Thunderbolt to "USB 3.0 with Thunderbolt passthrough"?

Question

Level 1

0 points

Thunderbolt to "USB 3.0 with Thunderbolt passthrough"?

Hi all,

I have a Mac Mini 2011 with AMD graphics. I am currently setting-up a triple monitor configuration. I am connecting one monitor with Thunderbolt, one with HDMI and the other with a USB to HDMI adapter. My Mac Mini 2011 has USB 2.0 and not 3.0's, which bottlenecks my USB to HDMI adapter. I want to remove this bottleneck by utilising Thunderbolt (10Gbps bandwidth).

I want to find an adapter that has a Thunderbolt with a USB 3.0 connection and a Thunderbolt passthrough. So I can use my USB to HDMI adapter with the USB 3.0 port and my display from the Thunderbolt passthrough. (Please look at image)

That thing in the middle of the image (USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt Passthrough) is what I need. There are Belkin Express Dock and a host of other docks but they seem like absolute overkill and are overpriced. Something out there that has a USB 3.0 and a Thunderbolt passthrough port?

Thank you,

Zukky

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 14, 2015 8:53 AM

Reply

Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Oct 14, 2015 9:36 AM in response to ZukkyBee

All I have seen are the Thunderbolt docs that have many connections and, as you said, they are $200+

Reply

Answer 2

ZukkyBee Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 15, 2015 12:59 AM in response to lllaass

I know, it's just annoying. They are stupidly expensive (I paid less for my Mac Mini lol). I wish a manufacturer thought to itself someone may want to have a USB3.0 port and just a Thunderbolt passthrough port and price it around £40 instead of £200, which is complete overkill.

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 15, 2015 3:45 AM in response to ZukkyBee

The docks seem to be the only thing available, unfortunately.

Guess there just is not a big enough market for TB->USB3 adapters.

Also, because of the stupid licensing model Intel has placed on TB technology,

it could just be cost prohibitive to make such a beast. Also, since everthing

these days is shipped with USB3 (2013 and newer), there is just not enough

incentive to create something for a market that will eventually go away.

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 2, 2016 11:38 AM in response to ZukkyBee

Try the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station - Thunderbolt Interface Expansion Device for Mac and PC: http://amzn.com/B00G69FC48

Reply