manufacturers to include in their devices. FireWire's patents, held by Apple, required licensing fees, which limited its widespread integration.

While early versions of FireWire offered superior speed, USB technology advanced rapidly. The introduction of USB 2.0 offered a theoretical speed of 480 Mbps, surpassing FireWire 400. Later, USB 3.0 provided a significant speed increase to 5 Gbps, far exceeding FireWire 800's 800 Mbps.

Due to its lower cost, broader manufacturer support, and continual speed improvements, USB became the dominant standard for connecting peripherals to personal computers. FireWire remained relevant for a time in niche professional markets but was eventually superseded by USB and later, Thunderbolt, for high-speed data transfer.