MacDeNewf

Q: Using a thunderbolt drive with thunderbolt-gigabit adapter

Hi.

I have a bit of an odd situation.

I bought a used IMAC 27 retina 5k with a 256 SSD. late 2015 model - still under warranty.   Backstory..before i made the purchase i called in the SN and the Apple representative said that it had a 1TB fusion drive.  turns out it was a custom 256 SSD. Great machine, nice and fast but the drive is too small for holding all the photos we have locally. I called apple and they said it's easy to put the photos on a thunderbolt drive and it wouldn't be much if any difference in access time for the photos as thunderbolt comms is actually quicker than the SATA drive speed of an external drive.

Now for the odd question.

I don't want a hard drive hanging around my nice clean looking IMAC.    I have an ethernet cable however in the wall.

Does anyone know if I can use a gigabit to thunder bolt converter on the mac side of the setup, use the in wall ethernet cable i have that allows me to put the drive up by my structured wiring panel, then  connect the thunderbolt drive, with another gigabit/thunderbolt converter ?

To they and clarify that setup again:

-IMAC

- thunderbolt / gigabit converter

- about 100 feet of ethernet cable

- thunderbolt / gigabit converter

- Thunderbolt drive

 

or am i nuts?

upgrading the drive on the IMAC without voiding the warranty is WAYYY to expensive.

 

Cheers

Mac

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on May 7, 2016 6:19 AM

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Q: Using a thunderbolt drive with thunderbolt-gigabit adapter

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  • by rkaufmann87,Apple recommended

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 May 7, 2016 2:24 PM in response to MacDeNewf
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 7, 2016 2:24 PM in response to MacDeNewf

    You are making it far to complex, just get one of:

     

    https://www.twelvesouth.com/product/backpack-for-imac

     

    hook up the External Hard Disk and you are done.

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b May 7, 2016 8:06 AM in response to MacDeNewf
    Level 3 (582 points)
    Desktops
    May 7, 2016 8:06 AM in response to MacDeNewf

    Also, your Mac my no longer be under warranty if it has had a user installed or 3rd party installed SSD. Maybe talk to your Apple contact about that.

  • by MacDeNewf,

    MacDeNewf MacDeNewf May 7, 2016 2:18 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 7, 2016 2:18 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    you are probably right.   Over complicated.  I do like the idea of that shelf though.  Thanks for the idea. 

    I Think I over complicated it even more now.   As I was researching options. I found a company that would do an add on 2 tB drive then use terminal and create a fusion drive for me.   But he had to order the brackets and connectors.  All in it would have been 350.   And it would void my warranty. So seeing as I was by a mall I went and bought a new 27 retina 5k. 2tb.  It only had an I5 in it though which was disappointing but apparently the stores don't stock I7s. 

    i have 2 weeks from new to return the new one so if I order in the shelf and it looks good.  I'll switch everything over to the I7.  And return the i5. 

     

    if not.  Guess I have a used 27 i7 for sale.  

    good price:) 

     

    thanks Again.

  • by MacDeNewf,

    MacDeNewf MacDeNewf May 7, 2016 2:22 PM in response to pokey b
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 7, 2016 2:22 PM in response to pokey b

    Oddly enough the guy ordered it that way.  I checked the configuration again and must have gotten a more competent apple representative.  It's still under warranty for another 8 months so I really don't want to open it up.  I also checked upgrading it through the approved apple Apple service centers.  That runs north of 400 but it preserves the warranty as its oem Apple parts and approved service techs.  Strange they don't do that at the stores? 

    Thanks for your reply. 

    Mac

  • by matthieufrommontreal,

    matthieufrommontreal matthieufrommontreal Jul 7, 2016 2:05 PM in response to MacDeNewf
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 7, 2016 2:05 PM in response to MacDeNewf

    Ethernet to thunderbolt adapter is meant for macbook air without ethernet port  and new macs too but it won t suport internet on a drive just get a portable wireless hdd or a network attached storage like a qnap which has  thunderbolt on many of them so you can hook the computer for quick transfert and then access files wifi or a ethernet cable trough a hub easily  plus there is bunch of apps you can install on a N.A.S. which is great and as for me i love being able to watch all my library directly on the tv without anything else than the tv remote to chose what i want, well it work with pretty much  any web connected devices

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jul 7, 2016 2:13 PM in response to matthieufrommontreal
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 7, 2016 2:13 PM in response to matthieufrommontreal

    matthieufrommontreal wrote:

     

    Ethernet to thunderbolt adapter is meant for macbook air without ethernet port  and new macs too but it won t suport internet on a drive just get a portable wireless hdd or a network attached storage like a qnap which has  thunderbolt on many of them so you can hook the computer for quick transfert and then access files wifi or a ethernet cable trough a hub easily  plus there is bunch of apps you can install on a N.A.S. which is great and as for me i love being able to watch all my library directly on the tv without anything else than the tv remote to chose what i want, well it work with pretty much  any web connected devices

    You may want to consider using proper grammar and punctuation. It will make your post easier to understand. As it is written, I doubt you will be taken seriously.

     

    In addition you have replied to a thread that was answered months ago.