USB 3 adapters for Thunderbolt 2 ports in Mac Pro late 2013?

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USB 3 adapters for Thunderbolt 2 ports in Mac Pro late 2013?

The Mac Pro late 2013 has six Thunderbolt 2 ports and four USB 3 ports. I have no devices that need Thunderbolt 2 ports and lots of devices that need USB ports. But I cannot find a simple way to adapt a Thunderbolt 2 into a USB. There are some expensive docks out there but most have bad reviews or are out of stock indefinitely or both. I could probably just make do with a USB 3 dock plugged into a USB 3 port, but even those have problematic reviews and high prices. Any suggestions?

Two of the USB 3 ports are permanently occupied by the mouse and the keyboard. One has the backup external drive. That leaves one USB port for anything else. I have noticed that it is becoming unreliable for an external hard drive through years of getting plugged into and unplugged. Is there another way to connect the mouse and keyboard? I imagine they don't need a super fast connection.

Mac Pro, macOS 10.14

Posted on Jun 9, 2020 2:08 AM

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Answer 1

George31416 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 9, 2020 10:46 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Thanks! I don't have any bare SATAs ... My external drives are the plug-in type.

I visited OWC and ended up with a basic USB 3 dock. I will put the wired mouse and keyboard there.

The empty Thunderbolt 2 ports will remain a testament to technical obsolescence.

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Answer 2

George31416 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 10, 2020 12:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks again, BDAqua and Grant. I had never paid any attention to the two USB ports in the wired keyboard. Now my classic A1152 mouse is happily drawing power from the keyboard. I have a stack of these that I bought used on eBay. Most die by strain on the cord insertion point.

I use one USB port for all sorts of devices, and the only devices that have had difficulty with it are the external hard drives (4T and 6T). For these, I have to switch ports. Now I bought enough port life to outlive the useful life of the late 2013, or the owner.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

240,197 points

Jun 10, 2020 5:17 AM in response to George31416

I'd choose the non-apple ones.

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Answer 4

Jun 9, 2020 2:23 AM in response to George31416

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB2U3DKR2/

Buy Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad for Mac in Silver - Apple

Buy Magic Mouse 2 for Mac in Silver - Apple

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Answer 5

Haroway

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2020 4:10 PM in response to George31416

You can connect Mouse and Keyboard via Bluetooth.

It saves you 2 USB ports

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Answer 6

George31416 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 9, 2020 10:54 PM in response to Haroway

Thanks! Some quick research shows that there are off-brand Bluetooth-compatible mice in the teens, while the Apple mouse is in the seventies. Does it make a difference?

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Answer 7

Jun 10, 2020 6:23 AM in response to George31416

Apple wired mouse can also be plugged into the "convenience" port on the keyboard, freeing a port. But there is generally not enough power for additional devices off the keyboard ports.

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