Is there a speed difference by using usb-c to usb-c cable vs usb-c to usb 3.1? I'm just short on TB3 ports on my iMac, so i wonder, is there a difference at all using this T5 plugged in to TB3?
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Samsung T5 speed comparison
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Yes but... You‘re mixing up different things. USB-C is the physical connector type. USB 3.1 is the communication interface standard (speed etc). The USB-C ports can run TB3 and USB 3.1 Gen 2. The T5 is the latter, so TB3 is irrelevant anyway (you would need a super fast SSD in a TB3 enclosure to get that speed e.g. X5). The USB-A ports (the other 4) are USB 3.0 only per the specs I believe so will be slower. But I thought I read somewhere they may actually have a higher spec than declared, I could be wrong.
Identify your iMac model – Apple Support (UK)
Use this information to find out which iMac you have and where it sits in the history of iMac.
Get the newly released T7, it supports nearly double the read and write speed as the T5 via the Thunderbolt 3 connection.
I already have T5, and iMac 2019 5K has usb 3.1 gen 2 (10gbps) speed or not:
Four USB 3 ports (compatible with USB 2)
Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for:
Four USB 3 ports (compatible with USB 2)
Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for:
- DisplayPort
- Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s)
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
- Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI, and VGA supported using adapters (sold separately)
That's not entirely true.
Don't confuse the shape of the port (USB-C) with the protocol (USB 3.1 gen 2)
You can have USB-A ports that are USB 3.1 gen 2 which is was you want. I have them on my Windows PC. And it's a motherboard from 6 years ago.
My T5 drives can hit their maximum 500+MB/s speed because they're connected to USB 3.1 gen 2 ports... even though the ports are USB-A
However... if I connect them to older USB 3.0 ports... they're not as fast.
Again... it's the protocol that sets the speed... not the shape of the port.
That's not entirely true.
Don't confuse the shape of the port (USB-C) with the protocol (USB 3.1 gen 2)
You can have USB-A ports that are USB 3.1 gen 2 which is was you want. I have them on my Windows PC. And it's a motherboard from 6 years ago.
My T5 drives can hit their maximum 500+MB/s speed because they're connected to USB 3.1 gen 2 ports... even though the ports are USB-A
However... if I connect them to older USB 3.0 ports... they're not as fast.
Again... it's the protocol that sets the speed... not the shape of the port.
Do you know if by any chance usb ports on imac 2019 are usb 3.1 gen 2 actually?
If you want Thunderbolt 3 speed then you'll need to buy a Samsung X5, which is Thunderbolt 3 (NVME) only, as opposed to the T5.
The USB ports on the 2019 iMac are only USB 3.0
If you want to connect a Samsung T5 using the fastest USB 3.1 gen 2... you'll need to use the Thunderbolt 3 ports.
"The USB ports on the 2019 iMac are only USB 3.0"
No, I believe that's NOT correct.
I have a 2018 Mini (released almost a year earlier) and it has USBc ports that offer USB3.1 gen2 (tested and proven by me).
I just visited everymac.com and looked up the ports on a 2019 27" iMac.
Here's a screenshot of that page:
No, I believe that's NOT correct.
I have a 2018 Mini (released almost a year earlier) and it has USBc ports that offer USB3.1 gen2 (tested and proven by me).
I just visited everymac.com and looked up the ports on a 2019 27" iMac.
Here's a screenshot of that page:
@Fishrrman they are right, 4 USB-A ports on the iMac 2019 is not USB 3.1 Generation 2, it's USB 3.0 === USB 3.1 Generation 1 (up to 5GBPS): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201163
According to T5 SSD specs, it's delivering ~500MBPS read/write on 10GBPS port (on iMac 2019 it's only USB-C port, not one of four USB-A ports).
On this screen it says USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports (there only two of them on iMac 2019) has USB 3.1 Gen 2 specs.
According to T5 SSD specs, it's delivering ~500MBPS read/write on 10GBPS port (on iMac 2019 it's only USB-C port, not one of four USB-A ports).
On this screen it says USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports (there only two of them on iMac 2019) has USB 3.1 Gen 2 specs.
Read the screenshot you posted: "This model has two Thunderbolt 3 ports. These two ports supports DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, and USB 3.1 gen 2"
The OP is asking about the four USB-A ports in the 2019 iMac... which are, indeed, USB 3.0
I also looked at EveryMac.com:
@Michael Scrip there's an answer: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/imac-2019-ports.2179358/?post=27319072#post-27319072
So, i just can't use USB-A port instead of TB3 port on my iMac 2019, thats sad.
So, i just can't use USB-A port instead of TB3 port on my iMac 2019, thats sad.
You can use the USB-A 3.0 ports on your iMac with your Samsung T5... it's still fast! Don't worry about it.
I just tested two different USB protocols over USB-A on my PC with a Samsung T5:
USB 3.1 gen 2
542MB/s read
515MB/s write
USB 3.0
441MB/s read
438MB/s write
Use your USB-A 3.0 ports and be happy. Don't be sad. You still have an amazing SSD.
You can use the USB-A 3.0 ports with your Samsung T5... it's still fast! Don't worry about it.
I just tested two different USB protocols over USB-A on my PC with a Samsung T5:
USB 3.1 gen 2
542MB/s read
515MB/s write
USB 3.0
441MB/s read
438MB/s write
Use your USB-A 3.0 ports and be happy. Don't be sad. You still have an amazing SSD.
That's almost 100mbps loss. Anyway, thanks. I just thought it could use USB-A without a speed loss at all.
Of course there's a speed loss... USB 3.0 simply isn't as fast as USB 3.1 gen 2... they are two different protocols. Blame Apple for only putting 3.0 ports on your iMac.
But... 400 megabytes a second is still fast.
If you must have the maximum available speed... then you'll have to use one of your ThunderBolt ports and a C-to-C cable.
Otherwise... enjoy *only* 400MB/s...
Sheesh... remember when external hard drives were 100MB/s? Let's not get too picky here...
My 6 year old Windows PC... Intel i7-4790K on an Asus Z97 motherboard.
The USB 3.1 gen 2 ports on the back panel of the motherboard... and the USB 3.0 ports on the front of the case.
While USB 3.0 ports are slower... it's not that bad. The Samsung T5 is still a hell of a drive. That's all I was saying.
If you’re that low on TB3 ports then you could buy a TB3 dock and it would provide TB3 pass through, along with (on some docks at least) 10 Gbps USB. For instance the Caldigit TS3+ has this. If you want more Gen 2 USB-C ports there’s also the Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Pro dock which has 2 of those in addition to the Thunderbolt 3 port.
One advantage of the IMac Pro there is has 4 TB3 USB-C ports and if I remember rightly spanning two controllers for some serious bandwidth. Probably cheaper option to get a TB3 dock though LOL.