Morning. I purchased a new iMac, M4 chip, running Tahoe 26.2 and I need to Back up with Time Machine. I need to purchase an SSD but I am not sure which cable this iMac can support. This iMac has Thunderbolt/USB4 Bus 0.
iMac 24″, macOS 26.2
USB followed with a letter is a connector.
USB with a number is a protocol version, and different connectors can be used.
Thunderbolt connections are not usually relevant here, as most folks are not buying Thunderbolt-capable mass storage. Not unless you’re (for instance) buying a storage array.
USB-C connectors can support multiple protocols, including USB, USB Power Delivery, Thunderbolt, and other connections. Here, you want to use (buy) USB, and your Mac has USB-C connectors that support both Thunderbolt and USB4.
Okay, with all that written…
You’ll want a hard disk or SSD with a USB-C connector for the computer, though the older USB-A connectors can be made to work with an adapter.
A storage device with USB4 or one of the USB 3.x variants will work. You don’t want to buy a storage device with USB 2.0 or USB 1.1.
The documentation and the packaging will usually (always?) indicate USB-C or USB-A or whatever the particular device was built to connect with, and the package will usually include the cable necessary.
Most mid-grade and higher (recent) storage gear will have a USB 3.x or USB4 connection with USB-C connection on both ends of the cable, using USB-C on the computer snd USB-C on the device.
A hard disk will be cheaper and/or with larger capacity, and a somewhat slower Time Machine backup will not bother things with an iMac. An SSD can make backups faster, but at a higher price for the capacity.
The storage should be roughly 2.5 to 3 times the total storage capacity of the Mac internal storage and any configured external storage also needing backups, or more.
If you have multiple Macs around, a NAS can be a reasonable choice; network-attached storage.
USB followed with a letter is a connector.
USB with a number is a protocol version, and different connectors can be used.
Thunderbolt connections are not usually relevant here, as most folks are not buying Thunderbolt-capable mass storage. Not unless you’re (for instance) buying a storage array.
USB-C connectors can support multiple protocols, including USB, USB Power Delivery, Thunderbolt, and other connections. Here, you want to use (buy) USB, and your Mac has USB-C connectors that support both Thunderbolt and USB4.
Okay, with all that written…
You’ll want a hard disk or SSD with a USB-C connector for the computer, though the older USB-A connectors can be made to work with an adapter.
A storage device with USB4 or one of the USB 3.x variants will work. You don’t want to buy a storage device with USB 2.0 or USB 1.1.
The documentation and the packaging will usually (always?) indicate USB-C or USB-A or whatever the particular device was built to connect with, and the package will usually include the cable necessary.
Most mid-grade and higher (recent) storage gear will have a USB 3.x or USB4 connection with USB-C connection on both ends of the cable, using USB-C on the computer snd USB-C on the device.
A hard disk will be cheaper and/or with larger capacity, and a somewhat slower Time Machine backup will not bother things with an iMac. An SSD can make backups faster, but at a higher price for the capacity.
The storage should be roughly 2.5 to 3 times the total storage capacity of the Mac internal storage and any configured external storage also needing backups, or more.
If you have multiple Macs around, a NAS can be a reasonable choice; network-attached storage.
Any drive which connects through Thunderbolt 3+ or USB-C, as well as earlier Thunderbolt ports and USB with an adapter.
(262395)
Thanks Neil. To get clarity for my little brain, can I buy an SSD with USB 4?
BAM! Gordian knot cut!
OH, Masters, you have completely given me cable clarity. My consumer purchase confusion have been solved.
This Grasshopper now understands.
Thank you.
Which cable for Time Machine SSD on iMac M4?
