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I am looking to upgrade my trusty old Mac Pro (Mid 2010) with a new iMac as the new Mac Pro Towers are in the thousands of pounds, way out of my price range now!
But I do have a lot of old usb connections for my Harmon Kardon Soundsticks and Bass, printer and two external HDrives that run of my Mac Pro.
How would I be able to connect all these to the new iMac please?
Regards
Earlier Mac models
<< ...a powered USB Hub that holds up the 5 usb connections. Could I continue to run this connected to a usb-c-to-usb-adapter which would allow me to run the many USBs hardware I have. >>
yes, exactly.
if you have two ports available on the Hub, just add those drives to to that USB hub as additional USB devices.
<< I also run a Mac/thunderbolt/HDMi/TV. >>
There is a more modern version that plugs into a ThunderBolt-3 port. Several Third-party, or you could use this Apple device for more money:
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Apple
caution: only the USB-A connector is live at USB-2 speeds, the USB-C is for Charging, ONLY
--------
...as for how to manage lots of USB devices, that is not unique to any particular model. You may find you need a USB Hub upgrade as well.
<< ...a powered USB Hub that holds up the 5 usb connections. Could I continue to run this connected to a usb-c-to-usb-adapter which would allow me to run the many USBs hardware I have. >>
yes, exactly.
if you have two ports available on the Hub, just add those drives to to that USB hub as additional USB devices.
<< I also run a Mac/thunderbolt/HDMi/TV. >>
There is a more modern version that plugs into a ThunderBolt-3 port. Several Third-party, or you could use this Apple device for more money:
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Apple
caution: only the USB-A connector is live at USB-2 speeds, the USB-C is for Charging, ONLY
--------
...as for how to manage lots of USB devices, that is not unique to any particular model. You may find you need a USB Hub upgrade as well.
for less than maximum speed connections, use any-old adapter, like these, two for US$10 on Amazon:
check sexes carefully -- the reverse adapters are also available.
_______
For the very fastest devices such as SSD drives or displays, use the Apple adapter:
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MW5L3AM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter
.
You have FireWire enclosures? Not a problem.
If your enclosures ALSO have USB, use USB and live happily ever after.
Rotating magnetic drives are so slow, USB-2 at 480 M bits/sec (equivalent to about 48 M Bytes/sec) is barely an impediment for the absolute Fastest magnetic drives you could have.
Thanks Grant.
At the moment I am running a powered USB Hub that holds up the 5 usb connections.
Could I continue to run this connected to a usb-c-to-usb-adapter which would allow me to run the many USBs hardware I have.
But that would only leave one port that will have to somehow connect the two external HD's.
I forgot to add that I also run a Mac/thunderbolt/HDMi/TV cable. Where will that go please?
I am so confused....
Ian Butterfield wrote:
The new iMac M4 only has to Thunderbolt/USB4 ports.
Those ports are USB-C ports that support multiple protocols:
They adapt to whatever you plug into them. Many devices do not use Thunderbolt or USB4, but it's nice to have those capabilities there in case you do need them.
The punchline is, for all ordinary uses, USB cables plug directly into Thunderbolt ports and the port becomes a USB port.
Hi Grant.
As per normal, you are always there for me to get an answer. Thank you.
BUT!
I simply don't understand your reply. Please can you explain to a complete simpleton as I don't understand.
The new iMac M4 only has to Thunderbolt/USB4 ports.
How do I connect my original USB connections?
Superb stuff Grant - thank you!
And I can actually understand what you have written this time, so thank you for keeping it simple.
Just a bit more saving and I maybe able to upgrade my Mac Pro, very unregretably, especially as you have helped keep it running for longer than it should, over the years!
THANK YOU!!
New Imac connection ports
