Apple Intelligence is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac!
📢 Newsroom Update
Apple’s all-new Mac mini is more mighty, more mini, and built for Apple Intelligence. Learn more >
Apple’s all-new Mac mini is more mighty, more mini, and built for Apple Intelligence. Learn more >
📢 Newsroom Update
Apple introduces M4 Pro and M4 Max. Learn more >
Apple introduces M4 Pro and M4 Max. Learn more >
I have a MacMini late 2012, Model Identifier: Macmini6,2 Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i7 Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz Number of Processors: 1 Total Number of Cores: 4 L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB L3 Cache: 6 MB wit 383 GB SSD.
I want to use the free Thunderbolt 1 port to connect a backup drive with a USB connector . I have googled almost three days now to find a suitable cable/adaptor without result. Any suggestion?
Mac mini, macOS 10.15
You could use a Thunderbolt 2 dock. They have USB ports but are not cheap.
https://www.startech.com/cards-adapters/tb2dock4k2dp
https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Thunderbolt-Cable-Included-10024010/dp/B00IM3OZ1C
You could use a Thunderbolt 2 dock. They have USB ports but are not cheap.
https://www.startech.com/cards-adapters/tb2dock4k2dp
https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Thunderbolt-Cable-Included-10024010/dp/B00IM3OZ1C
I have a couple of thoughts to share. First, yes you should be able to connect an external drive with the right cable. Most drives now ship with a couple of USB cables. Each has a different connecter at one end and a standard larger USB connecter at the other end. You may see the right one on the vendor's web site. Also, their customer service people may be able to answer your question. Apple's web site has a lot of products for sale, including cables under the accessory link. Their connecters are shown and described.
As noted, you might also look at getting an external bridge to provide you with more ports. But be sure to get one with its own external power source or the external disk likely will not work.
My aim was to use an unused port (thunderbolt, firewire). I have two large SSD backup drives that I wanted to connect to a faster port. A bridge, as mentioned, is probably the best solution.
Thank you for your input.
Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort does not convert to USB.
If you need more USB ports, then you need to get and use a USB hub.
Thank you for the info.
Thunderbolt connection cable/adaptor
