Thunderbolt/Firewire adapter backwards compatible?

Question

Thunderbolt/Firewire adapter backwards compatible?

So I just bought a new 4TB G-Raid w/ Thunderbolt. Additionally, I bought a Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter, so I can connect my Firewire 800 equipped mac to the hard drive. IT DOESN'T WORK 😟. I've read that they only work with a Thunderbolt equipped mac, to a female fw 800 cable. However, the deeper I've dug, I've heard that they are indeed backwards compatible (specifically with the G-tech drives), or that there can be software drivers that can make them backwards compatible. Anyone have any ideas??

Speccs: 2010 mbp 17 inch. 2.53 ghz i5. 8gb RAM.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Aug 8, 2013 3:34 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Aug 8, 2013 3:49 PM in response to Chris Lee 310

Have you contacted the manufacturer?

Ciao.

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Answer 2

Aug 8, 2013 3:51 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

No I have not. I was hoping to find some answers on here, regarding if anyone has achieved the backwards compatibility with the adapters.

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Aug 8, 2013 3:59 PM in response to Chris Lee 310

You do know that a 2010 MBP does not have Thunderbolt capability. You do not need a Thunderbolt/Firewire adapter since the 2010 MBP has a separate Firewire port. What the 17" MBP does offer is the 34 Express card slot. I use this with an eSata card for eSata connections to my external HDDs. I don't know if this is an option open to you.

I looked quickly at the G products web site but I could not determine the exact model you have. If you give me a specific identifier, I will look again.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

Aug 8, 2013 4:06 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Yes, I know that my mbp doesn't have a TB port, but I was hoping that the adapter would solve this problem, as it would change the connectivity to FW 800. I realize that is bottlenecking it, but I didn't have much choice because of the harddrive I had to buy. As for the eSata connections, I've never used that method. So I guess I wouldn't really know where to begin in considering that. However, the current drive I have now is:

http://www.macmall.com/p/G-Technology-Racks-Enclosures-And-Arrays/product~DPNo~9 222671~pdp.hfejbdi?source=mwbgoogleshop&adtype=pla&kw=%7Bkeyword%7D&gclid=CNCE47 L67rgCFU5xQgodYSoArg

Thank you for your help! If all else fails, I'm just going to have to travel a bit further to buy a 4tb drive with FW, and return the one I just bought. Hopefully that's not the case....:/

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Aug 8, 2013 4:24 PM in response to Chris Lee 310

Looking just at the picture, there are only Thunderbolt connections. This is not for you.

Just as an example look at this enclosure:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPQ946QL2/

There are many options and configurations available from OWC and other vendors.

There are Firewire. USB AND eSata connection options. The transfer speeds of eSata are not as fast as Thunderbolt but are about twice as fast as Firewire. I have 12 external HDDs in enclosures that have eSata capability. If you have to transfer a lot of data it is good to have. Note that it does require an eSata 34 express card adapter to make the connection.

Ciao.

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Answer 6

Aug 8, 2013 4:29 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Yes, I know that there are only Thunderbolt connections on this drive. My original question was whether anyone has had anyluck using the specific Apple brand, Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter, in order to connect a thunderbolt drive to a FW800 mac.

But the more research I've done, I've found out that Apple hasn't made this product backwards compatible, or another version of it, because they are pushing everyone towards Thunderbolt, essentially trying to abandon other forms of connectivity. So, all I can do is give a big sigh and a shrug.

Anyways, thanks for your help.

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