9-pin firewire port?

Hi,
I just picked up a "low end" notebook which utilizes the express card 54. (express card 34 compatible)
I decided to get a MOTU ultralite...Took it back. Nothing but noise, but I'm sure it wasn't the MOTU. I used a SIIG express card 54 to firewire 400/800. (6 pin for 400, 9 pin for 800) After I took the MOTU back, I decided to trade it for a Saffire and a few other items to make up the price difference. Same results with the Saffire. So...I went and purchased a SIIG express card 34 with two 6 pin firewire ports, thinking that the 1394b drivers might br the culprit. 1394a are for the 6 pin 400mbps ports and 1394b are for the 800mbps ports. The SIIG express card 34 with two 6pin ports worked a little bit better, but is completely unuseful for digital audio.

Both the MOTU and The Saffire worked good on my Home setup. My notebook is a Compaq, (with a Sempron..I didn't buy it for audio, but I thought I'd give it a try) and today I'm receiving their digital media cable which has a firewire port built into it, but it uses a different expansion port. If this works, with the Saffire, then I know that these SIIG express cards are no good for firewire conversion. If I get the same results, well,... I need to step up to a better laptop. I'll post again tomorrow, after I try this media cable. Also, the SIIG 6pin / 9pin didn't work AT ALL with the Saffire.

You're right about the batteries = quieter. Actually, I found that using balanced cables to my balanced inputs on my monitors solved the noise problem. It's a grounding issue. As for the 9pin firewire, I gave it up with my laptop, and went USB with a Lexicon LambDA. After using the balanced cables with that, everythig works good for what I plan to do with it.

I kept the Saffire (firewire) and the ExpressCard 54. (400/800, 6+9 pin) I may continue to troubleshoot this issue. I'll let you know.

Keep in mind, I don't think it's the outboard gear, I think it's my own laptop. It wasn't built with a firewire controller, so to use firewire, it depends on the ExpressCard, or supposedly the All-in-one media cable which has a firewire port built in. (and that didn't work, probably because there's no host 1394 controller onboard)

I'll keep you posted with my findings.