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Adapter usb- c thunderbolt to 2017 Imac thunderbolt 2

I want to connect a Lacie thunderbolt usb-c mobile drive to my 2017 iMac. The port on the iMac is for thunderbolt 2. Is there a converter that can connect from usb-c to thunderbolt 2?

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Oct 12, 2020 11:22 AM

Reply
4 replies

Oct 14, 2020 3:01 AM in response to daisymonamia

Identify the ports on your Mac - Apple Support

"These Mac models have Thunderbolt 3 ports:

...

iMac introduced in 2017 or later"


Is this the drive?

https://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Rugged-Thunderbolt-External-Portable/dp/B0727PN9ZX

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91KqJYztIDL.pdf

"Your LaCie device is shipped with the following cables:

Thunderbolt (integrated on the device): use this cable if your computer has a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port.

USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C): use this cable if your computer has a USB-C port.

USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C)–to–USB 3.0/2.0 (Type A): use this cable if your computer does not have a Thunderbolt/Thunderbolt 2 port or a USB-C port."


If the iMac has Thunderbolt 2 The drive's attached cable will plug in. No adapter needed.


If the iMac has Thunderbolt 3, the USB-C to USB-C cable that comes with the drive will plug into the iMac's Thunderbolt 3 port.

Note that this is not a Thunderbolt 3 cable (no Lightning Bolt icon on the plugs).


If the iMac has Thunderbolt 3 and you want to use Thunderbolt instead of USB protocols, you would connect the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapter's Thunderbolt 3 cable into a Thunderbolt 3 port on the iMac and plug the drive's Thunderbolt cable into the adapter. It won't be any faster than the USB-C connectiom:

"While Thunderbolt 2 has the potential to reach transfers rates up to 20Gb/s, the port on LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C is Thunderbolt, which can reach up to 10Gb/s."


Oct 12, 2020 11:32 PM in response to daisymonamia

Are you sure you have a 2017 iMac? It has Thunderbolt 3. Maybe you have a 2015 iMac, even if purchased in 2017.

Click the at the top left of the screen and select "About This Mac".


Are you sure the LaCie drive is Thunderbolt 3, not just USB-C? What is the model number of the drive? A non-Thunderbolt USB-C device will not work with the Apple Thunderbolt adapter, even though the plugs will fit.

Oct 13, 2020 8:21 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

My thanks for your concern and suggestions.


The Drive is a 5TB Rugged Thunderbolt® USB-C Professional All-Terrain Mobile Drive

I have confirmed that my iMac is a 2017 from my about this mac tab.

I have ordered the Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor that rkaufmann87 recommended.


I am waiting for the cord to arrive. I am also holding my breath and dreading the process of cloning and setting up this drive with the goal speeding up my Mac's performance by booting from this drive.

Adapter usb- c thunderbolt to 2017 Imac thunderbolt 2

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