I work for TI and would like to see everyone buy USB PCIE cards with TI chipsets on it, but like everyone has pointed out, unlike Firewire where TI really does have an advantage, most USB cards should work fine for audio.

My old Dell laptop had an on board VIA chip set Firewire port. My Tascam FW-1884 would not work on that. Bought a TI Express Card; problem solved.

Thanks, Ed. Anecdotal evidence isn't too hard to find, especially when it comes to issues with integrated ports on laptops. What I've been searching in vain for - for years - is a technical explanation for why it is so. 


For all we know, VIA may have just released a badly-written driver. That wouldn't be a good reason to avoid, say, NEC chipsets.

bitflipper

My old Dell laptop had an on board VIA chip set Firewire port. My Tascam FW-1884 would not work on that. Bought a TI Express Card; problem solved.

Thanks, Ed. Anecdotal evidence isn't too hard to find, especially when it comes to issues with integrated ports on laptops. What I've been searching in vain for - for years - is a technical explanation for why it is so. 


For all we know, VIA may have just released a badly-written driver. That wouldn't be a good reason to avoid, say, NEC chipsets.

Possibly, but do you really think that Jim and Scott both say TI Firewire because of VIA chipset only? I'm gonna go out on a limb and say they've probably tested them all and continue to do so as new versions of hardware and drivers are available. They are in the business of providing solutions that work. I believe they are not casual observers. JMO.