Which cable should I use to migrate from an Intel iMac to a M3 iMac?

[Wyotraveler]

Hi all

I am upgrading from an Intel-based iMac (2019) to a M3 iMac and need to know which cable to use to transfer my data to the new Mac. I think I have used Firewire cable in the past, but I know that is not an option anymore. I thought a Thunderbolt cable would work, but

 

[chrfr]

Hi all

I am upgrading from an Intel-based iMac (2019) to a M3 iMac and need to know which cable to use to transfer my data to the new Mac. I think I have used Firewire cable in the past, but I know that is not an option anymore. I thought a Thunderbolt cable would work, but

Thunderbolt 3 will work. You will want to make sure that you have an actual Thunderbolt cable and you're not using a USB charge cable. You can also do the migration over wifi or ethernet if you don't want to buy a Thunderbolt cable for this.

 

[dwig]

Use a real certified Thunderbolt 3 or USB4 cable. USB4 incorporates Thunderbolt 3.

 

[Chuckeee]

You can use an Ethernet cable. Point to point connection (no switch or router required)

 

[Huginnmuninn]

Hi all

I am upgrading from an Intel-based iMac (2019) to a M3 iMac and need to know which cable to use to transfer my data to the new Mac. I think I have used Firewire cable in the past, but I know that is not an option anymore. I thought a Thunderbolt cable would work, but

What are you doing for backups? If you have a Time Machine backup or a cloned drive (courtesy of an app like SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner) you don't need a cable - just connect the drive to the new iMac and use Migration Assistant.

If you haven't been doing backups this is a great time to start.

 

[Wyotraveler]

Thanks, everyone I bought Thunderbolt 4 and could transfer my files just fine. My only issue was having two computers, two mouses, and two keyboards on my desk.

Also, I have had several other people suggest that I look at an external hard drive to start doing Time Machine backups.

 

[Steve121178]

Also, I have had several other people suggest that I look at an external hard drive to start doing Time Machine backups.

You absolutely want to be doing this ASAP.

 

[Fishrrman]

For backups, I'd recommend either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (instead of tm).
But that's just me.

 

[ignatius345]

What are you doing for backups? If you have a Time Machine backup or a cloned drive (courtesy of an app like SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner) you don't need a cable - just connect the drive to the new iMac and use Migration Assistant.

If you haven't been doing backups this is a great time to start.

This to me is the best answer. If you don't have a backup drive now, you really should have one. You can get a basic portable HDD very cheaply at this point. Doesn't have to be fast at all.

 

[dwig]

For backups, I'd recommend either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (instead of tm).
But that's just me.

I agree, to a degree. I don't think that any single solution is the best. My backups involve:

• Time Machine: best used for automatic file level backups at short intervals (hourly, daily, ...). This allows for easy and quick replacement of single files or groups of files that have be lost or damaged.
• CCC or SD!: best for full system backups that are bootable. These allow the backup drive to be used as a replacement for the internal drive should the be a hardware or massive file level failure. I use this periodically to clone my system drive, usually prior to a major update of the system or major software.
• FreeFileSync: I use this regularly to update cloned drives. I have several external drives that contain a massive number of files. A relative few of these files are are updated during a given month and a number of new files are added. FFS can update my external backup drives with the new and/or changed data faster than creating a new clone.