Given the iMP drive over Target Disk Mode being so slow, even significantly slower than the MBP when really it should be the reverse, I'm guessing there's something the T2 chip is doing that's bottlenecking it, but again, just wondering if anyone knows anything official or definitive, rather than just speculation. But I'm wondering if anyone knows anything specific on the technical level of what's going on, and if there's anything that can be done to improve it. I understand there's the obvious speculative answer of 'Well something else relating specifically to Target Disk Mode is obviously bottle-necking it.' Ok. Does anyone know why Target Disk Mode is so slow?

What on earth is going on? Thunderbolt 3 in real world tests with any other fast enough drive is capable of at least about 2800 MB/s. However, Target Disk Mode also reportedly worked with a Thunderbolt 2-to-FireWire adapter, so that combination may also work with an additional Thunderbolt. Then the reverse: Booting the MBP from its internal drive and then connecting the iMP in Target Disk Mode, testing the iMP (Target Disk) I get read & write speeds of about 200 & 250 MB/s respectively!! From this reading, only the 12-inch MacBook and the new MacBook Pros will be able to employ Target Disk Mode between themselves, using either a USB-only USB-C cable or a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Now, in separate tests, I connect each to the other in Target Disk Mode over Thunderbolt 3 (using a short 1 foot cable so as not to lose the maximum 40Gb/s speed).īooting the iMP from its internal drive and then connecting the MBP in Target Disk Mode, testing the MBP (Target Disk) I get read & write speeds of about 450 & 700 MB/s respectively. Connect the two computers using the appropriate Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cable. Using the iMP standalone, the internal drive gives me read & write speeds of about 2500 & 2900 MB/s respectively. Show more How to transfer files between two MacBook Pros using Thunderbolt 3 9to5Mac 363K views 6 years ago 9to5Mac.

Using the MBP standalone, the internal drive gives me read & write speeds of about 2600 & 2000 MB/s respectively. You may want to consider using Target Disk Mode with Thunderbolt 3.

Target disk mode thunderbolt 2 to 3