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Trying to figure out if the Apple TB3 to TB2 Adapter will work in my instance. I have a Transcend portable TB2 drive that I'd like to use on my 2018 Mac Mini (TB3). Reviews are mixed regarding whether it'll work or not. Can someone with real world experience tell me if it will or not. Some folks on Amazon claim that it works, but Apple's description is ambiguous at best. Thanks.
The Transcend 2T portable drives that I see on-line have a USB 3.1 cable connection.
see > transcend 2tb external hard drive
Which means that the drive should plug directly into one of the 2018 Mac Mini's 3.1 USB ports.
If you have a later 2020 Mac Mini with only TB3/USB-C ports or want to plug the drive into one of the 2018 Mac Mini's TB3/USB-C ports, then you will need use a USB-C to USB 3.1 adapter.
For examples, see > https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1M2AM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter
or > https://www.target.com/p/philips-usb-cable-3-0-c-to-usb-a-female-adapter-0-15m-black/-/A-53245266
The adapter worked out great. My guess is this probably works with any portable Thinderbolt 2 drive as long as you're connecting it to a Thunderbolt 3 port on your computer -- not the other way around.
Anyway, hopefully the posters below will delete their posts. Hate to see bad info being spread around.
You can't use the Apple TB 3 to TB 2 adapter in reverse with that Drive, because the Drive is not self-powered.
see > https://www.akitio.com/faq/373-can-i-connect-a-thunderbolt-3-device-to-a-thunderbolt-2-mac
To connect that drive up to your 2018 Mac mini, you will need to use the USB cable that was provided with the drive.
Harry Knuckles wrote:
Prefer to use Thunderbolt connection as it provides Trim support --...
Check first with the manufacturer as to whether they
suggest the use of TRIM. Several external SSD manufacturers
explicitly tell you not to use TRIM as it interferes with the internal
SSD maintenance firmware and can actually reduce performance
and longevity as well (OWC for one tells you not to use TRIM).
Harry Knuckles wrote:
Prefer to use Thunderbolt connection as it provides Trim support -- as well as being faster.
+1 you need to check with the manufacture about SSD Trim support. You have not told us exactlly which Transcend drive you have. It will only be a fast as the enclosure and connection method.
That said, are you confirming that the adapter will work?
Yes, however the Philips USB-C to USB 3.1 adapter will only run at the same speed as connecting the drive directly to the 2018 Mac Mini's USB 3.1 port.
Other USB-C to USB-A adapters in including Apple's, will only be USB 2.0 and much much slower.
The drive is a Transcend Thunderbolt Solid State Drive StoreJet for MAC.
Tempted to take a chance on the adapter working connected via Thunderbolt. A few reviews on Amazon report success.
"We can use our old machines or our newest machines with our ultra-fast Thunderbolt portable drives."
"Works great with My Passport Pro portable hard drive"
"I've had no trouble with it on multiple Thunderbolt 2 drives I have been using (another Passport)"
Oh, well. Can always use it to turn our old iMac into a monitor if it doesn't.
den.thed wrote:
......
Other USB-C to USB-A adapters in including Apple's, will only be USB 2.0 and much much slower.
I have the Apple USB-C to USB3 adapter and it fully supports USB 3.0
when connected to a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port.
You're not getting it. The device I have is not a Thunderbolt 3 drive (as stated in your example). It is a Thunderbolt 2 drive. Again...I will be using the adapter to connect my thunderbolt 2 device to my my Mac Mini (Thunderbolt 3).
You are confusing the issue. Please stop replying with answers that have nothing to do with my original question.
Yes I do get it.
You want to use the TB 2 connection on that drive to connect the drive to your 2018 Mac mini.
What I'm telling you, is that the TB 2 on that drive is not compatible with the TB 3/USB-C ports on the 2018 Mac Mini.
Ah' you are correct. I found the full spec's at > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207816
Wonder why Apple didn't use the blue color coding standard for the USB-A end of that adapter?
Prefer to use Thunderbolt connection as it provides Trim support -- as well as being faster. That said, are you confirming that the adapter will work?
I ordered one. I'll let you know if it works or not.
den.thed wrote:
,,,
Wonder why Apple didn't use the blue color coding standard for the USB-A end of that adapter?
Didn't fit their pure white dongle color scheme?
Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter with portable TB2 drive
