Which Connectors to buy - old to new

[Tami Hayes]

Hello.

I have a problem with my work computers, and I'm on a Mac in a primary PC world so I'm running into a lack of knowledge of what is best. I am moving from a 2013 Pro Tower to a Mac Studio. I'm running two 27" monitors, one is a 2013 Apple monitor and one is a 2020 Dell 27"4K U2720Q. I also have a separate SSD backup drive that was plugged into the Pro Tower via Thunderbolt 2.

Issue 1: What connector do I need between the Studio and the Dell that will make the USB ports on the Dell accessible for to me to use? Currently I am using both USB ports on the Studio for my keyboard and my work phone dongle, so I have no ports left for the webcam or anything else, and the ports on the Dell won't work. I was told by one tech at work I needed a USB-C to USB-C cable, and then by another tech than I didn't need that but not given an alternative. According to the specs on the Dell U2720Q it has: one HDMI port, one DisplayPort connector, two USB-C ports, a hub of three USB Type-A ports, and an audio-out jack.

Issue 2: Connecting the separate SSD backup drive to the new Studio. I took the backup drive into London Drugs Tillicum so I could show the cable so I could ask what was needed, and I was told that I needed an Apple Thunderbolt 3 USB-C to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter, which is $60. I would very much like to verify that this is the correct adapter needed before I go fight the battle to obtain said adapter.

Issue 3: The old Apple monitor. I had been told that there was no adapter available and I would have to order a new monitor (which would be a 2022 version of the Dell I currently have). However, when connected to the Pro Tower it uses the same Thunderbolt 2 connection that the SSD drive in Issue 2 does, so would the Adapter I mentioned in Issue 2 work for the Apple monitor as well or is the Adaptor not meant for video display?

Help...

Tami Hayes

 

[chas_m]

Hello.

I have a problem with my work computers, and I'm on a Mac in a primary PC world so I'm running into a lack of knowledge of what is best. I am moving from a 2013 Pro Tower to a Mac Studio. I'm running two 27" monitors, one is a 2013 Apple monitor and one is a 2020 Dell 27"4K U2720Q. I also have a separate SSD backup drive that was plugged into the Pro Tower via Thunderbolt 2.

Issue 1: What connector do I need between the Studio and the Dell that will make the USB ports on the Dell accessible for to me to use? Currently I am using both USB ports on the Studio for my keyboard and my work phone dongle, so I have no ports left for the webcam or anything else, and the ports on the Dell won't work. I was told by one tech at work I needed a USB-C to USB-C cable, and then by another tech than I didn't need that but not given an alternative. According to the specs on the Dell U2720Q it has: one HDMI port, one DisplayPort connector, two USB-C ports, a hub of three USB Type-A ports, and an audio-out jack.

Issue 2: Connecting the separate SSD backup drive to the new Studio. I took the backup drive into London Drugs Tillicum so I could show the cable so I could ask what was needed, and I was told that I needed an Apple Thunderbolt 3 USB-C to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter, which is $60. I would very much like to verify that this is the correct adapter needed before I go fight the battle to obtain said adapter.

Issue 3: The old Apple monitor. I had been told that there was no adapter available and I would have to order a new monitor (which would be a 2022 version of the Dell I currently have). However, when connected to the Pro Tower it uses the same Thunderbolt 2 connection that the SSD drive in Issue 2 does, so would the Adapter I mentioned in Issue 2 work for the Apple monitor as well or is the Adaptor not meant for video display?

Help...

Tami Hayes

Issue 1: Your Dell monitor is not a computer, so it’s not particularly smart. It can run some speakers and charge stuff, but that’s about it. You have four USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back, and two ports on the fron that are *either* Thunderbolt 4 (the M1 Ultra model) or just USB-C (the M1 Max model). That’s a total of 6 USB-C compatible ports.

I would swap the USB-A keyboard out for a Bluetooth one to free up that USB-A port, but if you need more USB-A ports get a hub.

Issue 2: if that drive is so old the only connector it has is Thunderbolt 2, it’s way too old to be a reliable backup drive. I’m willing to bet that you could swap the cable on that SSD for a standard eSATA to USB-C cord, but if the cord is not removable then it’s not worth the money, get a new SSD backup drive (most come with both a USB 3 and USB-C cord).

Issue 3: see Issue 2. That monitor is an antique, and certainly never going to match the colour profile of the Dell. Even if you got the TB2 adapter, you can’t use it for both the monitor and the backup drive at the same time.

 

[Tami Hayes]

Issue 1: Your Dell monitor is not a computer, so it’s not particularly smart. It can run some speakers and charge stuff, but that’s about it. You have four USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back, and two ports on the fron that are *either* Thunderbolt 4 (the M1 Ultra model) or just USB-C (the M1 Max model). That’s a total of 6 USB-C compatible ports.

I would swap the USB-A keyboard out for a Bluetooth one to free up that USB-A port, but if you need more USB-A ports get a hub.

Issue 2: if that drive is so old the only connector it has is Thunderbolt 2, it’s way too old to be a reliable backup drive. I’m willing to bet that you could swap the cable on that SSD for a standard eSATA to USB-C cord, but if the cord is not removable then it’s not worth the money, get a new SSD backup drive (most come with both a USB 3 and USB-C cord).

Issue 3: see Issue 2. That monitor is an antique, and certainly never going to match the colour profile of the Dell. Even if you got the TB2 adapter, you can’t use it for both the monitor and the backup drive at the same time.

Thank you.
Issue 1 was resolved - I was given a USB-C to UBC-C cable, and that enabled all the ports on the monitor.
Issue 2 - the cord on the SSD is not removable, and getting a new SSD drive is the most logical thing to do (and most definitely what I would do if this was my personal machine); however, logic is often not applied where I work so getting a new SSD drive will be harder to get than an adapter, which is still under discussion. :-|
Issue 3 - I wasn't talking about one adaptor for both the SSD and monitor, I was talking about getting two adapters - one for each device. But we shall see what next week brings in the adapter vs new monitor discussion. Wish me luck.

 

[chas_m]

Re: issue 1 — i am pleased to learn this
Re: issue 2 — so they don’t want you to make backups?
Re: issue 3 — it’s a TB adapter so in theory it should work.