Best way to connect firewire 800 drive to new iMac (2017)?

In order to migrate from old iMac (2008) using Migration Assistant from Time Machine, I need to connect a G Technology Firewire 800 drive to a Thunderbolt 3 port.

  • Should I go: Firewire 800 cable to Firewire to Thunderbolt adapter, then to Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt 2 adapter into Thunderbolt 3 port? Will this work?
  • Is there a better way?

Posted on Sep 22, 2017 7:30 AM

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Posted on Sep 22, 2017 8:54 AM

What model is your older G-Tech drive...?

(FW800 / USB 3.0 or FW800 / USB 2.0)


For Migration:

If the G-Tech has USB 3.0, then use that connected directly to a USB 3.0 port on your new iMac.

If the G-Tech only has USB 2.0, (it will be slower) but it will work just fine connected to a USB 3.0 port on your new iMac.


For Continued Backups:

Keep in mind that maintaining Time Machine does not require a great deal of bandwidth and it will work just fine using a USB 2.0 connection.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 22, 2017 8:54 AM in response to cdv2007

What model is your older G-Tech drive...?

(FW800 / USB 3.0 or FW800 / USB 2.0)


For Migration:

If the G-Tech has USB 3.0, then use that connected directly to a USB 3.0 port on your new iMac.

If the G-Tech only has USB 2.0, (it will be slower) but it will work just fine connected to a USB 3.0 port on your new iMac.


For Continued Backups:

Keep in mind that maintaining Time Machine does not require a great deal of bandwidth and it will work just fine using a USB 2.0 connection.

Sep 22, 2017 8:05 AM in response to cdv2007

cdv2007 wrote:


The G drive also has a USB port. Would it be better to use the Anker 4-Port USB-C to USB 3.0 Aluminum Portable Data Hub for Macbook Pro? I will continue to use this drive as my Time Machine after migration. Thanks.

That may work just fine, however you also may want to consider getting the G-Tech a replacement HD as it has to be old by now. If the enclosure is still good you can pop in a new HD.

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Best way to connect firewire 800 drive to new iMac (2017)?

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