Thunderbolt External Drive

[rlm45]

I need at least a 2TB Thunderbolt external drive to connect to one of my two Thunderbolt ports on my late 2013 iMac.

Is USB-c the same speed as Thunderbolt.

I need something fast to attach to the iMac to boot multiple Mac OS X's.

Ideas????

 

[pigoo3]

The most important aspect of this question is what ports does your Late 2013 iMac have. Don't know exactly what model Late 2013 iMac this is...but for discussions sake I assumed it was a 27" model.

As far as Thunderbolt...there are 3 versions of Thunderbolt...Thunderbolt 1, Thunderbolt 2, and Thunderbolt 3. If this is a Late 2013 27" iMac...it has 2 Thunderbolt 1 ports.

* Thunderbolt 1 speed is 10 Gbps.
* Thunderbolt 2 speed is 20 Gbps.
* Thunderbolt 3 speed is 40 Gbps.
* Thunderbolt 4 speed is 40 Gbps.

As far as USB-C ports. As far as I know...a USB-C port can handle any throughput speed from a Thunderbolt 1, 2, or 3 device (a USB-C port won't slow things down).

Also remember to always used the proper cables. With so many different port standards out there...always use the cable appropriate for the devices used. For example...wouldn't want to use a Thunderbolt 2 cable with a Thunderbolt 3 device.

HTH,

Nick

p.s. FYI...iMac's got Thunderbolt 2 in 2014...Thunderbolt 3 in 2017...and Thunderbolt 4 in 2021.

 

[rlm45]

You are right. I have 2 Thunderbolt 1 ports. I possible could use an adapter with a USB-s external drive to connect to the port. I had thought there would be a cost effective solution for a Thunderbolt external drive.

I had read that you can use Thunderbolt 2 with Thunderbolt 1 port.

Not sure though.

Thanks

 

[MacInWin]

USB-c is a format for a plug. Thunderbolt is a protocol for data transmission. Have a read here:

What is Thunderbolt, and is it different from USB-C?

Do you know what Thunderbolt is and how it differs from USB-C? Don't worry. Here's everything you need to know about what Thunderbolt technology can do for you.

www.digitaltrends.com

 

[pigoo3]

I had read that you can use Thunderbolt 2 with Thunderbolt 1 port.

Normally newer ports (USB or Thunderbolt) are compatible with older ports of the same type...but in some cases an adapter may be needed.

For example...here's a comparison of Thunderbolt cable plugs:



As can be seen...Thunderbolt 1 & 2 are the same...and Thunderbolt 3 & 4 are the same. If someone wanted to use a Thunderbolt 3 external device with a Thunderbolt 1 computer...probably would need an adapter or special cable.

Once you get close to deciding on an external storage device for your purposes...maybe post a link to it here so we can check it out too...before you "pull the trigger" on it.

Nick

 

[rlm45]

So I found this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09F6279PY/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza?th=1

Specs:

XS2000 Portable SSD Features and Specifications:
• USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Performance: Industry-leading read/write speeds up to 2,000MB/s1.
• High-speed Capacities: Up to 2TB2 to support high resolution images, 8K videos, and large documents.
• Built for Durability: Tested to be water resistant, dust resistant4 and shockproof with an included rubber sleeve.
• Pocket-sized Portability: Small, lightweight form factor for easy, on-the-go storage.
• Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
• Speed1: Up to 2,000MB/s read, 2,000MB/s write
• Capacities2: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB

So this looks like it might connect directly to the Thunderbolt 1 port, 10 Gbps.

I might need a adapter.

Comments?

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks for the Amazon link. If this external drive fits your needs (size & price)...and you've done some comparison shopping & know this is a good price...I say go for it.

This drive comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable. Since your Late 2013 iMac has no USB-C ports...but does have a Thunderbolt 1 port...you would need either a USB-C to Thunderbolt 1 adapter...or a cable that does the same thing.

