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You can use an X5 on a TB 2 Mac or MacBook via a Sonnet Echo 11 Dock. The Sonnet Dock will provide the power to the X5. This setup has been working well for me.

I do not know if you could boot from the X5 though – I doubt it.
 
I don't have one, but from what I've read, the X5 DOES NOT WORK with the thundebolt2-to-thunderbolt3 adapter. It could be a "bus power issue".

You MUST have a thundebolt3 port to use this drive.

If you're looking for an "external SSD boot solution" for a 2015 iMac, USB3 is "the way to go".
No, not as fast as tbolt3.
But... it works.
 
Others have said it: it won't work directly. The problem is that the Apple adapter either doesn't provide power or doesn't provide enough power. Samsung did a nice thing with the X5 in making it a one-cable solution, relying on Thunderbolt 3 for data and power. However, for those of us stuck with Thunderbolt 2-bearing systems and looking to use the adapter, we're out of luck. If the X5 were powered through its own adapter or through another source then it would work.
 
It does, though not directly. You need the Apple TB2-TB3-Adapter and a Sonnet Echo 11 Dock. Works well.

I have committed to buy a dock that offer 85w power delivery.

mind sharing more details about your setup and the process u underwent to format the drive? once powered, does it behave the same as an external ssd that connects via the non thunderbolt USB port?

Anyone know what are the requirements for an external ssd to serve as a boot drive?
 
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Just an update, managed to get boot catalina on samsung x5 powered by a dock
 

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Just an update, managed to get boot catalina on samsung x5 powered by a dock

Good work on this. The X5 must be saturating the TB2 interface, which I believe is 20 gb/s. I would think you would still get a bit higher reads/writes. Can you check if trim is enabled using this setup?
 
Good work on this. The X5 must be saturating the TB2 interface, which I believe is 20 gb/s. I would think you would still get a bit higher reads/writes. Can you check if trim is enabled using this setup?

yes appears that trim is enabled upon setup.

thinkpad tb3 dock comes with 3 years warranty. interestingly color combi matches with my x5. looks bulky but this only stays at home.

61076CDB-B75A-4FFD-89C4-9342B1BC6193.jpeg
 
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You can use an X5 on a TB 2 Mac or MacBook via a Sonnet Echo 11 Dock. The Sonnet Dock will provide the power to the X5. This setup has been working well for me.

I do not know if you could boot from the X5 though – I doubt it.
Great news! Please explain in detail how it all connects? I have an iMac 27 '' late 2014 with thunderbolt port. I want to connect samsung x5 to it. What components do I need? Thank you!
 

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iMac -> TB1/2 cable -> Apple TB3 to TB2 adapter (must be Apple one as that is the only bidirectional adapter) -> TB3 dock -> Samsung X5.

Check the minimum Mac OS X for the dock and the X5. Most likely you will need to run Mac OS X 10.13 High Sierra or newer.
 
Can you please show in detail the entire circuit for connecting to a computer? What follows what?
Any Thunderbolt 3 dock you use would need to have 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports on it in order to use an X5 or other Thunderbolt 3 SSD that's self-powered.
To connect any TB3 dock to a TB1 or 2 Mac, you need a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 cable plugged into the port on the Mac, then that plugs into the TB 2 to 3 adapter. The adapter plugs into a TB3 port on the dock, and then you connect the X5 to the other TB3 port.
 
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