HUB for 2014 MacMini?

[Giuanniello]

Hello,

my 2014 i7 Mini is ready for retirement but not before the next 6 months when, hopefully, I can switch to a Studio, in the meantime it has to keep going and I will anyways dedicate it as a media server and as such looking at to expand ports and storage and was wondering, besides the Satechi, which other dock brand can I look at to buy, the Satechi for my old Mini are hard to find, there is plenty with the USB-C compatibility but doesn't make sense to convert the old USB to a C, any suggestion at what to look at?

Grazie

 

[FreakinEurekan]

If you're going to get a new Mac mini, I'd get the Satechi USB-C and use an adapter to plug it into your USB-A on the 2014 mini. The Satechi isn't doing anything fancy; should work fine with an adapter - just a little slower.

 

[Giuanniello]

If you're going to get a new Mac mini, I'd get the Satechi USB-C and use an adapter to plug it into your USB-A on the 2014 mini. The Satechi isn't doing anything fancy; should work fine with an adapter - just a little slower.

I will probably get aStudio to replace my 2014 Mini so I won't use the hub with other than the mini

 

[fricotin]

If you're going to get a new Mac mini, I'd get the Satechi USB-C and use an adapter to plug it into your USB-A on the 2014 mini. The Satechi isn't doing anything fancy; should work fine with an adapter - just a little slower.

Would it also work on a 2012 mini ?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Maybe take advantage of that Thunderbolt 2 connection: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB2DK14PSB/ and one from Caldigit called Thunderstation 2.

I wouldn't really jump on the "brand" concept as I find that some products from a brand can be great and others not great. Instead, I'd do some research product by product and check reviews.

If the goal is media serving, Thunderbolt would be overkill, so you could just get any old thing that will connect to the USB ports unless you have a lot of simultaneous demand on media from that server. If there are bunch of AppleTVs or iDevices in your home possibly wanting access to stored media at the same time, more speed than the USB on that Mini may matter.

 

[VegetarianNachos]

Would it also work on a 2012 mini ?

Yes, the USB ports are the same speed on the 2012 and 2014 Mac mini. The thunderbolt port on the 2012 is half the speed as those on the 2014, however.

 

[Giuanniello]

I am not tied to the Satechi for any particular reason other than the same form factor as the Mini to keep the whole thing more consistent, I don't want too many cables and stuff running around on the desk so the idea of a box same as the Mini that can stack looks fine.

Grazie