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Fastest way to transfer data between mid-2009 MPB and mid-2012?

T

tmcalister

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 11, 2014
13
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I'm trying to migrate data from one mac to a new one and would like to know the fastest way to transfer between these two are (or what cable and adapters I would need).

Mid-2009 has mini-display port and mid-2012 has Thunderbolt. Both have Firewire 800.
 
tmcalister said:
I'm trying to migrate data from one mac to a new one and would like to know the fastest way to transfer between these two are (or what cable and adapters I would need).

Mid-2009 has mini-display port and mid-2012 has Thunderbolt. Both have Firewire 800.
Click to expand...

Just run an ethernet cable directly between the two (no hub... just direct) and use the migration tool that runs as part of the setup assistant when you turn on the new Mac.
 
Use Firewire

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Weaselboy said:
Just run an ethernet cable directly between the two (no hub... just direct) and use the migration tool that runs as part of the setup assistant when you turn on the new Mac.
Click to expand...

Is Ethernet faster than Firewire? Ethernet is 1000 Mbit/s and Firewire(800) is 800Mbit/s, right?
 
Yes, the mid-2009 MBP has gigabit Ethernet, so it would be faster than FireWire (by 20%!). Oh FireWire....
 
Ethernet or FireWire.

Ethernet would probably be the cheapest too. Seems everyone has an Ethernet cord laying around somewhere these days. They're a dime a dozen.
 
Ethernet or FireWire, doesn't matter which, both are faster than the hard drive can give the interface data.

For added speed, it may be worth putting the '09 MBP into target disk mode.
 
First, I'd like to say thanks for everyone's replies.

Edit: Oh, and I went with Firewire btw. Didn't wait long enough to catch the Target Disk Mode advice. But it wasn't too bad for ~250GB.

But... LOL for some reason I mentioned Mini Display port because I was looking into this on my phone and for some diagram/picture gave me the impression it could be used as a data transfer port with an adapter of some sort. :rolleyes:

I mean, it kind of looks like Thunderbolt, right? :eek: Thought it might just be a less... erm... advanced version of Thunderbolt or something?
 
Last edited:
tmcalister said:
I mean, it kind of looks like Thunderbolt, right? :eek: Thought it might just be a less... erm... advanced version of Thunderbolt or something?
Click to expand...

It is actually physically the same port size. You can even plug a TB cable into the MDP, it just won't carry TB data since your MacBook does not support that.

The newer MacBooks with TB carry the MDP signal over the TB cable on that same port.

So your confusion is understandable.

Glad you are all fixed up. :)
 
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