Mac mini (Late 2014) Thunderbolt ports
I would like to connect a high capacity drive with a USB-C cable to the Thunderbolt 2 port directly or through an adaptor/adaptor cable. Any recommendations?
Mac mini, macOS 12.3
You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
I would like to connect a high capacity drive with a USB-C cable to the Thunderbolt 2 port directly or through an adaptor/adaptor cable. Any recommendations?
Mac mini, macOS 12.3
I am not trying to replace my internal drive, this is to replace an external drive. The drive I bought is a 4 TB Crucial X6 portable SSD. It will replace my 1 TB Toshiba which works fine but it is running out of room as a Time Machine backup disk. The new drive is described as follows: "Crucial X6 4TB Portable SSD – Up to 800MB/s – USB 3.2 – External Solid State Drive, USB-C - CT4000X6SSD9". It comes with a short cable with USB-C terminals at both ends.
Note that the new drive is not powered externally, I assume the USB-C connection provides the power.
Thank you for your help!
I am not trying to replace my internal drive, this is to replace an external drive. The drive I bought is a 4 TB Crucial X6 portable SSD. It will replace my 1 TB Toshiba which works fine but it is running out of room as a Time Machine backup disk. The new drive is described as follows: "Crucial X6 4TB Portable SSD – Up to 800MB/s – USB 3.2 – External Solid State Drive, USB-C - CT4000X6SSD9". It comes with a short cable with USB-C terminals at both ends.
Note that the new drive is not powered externally, I assume the USB-C connection provides the power.
Thank you for your help!
That will not work for bus powered USB-C drives. You’re best bet for an external boot drive, is to just get and use a USB-A 3.0 SATA SSD. FWIW a 3.0 SATA SSD will give you around 500 MB/s which is around 7 or 8 times faster than your 2014 Mac Mini’s slow 5400rpm internal drive.
You can not connect that drive to your 2014 Mac Mini’s Thunderbolt port.
If it also came with a USB-C to USB-A cable the you will need to use that cable.
If not, them you will need to try a female USB-C to Male USB-A adapter.
for example > https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-USB-C-USB-Adapter-CTUSBCFUSBAMAD/dp/B08FSDMVNP/ref=pd_aw_fbt_img_sccl_1/144-3340786-9915212?
or > https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Type-Type-C-Adapter-Converter/dp/B07KCL8WZK/ref=asc_df_B07KCL8WZK/?
The Thunderbolt2 port on your Mini does not support USB in any form, unlike the later USB-C Thunderbolt based Macs.
Mac mini (Late 2014) Thunderbolt ports