How to Connect Crucial X6 External SSD (USB 3) to iMac late-2015 to bypass internal SATA HD

Question

How to Connect Crucial X6 External SSD (USB 3) to iMac late-2015 to bypass internal SATA HD

How to Connect Crucial X6 External SSD (USB 3) to iMac late-2015? trying to bypass the SATA HD so it will work faster (normal speed at least!)

What I have done so far:

External SSD is formatted to AFSA
MacOS is installed in External SSD
Time Machine backed up - using desktop's USB Type A port

Problem:

But startup with Ext SSD-keeps 'failing' and restarting. I am thinking it's the connector cable/ports that aren't fast enough to handle startup.
And I can't find any connector cables anywhere for Thunderbolt 2 male and USB-C male.

Already tried: USB-C male to HDMI female with HDMI male to HDMI male to HDMI female port to Thunderbolt 2 but it still won't work.

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks

iMac 21.5″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Feb 6, 2023 11:02 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MartinR

Level 7

25,346 points

Feb 6, 2023 11:43 AM in response to Late2015iMacs

Your Crucial X6 External SSD is a USB device. It has a USB-C connector and probably came with a cable that has a USB-C connector on each end. Can't use that kind of cable with a late-2015 iMac. You need a USB-C to USB-A cable like this one.

Plug the USB-A end of the cable into one of the USB ports on the back of your iMac. Do not plug it into any kind of adapter or even a USB hub. Plug it directly into your iMac.

You cannot use this drive via an HDMI or Thunderbolt port on a late-2015 iMac.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,442 points

Feb 6, 2023 11:56 AM in response to Late2015iMacs

The Crucial X6 is a USB-C 3.2 drive that ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB A dongle that would allow you to connect it to your USB-A 3.0 ports on the iMac. That is the only connectivity solution for the X6 to an iMac with Thunderbolt 2 ports, so stop the cable guesswork. Want faster performance? Then get a Mac with Thunderbolt 3/4 ports that will take that X6 directly at its full USB-C drive performance.

The Crucial X6 is capable of up to 800 MB/sec under ideal cabling and computer configuration conditions. Your USB-3 ports on your iMac can theoretically support 5 Gbps (625 MB/sec). Both capacities are likely to be less on your 2015 iMac but still substantially faster than an internal rotational drive.

Once you grasp the first two paragraphs here, the means of how you got macOS onto the external Crucial X6 would matter in its ability to sustain a stable boot and runtime experience.

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Answer 3

Jack-19

Level 8

46,278 points

Feb 6, 2023 12:18 PM in response to Late2015iMacs

Hi there!

It sounds like you've already successfully connected the Crucial X6 SSD to your iMac and installed macOS, but it won't complete startup.

Since you'd like to use an external SSD as your primary startup disk, I'd recommend a different storage product than the Crucial X6. The X6 is an economy SSD model, and one that isn't particularly reliable or fast. The Crucial X8, the more premium Crucial external offering, would be more suitable for the task of a startup disk.

Or, you could use the premium LaCie Mobile SSD Secure USB-C Drive - Gray - Apple and a USB-C to USB-A adapter cable, such as this one.

Hope this helps!

Jack

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Answer 4

Feb 7, 2023 12:23 PM in response to MartinR

Thanks, but I already tried this.

That's how I backed up the internal drive onto the external drive: "Time Machine backed up - using desktop's USB Type A port " - I used a USB-C to USB-A cable directly from external drive to port on the back of the iMac.

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Answer 5

Feb 7, 2023 12:39 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks. I understand getting a new Mac would connect easily to the Crucial X6 so I'm not sure if you grasped the reason for my question. Also, suggesting someone buy a whole new desktop is not an answer to my question - not everyone can afford or wants to spend that amount of money when there is a workable, cheaper, more eco-friendly option. Like me, I'm trying to get the most out of my iMac before making it tech waste.

When I mentioned "Time Machine backed up - using desktop's USB Type A port " I am referring to the USB-3 port. I used a USB-C to USB-A cable directly from external SSD to port on back of iMac to back up and also to install macOS Monterey.

Thanks for your time and input.

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Answer 6

Feb 7, 2023 12:26 PM in response to Jack-19

HeyJack!

Thank you! I was thinking about the Crucial X8. Do you think it's because it is the X6 model that it can't startup from it because it's not fast enough?

Thanks

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How to Connect Crucial X6 External SSD (USB 3) to iMac late-2015 to bypass internal SATA HD

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