MP 6,1 The Thunderbolt 2 ports are turning functional (at last)

[apostolosdt]

Despite all the little and big concerns when acquiring an MP 6,1, one practical issue is what to do with the six Thunderbolt 2 ports in year 2022. Peripherals and accessories connected to such ports are virtually non-existent. Considering that the lack of inside slots for more disks was supposed to be remedied by the presence of six TB2 ports, it is a shame to see most of those interfaces idle.

But it looks like my luck changed recently. I discovered in a local computer shop two LACIE D2 Thunderbolt 2 3TB brand new units! Now, I am reshuffling my external disks to establish a grand use of the two D2 disks' 6TB.

 

[WayneStewart]

Apples Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter works well with Thunderbolt 3 drives at Thunderbolt 2 speeds. I'm going with the idea that someday when my 6,1 dies I'll use them with a Mac with TB3 and get the full speed

 

[killawat]

Apples Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter works well with Thunderbolt 3 drives at Thunderbolt 2 speeds. I'm going with the idea that someday when my 6,1 dies I'll use them with a Mac with TB3 and get the full speed

This is the answer. Things get trickier if you use docks or perhaps an eGPU that expects more bandwidth, but many TB3 devices and peripherals will work as expected on T2. Can't daisy chain too many devices either.

 

[apostolosdt]

Apples Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter works well with Thunderbolt 3 drives at Thunderbolt 2 speeds. I'm going with the idea that someday when my 6,1 dies I'll use them with a Mac with TB3 and get the full speed

This is the answer. Things get trickier if you use docks or perhaps an eGPU that expects more bandwidth, but many TB3 devices and peripherals will work as expected on T2. Can't daisy chain too many devices either.

Thanks for reminding me of the TB3 to TB2 accessory. I am aware of that, but I also like the idea of connecting to a TB2 port natively. It makes me feel no TB2 ports are being wasted. But, yes, TB3 to TB2 is a great alternative.

 

[DRDR]

The problem with TB2 is the limited power. So use TB3 docks connected with the Apple Adapter to the Mac Pro. So I can use all of the current stuff.

 

[Amethyst1]

I am aware of that, but I also like the idea of connecting to a TB2 port natively.

I have an AMD Radeon RX 460 as a DIY eGPU in an Akitio Thunder2 enclosure hooked up to a Thunderbolt 2 Mac (an iMac, not a Mac Pro). It works great for my non-gaming uses.

This enclosure allows connecting any PCIe card, including NVMe SSDs in a PCIe adapter, via Thunderbolt 2, as long as you provide enough power and it physically fits inside (or just mod the enclosure).

 

[mslilyelise]

Thanks for the info in this thread. I recently got a Early 2015 MBP and was trying to figure out what you can use the T2 ports for as most Thunderbolt devices I was finding use USB3 ports.

 

[DRDR]

lot's of storage and a 10 Gbit Ethernet dongle. This is also available as TB2-version but it does not support the full speed. So I used the TB3 version and connected it to a dock. I am also using eSATA on the dock and multiple USB 3.1 drives. IMO: Use something powered with TB3-pass through and things work just fine