Connecting 2011 Mac mini to a new SSD external - cable question

shahar17 wrote:

Hey,

I am using my old Mac mini mid 2011 as a data center mostly for music. I want to add a new SSD - the kind you put a memory stick into enclosure.

On the Mac mini 2011 there is a Thunderbolt input which support 10G - I Believe it to be the fastest port there (more than USB).

I can't find a data cable that enable this connection - TB(1 or 2) to USB mini (which is TB(3 or 4). There is cables like that on amazon but they are for Mini Display (which is like TB1 port) and they are saying they are all saying "USBC to Mini DisplayPort cable does NOT work with Thunderbolt/Thunderbolt 2 port, NOT support all old MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, or iMac with Thunderbolt/Thunderbolt 2 port. USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter cable is NOT compatible with audio interface or external hard drives."

Any one have an idea how can I make this connection or maybe know about a cable like that?

TB/1-2 Mini DisplayPort does not convert to faster USB-C or TB3/4.

No one ever made TB/1 or TB/2 drive enclosures that supported a blade drive.

Apple sold a TB/2 to TB/3 adapter, but it does not supply power to bus powered external drives.

The best preforming external drive setup for the 2011 Mac mini, is a 2.5" SATA SSD in a USB-A 2.0 enclosure.

Another option, is to replace the 2011 Mac mini's existing spinning 5400rpm HDD with a 2.5" SATA SSD.

see the "install video" at > https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/mac-mini/2011

[Edited by Moderator]

FWIW, just get a regular old hard disk drive which will be plenty fast enough to stream music over the USB2 ports on the 2011. Transfers will be in the 30-40 MB/s range and even 192 kHz, 24 bit uncompressed stereo audio is around 1.2 MB/s (AAC and MP3 audio is way less than that) so an SSD is way overkill.

In that case, I’d buy a trusty regular external and not get into adventures with fake so-called external SSDs (unless you like adventures). All the best!

A new SSD with enclosure will cost a third that of a new mini. Then there’s the effort of migrating your stuff and making it all work on an obsolete OS.

Got the point? 2011 is more ancient than prehistoric. Discard and migrate to new.