Alternatively...you could get this drive and plug it into one of your Late 2013 USB 3.0 ports. You would then need a USB-C to "regular" USB adapter (basically a USB-C to USB-A adapter)...or a cable that does the same thing.

Different speeds of newer USB ports:

* USB 3.0 is 5Gb/s
* USB 3.1 is 10Gb/s
* USB 3.2 is 20Gb/s

Fastest USB port on any iMac is/was USB 3.0 (at this time).

Nick

 

[rlm45]

I can not find a cable or adapter for a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port (mini display port) to USB-C.

Apple can really complicate things???

 

[pigoo3]

Here's an example of what I think you would need if you purchased the Amazon drive you linked earlier. Not saying you should purchase this adapter...but I think it or something like it should work:

Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Connect your Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5 enabled device to any other Thunderbolt 2 external hard drive, RAID solution, Thunderbolt docks, or PCIe expansions chassis.

eshop.macsales.com

If for some reason it doesn't work...return it.

Nick

 

[MacInWin]

Here's an example of what I think you would need if you purchased the Amazon drive you linked earlier. Not saying you should purchase this adapter...but I think it or something like it should work:

Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Connect your Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5 enabled device to any other Thunderbolt 2 external hard drive, RAID solution, Thunderbolt docks, or PCIe expansions chassis.

eshop.macsales.com

If for some reason it doesn't work...return it.

Nick

Nick, I think that is the inverse of what is needed. The old Mac has a TB1/2 port, but the new drive will be USB-c, so the conversion is the opposite of that adapter. I don't think I've ever seen one like that.

 

[rlm45]

I find it hard to believe that no one has a product (male mDP) cable or adapter that will connect a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 to a USB device.

That means that all those Apple Products that have these Thunderbolt ports, the ports are useless.

Only Apple does this to their customers!

If someone comes across something will work please let me know.

Thank you,

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I can not find a cable or adapter for a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port (mini display port) to USB-C.

There is no such thing. You can piggy-back a dock and an adapter, and it may or may not work. But it would be so expensive to try that you probably wouldn't even want to. See:

https://apple.stackexchange.com/que...-c-dock-with-older-macbook-pros/267009#267009

In practice, your iMac was designed to allow you to attach a 5Gbps USB 3.0 external hard drive . That's not too shabby. It's not as fast as current USB interfaces, but it's about 6 times faster than the fastest Firewire interface.

Apple can really complicate things???

Apple didn't complicate anything. Thunderbolt 1/2 interfaces were never really intended to be a way to attach external hard drives. (USB hard drives were, and still are, the standard.) They were an updated way to attach higher resolution monitors. (Thunderbolt 3/4 is more of a multi-function type of interface.) Also, when Apple designed Thunderbolt 1/2 interfaces, they likely had no idea that someday they would be providing Thunderbolt 3/4 interfaces with USB-C connectors on their Macs. Unless you seriously are upset that Apple wasn't omniscient, your only beef is that third-party adapter developers never thought that it was financially feasible to design and offer Thunderbolt 1/2 adapters that would allow you to attach Thunderbolt 3/4 devices to your now obsolescent Macintosh.

 

[rlm45]

So attaching an SSD Drive to the Thunderbolt 1 port is not an option. Currently, I am running Mac High Sierra from a 3.0 USB port using an external HDD. High Sierra using this HDD is so slow, slow to boot, slow to do anything, I was hoping to find a better place to put it.



Apple told me, it is not a good idea to partition the fusion drive so I can not use the extra 650 GB's on that drive. Apple said it could damage, split the fusion drive.



It seems my only option is to completely cut off El Capitan for High Sierra, and I am not ready to do that yet.



Or attach an external SSD to the USB 3 port, and I am not sure that will perform any better than the HDD.



Ideas???

 

[pigoo3]

Or attach an external SSD to the USB 3 port, and I am not sure that will perform any better than the HDD.

What makes you "not sure" it won't perform any better? Do you have research that says so? If not...give it a try.

