Which adapter to backup content from 2019 iMac with USB-3 ports to La Cie Mini SSD with USB-C cable

iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

https://www.laciestorage.com/Rugged-Mini.asp

You could plug the USB-C to USB-C cable from the La Cie Rugged Mini SSD external drive directly into one of your Mac's two USB-C / Thunderbolt ports.

You're not going to get much if any speed benefit by doing so – the drive's interface tops out at USB 3.0 speed. So if you have something else that could take advantage of those USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 ports – e.g., it needs USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds, or DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt – you could hang the SSD off one of your USB-A ports, with help from an adapter rated for USB 3.0 speeds. If you have open USB-C ports, might as well use them for now.

Madison_Ave wrote:

I'm looking for a USB-3 male with USB-C female adapter for an iMac.

You can find a lot of USB-A male to USB-C (male or female) cables on Amazon. If you had a male-to-male one, you wouldn't need the cable that came with the drive. However, given what you're saying about the interfaces that the drive has, I think you want to plug it into one of your USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports for best performance.

Also, my specs show USB-3.1. Thunderbolt USB4

I may have been looking at the wrong LaCie link. Is this the correct one?

https://www.lacie.com/products/ssd/

This page claims that the Rugged Mini SSD has a USB Gen 2x2 interface, and is "Forward compatible with USB 40Gbps and Thunderbolt 4, compatible with USB 20Gbps and Thunderbolt 3."

Your Mac doesn't have USB4 or support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Its USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports can speak

• Thunderbolt 3 (over a Thunderbolt cable) – which would give you the best connection to that drive if the drive speaks Thunderbolt 3 and "compatible" is not just a euphemism for "works with USB-C (USB)".
• USB 3.1 Gen 2 (over a USB-C cable rated for 10 Gbps data transfer speeds or better).

Connecting the drive to a USB-A( USB 3.0 ) port would offer lower performance than either of those methods.

see > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFVNX2NK/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?

Not sure why you would need to use a USB-A to USB-C adapter, when the LaCie's USB-C cable can be plugged directly into one of the 2019 iMac's Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports.

Madison_Ave wrote:

When I plug in the LaCie SSD into any of my computer ports the message I receive is:

"USB Accessories Disabled. Unplug the accessory using too much power to re-enable USB devices"

Nothing is plugged in to my USB or Thunderbolt - I have a wireless keyboard and mouse. Also, the LaCie cable doesn't quite fit. None of the ports can accommodate the La Cie.

https://www.lacie.com/manuals/rugged-mini-ssd/ says that the device ships with a USB-C cable (USB 3.2 gen 2x2), and has diagrams indicating that the cable is not "captive" to the drive.

It is simply a USB-C to USB-C cable rated to carry USB data at USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 speed.

You should be able to plug either end of that cable into one of your Mac's two USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports. If that cable doesn't fit, then

• Something is wrong with the cable,
• Something is wrong with the ports on your computer, or
• You have not correctly identified the USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports

A USB to USB C adapter, use Amazon to search and you will find many of them.

If you have the same problem with the adapter in a USB-A port. Then that suggests, there is a problem with the LaCie cord or the drive.