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

NOTICE: This review is primarily for those who build their own computers or are looking to build one in the future (it's fun and not that hard!)For anyone wondering if this will let you connect an Apple Thunderbolt 1440p display to your Windows PC, the answer is, well... maybe. It's a complicated process that will take up much more of your time than you would probably like, but after a bit of tinkering I got it to work, so it's definitely possible.When I arrived at my new video editing job, my first task was to build a new video editing rig, since I wasn't too keen on the 2009 quad-core Mac Pro my predecessor had been using. The only thing was, sitting there unused and sad was a very nice 27" Thunderbolt Display. Since this is an excellent panel I wanted to use it on the Windows 10 rig I was about to build, but upon further research I discovered this may be a much more difficult task than plug-and-play.See, Thunderbolt Displays will ONLY work with a thunderbolt port, you cannot simply get a mini Displayport to Displayport adapter like you can with an Apple Cinema Display, which are older and use mini Displayport instead of Thunderbolt (even though they look identical). Your options for buying motherboards with Thunderbolt equipped is very slim, but they do sell PCI cards that let you add Thunderbolt ports to your system. I purchased the Asus X99-Deluxe II motherboard, which comes with the Asus Thunderbolt EX3 card included.I needed this adapter because the EX3's thunderbolt port is the latest standard, which uses the USB-C form factor. If I would have done more research I maybe wouldn't have needed to get this adapter, but no use complaining now and besides, the X99 deluxe II is a glorious beast.However, when I first plugged everything in and fired up my machine, nothing happened. I downloaded the drivers, went through settings, enabled Intel Thunderbolt in my motherboard's BIOS, still nothing! I was ready to return this and give up, but I researched and researched, changed some more BIOS settings, then a day later--WHAMO--it worked! Now I have a beastly dual-1440p panel setup.So, the important things to know if you're looking to purchase this card to connect an Apple Thunderbolt Display:- You will have to tinker with it, possibly for multiple days before it works.- It will require you to mess around in your computer's BIOS settings. This can be intimidating to first-timers.- Do your research! This is an expensive adapter and you don't want to get it then find out you also have to purchase pricey computer components to make it work.My system:Mobo: Asus X99-Deluxe IIExpansion Card: Asus Thunderbolt EX3CPU: Intel i7-5820K 4ghz overclockGPU: EVGA GTX 1070 OC black edition w/thermal pad modRAM: 64GB G.Skill ripjaws V series DDR4-3200Storage: OS on 1TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, several other standard HDDsDisplay 1: 27-inch 1440p BenQ BL2711UDisplay 2: 27-inch 1440p Apple Thunderbolt Display

Recognizes and works with Antelope audio Orion TB2 interface. The genuine apple TB2 to TB3 connector will NOT work in this application. Seems this is the only working solution. +++++

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.

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.

If you have an audio interface that is TB2 only and you need it to work on your TB3 computer, this is the device for you. For example, if you were tricked by Antelope Audio's deceptive literature into thinking you were buying an audio interface with current Thunderbolt connectivity only for them to ship you a Thunderbolt 2 device instead, this device will save you.In the case of Antelope audio devices, you will need to uninstall and reinstall drivers over and over again, power things off and on over and over again and dance around a fire to get it to work (as you would with any Antelope device), but it will eventually work. And then it will keep working, because this adapter is rock solid. Excellent device. Thank you for making this adapter, StarTech!

Worked great for my Apple Thunderbolt Display and MacBook Pro 13 inch 2020 4 Thunderbolt Ports