I mentioned this in 2 threads...external SSD via USB 3.0 port should be faster than an external spinner HD. Also should get a "blade SSD" (also called NVMe SSD)...since these are typically faster SSD's.

Of course remember that an external drive many times will be slower than an internal drive of the same type. Just one of the compromise's that must be made. But an external SSD via USB 3.0 will be better than a spinner HD.

I also already mentioned that you could install an internal SSD (in addition to the Fusion drive already installed)...but I also mentioned this is a VERY complex DIY project...and would probably be too expensive to have done professionally. Thus you are left with the external drive option.

Nick

 

[rlm45]

I think this horse has been rode as far as it will go. Thank you,

I spoke with Kingston and their tech did not give me much confidence with performance connecting to USB 3.0.

So I could spend $125 for the 1 TB Kingston SSD with a USB adapter for C to A, and give it a try.

Currently I am doing a Time Machine backup from the USB HDD High Sierra to my NAS drive, and it takes forever.

I don't understand Apple always doing new OS's with more cutesy features.
The new iMac, no 27" display what is that????

The machine I own is super fast, great video, and from the testing I have done I see no advantage migrating to High Sierra.

I am an old guy, clearly with not enough to do so I appreciate this forum.

Thanks, I learned a lot from all this information.

 

[MacInWin]

An SSD will be much faster at data movement than an RDHD.

NAS backups are always slow, they cannot move at more than the speed of the slowest device in the network (The entire network slows to accommodate the slowest attached device, been that way for decades.) Add to that the low priority of a TM backup (so as not to interfere with what you are doing while the backup is underway) and a TM backup to NAS is dead slow. Particularly for a new, full, backup. Incrementals get faster to complete because there is less data to move.

I don't understand Apple always doing new OS's with more cutesy features.
The new iMac, no 27" display what is that????

What does the OS have to do with a hardware decision by Apple? Apple may well have decided that sales of the 27" iMac didn't warrant continuation, or they could be working on a new model. We don't know because they don't share plans. And as far as "cutesy features," the new functionality of the more recent versions of the OS, I find I really like things like continuity, and focus, and security of the boot image are kind of important to me. Those are more important to me than the size of a screen. But it's definitely up to you what you want and need.

And you don't have to migrate to HS if you don't want to. But that old system, even if it is quick enough for you now, will fall further and further behind and eventually be left totally behind. And moving up, if you do decide to do that later on, will be harder because you are further behind. Smaller changes are easier, at least for me.

 

[pigoo3]

I think this horse has been rode as far as it will go. Thank you,

Definitely understand your desire to have 2 macOS's available to you (El Capitan for older apps & High Sierra as something newer).

One thing to consider...what percent of the time would you use the El Capitan OS...and what percent of the time would you use High Sierra?

Since partitioning the iMac's internal Fusion drive has its downsides/complications...you could install the macOS on the internal drive that you would be using the most...and install the macOS you would use less on some sort of external drive.

If you did the external 512GB blade SSD via UBS 3.0 idea I mentioned previously (about $75-$85)...you could try this out and see if its speed is good enough for the percent of time you would need the macOS installed on it (El Capitan or High Sierra).

If you find it's still too slow for you...return the items you purchased (of course purchase from a site that allows easy returns...such as Amazon).

Good luck,

Nick

 

[rlm45]

So after all this, I am going to use the Kingston 1TB SSD and attach it to a USB port.

The cable they supply is to short.

I have a USB 2.0 Cable, A Male to USB-C Male, 3A 6 feet.



Being a 2.0, 3A, Cable I am not sure it will give me best speeds.

What type of Cable would be best for this connection?

 

[pigoo3]

What type of cable is supplied with the Kingston 1TB SSD?

If the supplied cable is too short...then replace it with a longer cable of the same type.

Nick

 

[rlm45]

It is a 6 inch cable USB-C to USB-C. Need USB-A to USB-C, or adapter.