StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (Non-Reversible) - TB3 Laptop to TB2 (20Gbps) or TB1 (10Gbps) Devices / Displays - Black - Windows/Mac (TBT3TBTADAP)

On a new PC build, using this motherboard: Gigabyte LGA1151 Intel Z170 2-Way SLI ATX DDR4 Motherboards GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 , I was itching to use my Thunderbolt display from Apple since about 2 years ago I spent over $1,000 at the Apple store for it (the one like this: Apple MC914LL/B 27-inch Thunderbolt Display ) - and well, it was meant to be more than just a pretty paperweight. Actually the newly-obsolete Apple Thunderbolt display itself is quite good. It's a shame that Apple didn't continue that business (for now). The downside is that it's a Thunderbolt 2 device that's - confusingly - a mini Display port. Even more confusingly, when I bought the motherboard and it came with a USB-C connector on the back. I thought "oh, I just need a cable.." not really. The motherboard is Thunderbolt 3 and the monitor is Thunderbolt 2. Fast forward to the end here: this product works GREAT to connect a PC/Laptop that has a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C connector (Dell, HP, etc) to an Apple Thunderbolt Display. Beyond the basics of it working as a display, I haven't invested time to get the drivers to work for the camera, speakers, etc inside the display, but there are some sites out there that document how to do it by borrowing drivers from bootcamp. As other viewers noted though, an Apple MacBook with a USB-C connector doesn't use Thunderbolt 3 signalling, so for that purpose this adapter is unlikely to do anything. Make no mistake: this adapter is expensive. But to spend about $75-80 to make an already-owned good Apple monitor work on a new Windows PC to me was worth it.

I purchased this (StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter) in 2017 to allow me to attach my Universal Audio Apollo Twin Duo 2 to my Windows 10 based 17" Acer Predator laptop that had a Thunderbolt 3 port. Worked flawlessly.I now need to attach an older Firewire Audio Interface to my new MacBook Pro that only has ONE Thunderbolt 3 port. The firewire to Thunderbolt 3 adapter does not exist and never will (given that its not available by now by anyone).Apple would have you spend $29.00 for a Firewire to Thunderbolt TWO STYLE adapter. (this has a DIFFERENT style plug than a thunderbolt 3 cable) of course!Then you would have to pay an ADDITIONAL $49.00 MORE for another adapter to make this work.I was about to pay another $49.00 Until I REMEMBERED I owned this adapter..So I only needed to purchase the $29.00 firewire adapter. I then plugged it into my new 2020 apple computer and everything worked.A good part of apples Research and Development goes into making their products incompatible in such a way that you are forced to either 1: upgrade and trash what you are currently using. 2: computers the are incompatible with any device that they do not manufacture and sell. 3: peripherals that can be made to fail in short order and that are a necessary component to operate their devices....all apple cable I have owned have fallen apart at both ends in short order.

I'm sharing this review with the hope that it can help others. The problem I tried to solve with the StarTech adapter was to connect my Apple thunderbolt display with a new Windows USB-C/Thunderbolt capable laptop. After a great deal of research, based on what is published by StarTech, I purchased this rather expensive adapter. I've tried this with two brand new Windows Laptops, a Lenovo C930 and a Dell XPS 13. The results were the same with both. The laptops recognize the Apple Thunderbolt display and ask for permission to connect. After selecting "Always connect", the laptops fail to recognize the Thunderbolt display and the screen remains dark. Going to display settings, there is no option to extend or mirror the display on the second monitor. As for StarTech support, let me save you some time and frustration. The consistent message is, you have to go back to your manufacturer and update the bios and any drivers, but no specific information is provided. I spent hours and did all of this with both machines and it didn't change the results. Startech's response was that this was still an issue with the laptops, bios or drivers, not their product. Bottom line: I don't agree. It does work with my daughter's new MacBook Air, as does the less expensive Apple USB-C to Thunderbolt adapter. But it is my opinion that the adapter will not work in the application for which I purchased it. Hope this helps others.

This comment is for people who want to connect their Apple Thunderbolt Display with outputs (Thunderbolt) to a modern 2020 MacBook Pro (with type C inputs). This adapter worked perfectly for me and I was able to duplicate the screen of my MacBook Pro.

Works as described, with sleek and solid build. Unit gets pretty warm after a while, but nothing alarming.Caveat for owners of Dell XPS 9360 (13" Kaby Lake):Even after updating the computer's BIOS, drivers, firmware, etc. I was NOT able to output to any monitor unless the computer was in airplane mode - in other words, I had to choose for the computer to be connected to the internet OR output to external monitors via the Thunderbolt 3 port. Dell technical support is still looking into this issue for me and I have not heard back, nor have I seen any solutions online (the previous generation wireless card allowed for a decrease in WiFi power output, but that is not an option on this card). In the meantime, I had to disable the onboard Killer 1535 wireless adapter, and am using a separate USB WiFi adapter to be able to be online AND have my monitors work. My laptop is plugged into my home "base station" 99% of the time, so this is an acceptable workaround for me, but if you're looking to regularly move your computer between stations and monitors, just be advised of the current technical limitation on the Dell side.