Mac Mini late 2014 Model - Any Recommended 2.5 Gbps+ Ethernet adapters ?

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Mac Mini late 2014 Model - Any Recommended 2.5 Gbps+ Ethernet adapters ?

I would like to know, if anyone has experience of using any ethernet adapters above 1 Gbps with the Mac Mini (late) 2014 model - either Thunderbolt 2 or USB 3 based.

For example, with this model of the Mac Mini, is there anything that is both currently compatible with the USB 3(.0) ports on (this late 2014 model of the Mac) and on similar PC platforms - that supports 2.5 Gbps ethernet or better ?

If you have such experience, are you able to use the device with the "current" Mac OS Sur release on this model of the Mac Mini - and does it require some "hacking" of the security to do so (such as I had to do so with my newly purchased Buffalo LUA4-U3-AGTE).... ?

Mac mini, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 1, 2021 7:18 AM

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Answer 1

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svaardt Author

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Nov 30, 2021 7:40 AM in response to svaardt

I've given up. Thunderbolt 2 will operate at 10Gbps, but apparently needs an external power source. and the only 10gbps LAN adapter that supports this, according to OWC, is a 900 US$ device.... which is clearly more than the value of my old 2014 (late) Mac mini itself.

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Answer 2

Nov 2, 2021 1:57 PM in response to svaardt

I'm not sure about adapters, you might try Amazon. The following is what I got from looking up my specs on thunderbolt in "About This Mac", under the Apple Icon upper left corner. I have a late model 2014 Mac mini:

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Answer 3

Nov 2, 2021 2:39 PM in response to svaardt

The operating system would need to support the 2.5 Gbps Ethernet adaptor and if from a third-party, likely the custom device driver needed to use it, that is compatible with your operating system version.

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Mac Mini late 2014 Model - Any Recommended 2.5 Gbps+ Ethernet adapters ?

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