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Is there a Thunderbolt 2/Mini DisplayPort to USB-C Adapter or Dongle?

Alvin777

Alvin777

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 31, 2003
505
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Hi. I only see Thunderbolt 3 (has the USB-C connector) to SSD enclosure (either NVME or SATA) but if a zthunderbolt 2/Mini DidplayPort to USB-C exists, I plan to plug that first then buy a USB-C to NVME enclosure, so my external SSD backup is (cloned or Time Machine) is faster than USB 3.0 at 1500 GB/s (with the NVME). This is for the Late 2015 5K iMac with 2TB Fusion drive).

If such an adapater exists what the link (send links from the branded to the budget no-name but decent)

Thank you. Have a very blessed week.
 
Alvin777 said:
Hi. I only see Thunderbolt 3 (has the USB-C connector) to SSD enclosure (either NVME or SATA) but if a zthunderbolt 2/Mini DidplayPort to USB-C exists, I plan to plug that first then buy a USB-C to NVME enclosure, so my external SSD backup is (cloned or Time Machine) is faster than USB 3.0 at 1500 GB/s (with the NVME). This is for the Late 2015 5K iMac with 2TB Fusion drive).

If such an adapater exists what the link (send links from the branded to the budget no-name but decent)

Thank you. Have a very blessed week.
Click to expand...

1. There is no device capable of transmitting 1500GB/s yet. nVME on PCIe gen4 port is still capped at 6000~7000MB/s. And PCIe gen 4 is only supported by Intel CPU gen 11 or later.
2. There is a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter sold by Apple at 49$/pc.
3. To hook-up a thunderbolt storage device, I guess you will need a Thunderbolt 2 Dock with active power,
Connection is like below
Imac <> TB 2 Dock w/power <> TB 2 to TB3 adapter <> TB3 box with nVME blade
All of those for Time Machine back-up is quite luxury, I think.
 
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Hi, thanks. I will need the reverse of that Apple dongle. No one has built a Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C adapter (I only have Thunderbolt 2/mini DisplayPort connector), I'm guessing?

I wish it was Thunderbolt 3 with te USB-C connector but I'm saving up for next year's Macs (holding on to the this 6 year old Late 2015 5K iMac- bought in 2016, it's served me well).
 
Nguyen Duc Hieu said:
1. There is no device capable of transmitting 1500GB/s yet. nVME on PCIe gen4 port is still capped at 6000~7000MB/s. And PCIe gen 4 is only supported by Intel CPU gen 11 or later.
2. There is a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter sold by Apple at 49$/pc.
3. To hook-up a thunderbolt storage device, I guess you will need a Thunderbolt 2 Dock with active power,
Connection is like below
Imac <> TB 2 Dock w/power <> TB 2 to TB3 adapter <> TB3 box with nVME blade
All of those for Time Machine back-up is quite luxury, I think.
Click to expand...
*correction- I meant 1.5GB/s
 
Apple offers an adapter for TB2<>TB3. It should be noted that it does not provide power to the attached TB3 device and thus will not work with most TB3 "portable" SSDs and enclosures. You need to use an SSD/Enclosure that has its own external power supply or use a compatible (not all are) powered TB3 dock to provide power for the SSD/enclosure.
 
Alvin777 said:
Hi, thanks. I will need the reverse of that Apple dongle. No one has built a Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C adapter (I only have Thunderbolt 2/mini DisplayPort connector), I'm guessing?
Click to expand...
The Apple dongle is bi-directional. As far as I know it's the only one that is bi-directional. You can't use it for bus powered devices, so the device you're hooking up will need to have its own power or be connected through a powered hub.
 
Some years ago, a company named Kanex (sp?) made a thunderbolt2-to-USB3 adapter. It was a specialty item, and I don't believe it sold very well, for lack of demand. It had an "a" type USB connector.

I don't believe anyone has made a tbolt2-to-USBc adapter of any kind, letalone one that has USB3.1 gen2 (with its faster speeds).

I'll go out on a limb and predict that no one will ever make such a connector, as the world has moved on to thunderbolt3, and beyond.

My recommendation:
If you have a USB3 backup drive that works as it is now, just use it as it is.
 
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iMac -> Thunderbolt 2 cable -> Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter -> Thunderbolt 3 dock -> Thunderbolt 3 NVMe enclosure.

This will allow 1500 MB/s for Thunderbolt 3 NVMe enclosure and also 10 Gbps (1000 MB/s) for USB 3.1 gen 2 NVMe enclosures which are much less expensive and more portable than Thunderbolt enclosures.
 
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Alvin777 said:
Hi. I only see Thunderbolt 3 (has the USB-C connector) to SSD enclosure (either NVME or SATA) but if a zthunderbolt 2/Mini DidplayPort to USB-C exists, I plan to plug that first then buy a USB-C to NVME enclosure, so my external SSD backup is (cloned or Time Machine) is faster than USB 3.0 at 1500 GB/s (with the NVME). This is for the Late 2015 5K iMac with 2TB Fusion drive).

If such an adapater exists what the link (send links from the branded to the budget no-name but decent)

Thank you. Have a very blessed week.
Click to expand...
If you're not buying a Thunderbolt enclosure, you just need a USB-A to USB-C cable.
 
chrfr said:
If you're not buying a Thunderbolt enclosure, you just need a USB-A to USB-C cable.
Click to expand...
True, but Thunderbolt 2 Macs only have USB 5 Gbps.
A Thunderbolt 3 dock or device will allow USB 10 Gbps.
 
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