USB-C external drive to Thunderbolt 2 IMac.

[GerOwens]

Hi there,
I have a 2011 iMac 27”, which has a couple of Thunderbolt ports. I need to add a lot of external disk space, so I want to attach a bay. I bought apple's thunderbolt cable (A1410) and apple's thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 USB-C adapter (A1790) and tested it out on a Samsung T5 SSD drive before buying a bay and drives. The computer doesn't recognize the T5 SSD. I read where the thunderbolt to USB-C adapter works both directions, but I'm getting nothing. Any idea where i
I'm going wrong, and/or how I can solve this issue, as I'd like to spend money on a bay or drives that don't rely on using redundant ports.
Thanks!

 

[RadDave]

Hi there,
I have a 2011 iMac 27”, which has a couple of Thunderbolt ports. I need to add a lot of external disk space, so I want to attach a bay. I bought apple's thunderbolt cable (A1410) and apple's thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 USB-C adapter (A1790) and tested it out on a Samsung T5 SSD drive before buying a bay and drives. The computer doesn't recognize the T5 SSD. I read where the thunderbolt to USB-C adapter works both directions, but I'm getting nothing. Any idea where i
I'm going wrong, and/or how I can solve this issue, as I'd like to spend money on a bay or drives that don't rely on using redundant ports.

Hello and welcome to the forum! I'm in the same situation, i.e. trying to attach 2 new Crucial external SSDs via USB-C to TB 2 on my 2015 MBAir - I have been looking for a male-male adapter for several weeks w/o luck - thought that I found one on eBay but did not fit; I have a male-male TB cable so I could even get a TB 2 female end but no luck! SO, cannot help at the moment but will be anxious if a post is left suggesting a source - NOW, from your experience, will it work? Dave

 

[GerOwens]

Thanks for the message Dave,

These are what I've tried so far (used together obviously

Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0 m) - White

Apple Thunderbolt Cable lets you conduct fast data transfers by connecting Thunderbolt-enabled devices to your Mac. Get fast, free shipping.

www.apple.com

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Effortlessly connect your Mac to a Thunderbolt 2 device with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 Adapter. Buy now at apple.com

www.apple.com

If anyone has solved this issue, it'd be great to hear how. It must be possible.

 

[RadDave]

Thanks for the message Dave,

These are what I've tried so far (used together obviously

Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0 m) - White

Apple Thunderbolt Cable lets you conduct fast data transfers by connecting Thunderbolt-enabled devices to your Mac. Get fast, free shipping.

www.apple.com

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Effortlessly connect your Mac to a Thunderbolt 2 device with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 Adapter. Buy now at apple.com

www.apple.com

If anyone has solved this issue, it'd be great to hear how. It must be possible.

Thanks - the second choice from Apple I considered but @ $50 (my 500 GB Crucial SSDs were only $60 each), just the usual 'too much' from them - plus, the SSDs do work fine w/ a USB connection (and are backing up just the Data Volume of my 'small' 120+ GB MBAir on Monterey - my 'travel' computer - at least was before COVID!). I'll be curious if others have found a cheaper adapter (and still not sure that it would work?). Dave

 

[rbpeirce]

I previously had a 2012 MBP with a T2 port which I connected to a RAID Array. I now have a 2021 M1 MBP with T3 ports. This is what I did and it works. I have an Apple USBC/T3 to USBC adapter into which I plug an Apple USBC/T2 to FW800 adapter into which I plug a FW800 cable connected to a RAID array. This uses spinning HDs.

I've heard but can't confirm that SSDs can cause problems. I happen to have an SSD with a USB3 connector that I attach to a third-party USBC/T3 to USB3 adapter and it works.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Your 2011 iMac has a Thunderbolt 1 interface. You are trying to use a Thunderbolt 2 adapter.

Actually on a re-read, that adapter allows for connecting to Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 ports, but there's the rub. That Samesung SSD is USB-C and the adapter explicitly supports external Thunderbolt 3 devices. There is no mention of USB there.

"As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port and macOS Sierra or later."

EDIT: I found this article on StackExchange which seems to confirm my thoughts. This is worth a read.

Thunderbolt 1 to USB Type C adapter?

I have a 2012 MacBook Pro. It has a Thunderbolt (Mini DisplayPort) port. I'd like to plug a USB Type-C device into it, since Thunderbolt is faster than my USB 3.0 port. I'm having a hard time fi...

apple.stackexchange.com

 

[krs]

Actually on a re-read, that adapter allows for connecting to Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 ports, but there's the rub. That Samesung SSD is USB-C and the adapter explicitly supports external Thunderbolt 3 devices. There is no mention of USB there.

I don't understand your comment, TB3 by definition uses a USB-C type connector.

But back to the OP's problem - the Samsung T5 SSD spec states that it supports USB 2 and USB 3, I don't see anything there that it also supports TB3,
The Samsung T5 SSD comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable. As a starter, I would just plug that into a USB 2.0 port on the iMac to see if the SSD is recognized.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I don't understand your comment, TB3 by definition uses a USB-C type connector.

I never said differently. Just because an adapter was found to make this all technically plug in together doesn't mean they will WORK together. And obviously they don't. Thunderbolt 3 being compatible with USB 3.1 (which is the controller that the SSD uses) doesn't mean Thunderbolt 1 is, or at least not via this adapter. You have to be careful with adapters. Trying to translate multiple interfaces doesn't always work.