I've just bought a Wavlink USB C to USB 3 4 port hub. I was under the impression that I could use the Thunderbolt port as a USB C and that I could get some more USB 3 ports this way (used up all four on the iMac). However whilst the ports look like they will mate, the hub cable connector will not fit. Am I making a wrong assumption here. Do I need to go with a USB 3 to USB 3 hub and lose one of the rear USB 3 ports?
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Thunderbolt port on 2016 iMac
- Thread starter thelastgizmo
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I guess you have THIS USB hub? (USB 3.1 to 4 port USB 3.0)
You would need a current model (2017) iMac to get the USB-C connector, which is one of the functions of the Thunderbolt 3 connector on the newer Macs.
Your 2015 iMac has Thunderbolt 2, which is the older connector (thunderbolt w/support for mini displayPort)
So you need to plug your USB hub in to a USB port with a USB-3 to USB-3.1 adapter. You can't use a thunderbolt port on your 2015 for the USB connection, so yes, you lose one USB port.
But, you DO connect to a 4 port hub, so you lose one, but gain 3
You would need a current model (2017) iMac to get the USB-C connector, which is one of the functions of the Thunderbolt 3 connector on the newer Macs.
Your 2015 iMac has Thunderbolt 2, which is the older connector (thunderbolt w/support for mini displayPort)
So you need to plug your USB hub in to a USB port with a USB-3 to USB-3.1 adapter. You can't use a thunderbolt port on your 2015 for the USB connection, so yes, you lose one USB port.
But, you DO connect to a 4 port hub, so you lose one, but gain 3
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I guess you have THIS USB hub? (USB 3.1 to 4 port USB 3.0)
You would need a current model (2017) iMac to get the USB-C connector, which is one of the functions of the Thunderbolt 3 connector on the newer Macs.
Your 2015 iMac has Thunderbolt 2, which is the older connector (thunderbolt w/support for mini displayPort)
So you need to plug your USB hub in to a USB port with a USB-3 to USB-3.1 adapter. You can't use a thunderbolt port on your 2015 for the USB connection, so yes, you lose one USB port.
But, you DO connect to a 4 port hub, so you lose one, but gain 3
Thanks for that but mine is a 2016 iMac (took delivery in July - ordered in May). It looks physically the same size and does partially mate a little way but I can't get it to seat fully home.
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That may be when you bought it, but doesn't tell me what model you have. There are no 2016-model iMacs. There's 2015 models, that, of course, were sold as new until replaced by 2017 models.
Just for your own info, You can tell exactly which model you have in About This Mac (under the Apple menu). Click on the System Report button.
Under Hardware Overview, you will see your Model Identifier. Probably will be either iMac15,1 or iMac17,1 (assuming a 27-inch iMac). 21.5-inch iMacs would be iMac16,1 or iMac16,2
All those have Thunderbolt 2 (so your USB-C connector can't fit without an adapter)
Anyway, no Thunderbolt 3 until the 2017 iMacs (which are a version of iMac18, or higher)
Just for your own info, You can tell exactly which model you have in About This Mac (under the Apple menu). Click on the System Report button.
Under Hardware Overview, you will see your Model Identifier. Probably will be either iMac15,1 or iMac17,1 (assuming a 27-inch iMac). 21.5-inch iMacs would be iMac16,1 or iMac16,2
All those have Thunderbolt 2 (so your USB-C connector can't fit without an adapter)
Anyway, no Thunderbolt 3 until the 2017 iMacs (which are a version of iMac18, or higher)
Ok. Just realised that I haven't quite caught up with 2018 yet. I got my iMac last year. So it's a 2017 model iMac 18,3. Apologies for that.
This is the hub I have:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wavlink-Al...353258031&ie=UTF8&qid=1515094571&sr=8-19&th=1
Looks similar to the one you highlighted..
This is the hub I have:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wavlink-Al...353258031&ie=UTF8&qid=1515094571&sr=8-19&th=1
Looks similar to the one you highlighted..
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Again, if it is a pre June 2017 it is a 2016 model sold into 2017. If it is a post June 2017 the model number will be 18.1, 18.2 or 18.3. You find this under About this Mac > System Report > Hardware.
The TB2 connector is distinctly different from a TB2 connector, like this image
the image shows both connector types (ignore the cable in the picture )
If your iMac has the TB 3 (USB-C), then you could simply try pushing it in with a bit more effort.
the image shows both connector types (ignore the cable in the picture
)If your iMac has the TB 3 (USB-C), then you could simply try pushing it in with a bit more effort.
I was trying to be clever and save one of the on board USB 3 ports. I figured as I don't use the Thunderbolt ports I could go via one of those.
Thanks for your patience DeltaMac. I seem to have a 2017 model (iMac 18,3) and it is definitely Thunderbolt 3. No idea why the hub connector won't fit but I'm not going to try any further in case I damage something. I'll return it and get a USB 3 one which I should have done in the first place.
As a secondary question, I will be running an external hard drive and a CD reader off this hub (not necessarily at the same time. Do I need to get a powered one? How much current can one of the iMac's USB 3 ports supply? The other three native USB ports (4th for the hub) are connected to two printers and the backup drive.
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The Thunderbolt 3 ports on the 2017 iMac are USB-C connections. Any USB-C connector should fit in those ports no matter how they are inserted since they are, like Lightning connectors, bi-directional.
Your hub should fit fine, unless there is some other defect with the USB-C connector on it.
If you're just looking to connect a USB 3 hub then I concur with the advice above to connect one to one of the USB 3 ports on the iMac.
I have both of the USB-C ports on my own 2017 iMac in use but one has the TB2 to TB3 adapter pictured above connected to an external Thunderbolt SSD and the other has a 6TB USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) dual HDD RAID0 enclosure.
I recommend reserving those ports for the Thunderbolt and/or USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices that only they can support.
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Most of the USB-c connectors I see actually fit pretty snugly and many seem to have a bit of a final click when fully plugged. Of course there are others that seem a bit looser than others.
Good plan - just sounds like the hub you bought has something odd about the USB connector (I see one review on Amazon saying it doesn't fit a 2017 iMac, unless that was you...)
However, you can save a "real" USB-A port by connecting a regular USB 3 hub via a USB-C to USB-A adapter like this (works on my iMac - cheaper options available if you feel lucky) or get a USB 3 hub with a detachable cable and replace the cable with a USB-C - to USB 3 B or USB-C to USB 3 B cable as required.
Your mileage may vary, but generally if you want to run more than one hard/optical drive off a regular USB hub you should get a powered hub.
The specs for the hub you have actually say "For a stable connection, don't use this hub with high power-consumption devices, such as external hard drives." Other hubs say "only one bus-powered HD."
In theory a "proper" USB-C hub (that is to say, a USB hub that uses a USB-C connection to the computer) should be able to deliver more power than a regular USB-A-connected hub thanks to the higher power capabilities of USB-C. However, in practice, I don't think any current products do that (and the "proper" USB-C docks are powered anyway) so unless you also want a video output, there's no advantage in a USB-C-connected hub over a USB-A hub connected via an adapter (in the case of your hub, I suspect that its just a regular USB A 3.0 hub with a built-in adapter).
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