Adding ports to a 2017 MacBook Pro

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Level 1

5 points

Adding ports to a 2017 MacBook Pro

On my desk, I have my 2017 MacBook Pro connected to a Thunderbolt Display. Works very well!!

I would like to connect more devices to my MacBook Pro while in this setup.

The ports on the back of the Thunderbolt Display are in use but are outdated and slow. So I'm trying to take advantage of the faster ports on the MacBook Pro.

The glitch is that the only way I can make this MBP/Thunderbolt Display work together is to use one of the MBP's Thunderbolt ports for AC, and the only other one to connect directly to the The Thunderbolt Display (through a DisplayPort converter). If I run either of these inputs thru a hub, the MBP and the Thunderbolt Display will not work together.

What I would like most, is to be able to connect via USB 3 directly into my MBP to take advantage of the better speed and to increase the number of ports available.

Does anyone have experience with this?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.0

Posted on Dec 27, 2022 12:22 PM

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Answer 1

Karuizawa Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 27, 2022 6:49 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

OK. I was wrong. It seems mine is a Thunderbolt Display.

There are two lead-in cables. One is Thunderbolt2 which I have connected to and adapter for the MBP Thunderbolt3 port, and the other lead-in cable seems to be a MagSafe apparently for supplying power if wanted.

Thanks for correcting me.

Knowing this now, is it possible to do what I want?

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Answer 2

Johnb-one

Level 6

9,180 points

Dec 27, 2022 1:45 PM in response to Karuizawa

Hi, Karuizawa… get a powered Thunderbolt 3 dock.. an unpowered thunderbolt 3 hub will not have enough power on its own to do the 2nd thing you mentioned, ( plus buying a TB3 powered dock it’ll give you lots of ports… )

Look for one that supports charging/power over usb-c /Thunderbolt 3 … macsales.com might be a good place to look, caldigit makes one… there are other makers—plugable ?? Etc… I can’t recommend a maker, brand or company to you as I don’t have anything around here that’s Thunderbolt 3 or even Thunderbolt 2 or original Thunderbolt.. I have usb-c only, but that’s for my newer iPhone 13 Pro Max… so nothing Thunderbolt here… and no dock needed… I can tell you, though, that Thunderbolt 3 stuff is available… Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 stuff isn’t, so you’d need a TB3 to TB2/TB adapter…

john b

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Answer 3

Dec 27, 2022 5:03 PM in response to Karuizawa

<< The Thunderbolt Display (through a DisplayPort converter) >>

really a Mini DisplayPort converter? what make & model?

It sounds like you do not have the Thunderbolt Display at all, but its even twin the Apple Cinema Display LED 27-inch:

It includes three USB 2.0 ports and a convenient single cable with THREE connectors (Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe, and USB 2.0), a built-in iSight camera with a mic and a 2.1 speaker system.

from:

https://everymac.com/monitors/apple/studio_cinema/specs/apple-led-cinema-display-27-inch-specs.html

if yours has THREE connectors in the lead-in cable, it's the cinema display.

If yours has TWO connectors in the lead-in cable, it's the Thunderbolt Display.

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