DanRyb

Q: 24" LED Display with 2011 15" MPB

Hey all,

I've had this 24" LED Cinema Display since it came out and have been using it with a 2010 MBP until now - I upgraded to a 2011 15" MPD (2.3 Core i7 with high-rest matte display) and now with this new MPD, I intermittently get the 24" LED display turning all black before going back to showing my display. It's happening pretty often. Is anyone else experiencing anything similar?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 26, 2011 1:01 PM

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Q: 24" LED Display with 2011 15" MPB

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  • by SSM Guru,

    SSM Guru SSM Guru Mar 24, 2011 6:54 PM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2011 6:54 PM in response to DanRyb
    UGH! I just dropped 4k on a new MBP 15", just got it today, and my 24" Cinema display is flickering and going nuts even after the OS update. APPLE FIX THIS!

    One PO'd BUSINESS customer!
  • by cassian,

    cassian cassian Mar 24, 2011 11:38 PM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2011 11:38 PM in response to DanRyb
    Another one with the same problem, still persists after 10.6.7.

    Re-plugging the MDP cable seems to help for a bit, but that could just as easily be pure random chance.

    Most frustrating, tempted to go back to my old MBP until Apple resolves the issue.
  • by WylyQuimby,

    WylyQuimby WylyQuimby Mar 25, 2011 11:55 AM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 25, 2011 11:55 AM in response to DanRyb
    I spoke too soon. Two flickers in under five minutes. I still have not seen a flicker while running Windows 7. Windows time is mostly game time, so that might make a difference, but this definitely appears to be a software problem.
  • by leesilberkleit,

    leesilberkleit leesilberkleit Mar 25, 2011 12:00 PM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2011 12:00 PM in response to DanRyb
    Talked to Applecare today......

    They said that 10.6.7 resolved the problem for most users.

    They also told me that since it didn't for me, I would have to bring it in to the store where (near as I could pin him down) he said they would either a) reinstall the update for me manually or b) look for a hardware problem. Not sure he totally was right in any of this but just relaying what was said.

    I tried downloading 10.6.7 and reinstalling myself but the installer wouldn't let me do it.

    CAn anyone with the 1GB video card in their MBP confirm that 10.6.7 fixed their problem. For that matter..... can anyone confirm that 10.6.7 DID fix this??? I would imagine many who might post would not even check back if the problem was fixed.......

    Thanks,
    -Lee
  • by pemiller,

    pemiller pemiller Mar 25, 2011 12:07 PM in response to leesilberkleit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2011 12:07 PM in response to leesilberkleit
    Updating to 10.6.7 definitely did NOT resolve the flickering problem for me.
  • by leesilberkleit,

    leesilberkleit leesilberkleit Mar 25, 2011 12:55 PM in response to pemiller
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2011 12:55 PM in response to pemiller
    Thanks for that..... so doesn't matter which GPU it is!

    I tried powering the laptop separately and not using the display USB..... got blackout blink in first 10 minutes.....

    Looking at another thread this has been ongoing since '09........

    -Lee
  • by leesilberkleit,

    leesilberkleit leesilberkleit Mar 25, 2011 3:40 PM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2011 3:40 PM in response to DanRyb
    As an alternative.........

    So what 24" or so monitor would you look at to replace the ACD 24? THere is only so long and far I want to fight city hall!

    -Lee
  • by eugelit1,

    eugelit1 eugelit1 Mar 25, 2011 4:25 PM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2011 4:25 PM in response to DanRyb
    Updating to 10.6.7 did NOT resolve the flickering problem for me either
    cmon Apple
  • by jyang86,

    jyang86 jyang86 Mar 26, 2011 1:33 AM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2011 1:33 AM in response to DanRyb
    I still have the same problem (2.3ghz i7 1gb graphics). I think the blackouts are happening a little less frequently now (once every 30 mins) but still too often. This is very annoying. Please continue to fix this problem, Apple. I have yet to read a single person on this thread stating that 10.6.7 has solved this problem. I will promise to do so if it ever gets solved for me. My screen just blacked out again while writing the previous sentence...
  • by SSM Guru,

    SSM Guru SSM Guru Mar 26, 2011 8:32 AM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2011 8:32 AM in response to DanRyb
    Been on the phone with Applecare on this now for over 30 minutes, they are advising that this is a hardware issue (went through multiple tests with different monitors, computers, etc) and Apple is replacing the machine. Possibly a bad batch of GPU's?

    Just thought I would pass it on, now to wait and see if this fixes the issue...will advise in 7-10 days.
  • by cchiappone,

    cchiappone cchiappone Mar 26, 2011 9:00 AM in response to SSM Guru
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2011 9:00 AM in response to SSM Guru
    I have the same problem. Doesn't seem like 10.6.7 did anything to fix this. Lot's of flickers when I first use my mbp then seems to work fine after about a half an hour later.
  • by BZ,

    BZ BZ Mar 26, 2011 9:08 AM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mar 26, 2011 9:08 AM in response to DanRyb
    Yup, did the update. Still blacks out every 30 minutes or so. Very very annoying. Love spending almost $4,000 on something and have defects.

    Don't make me call Apple Support...

    BZ
  • by leesilberkleit,

    leesilberkleit leesilberkleit Mar 26, 2011 10:47 AM in response to SSM Guru
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2011 10:47 AM in response to SSM Guru
    Very interesting that they are going to try replacing the machine.............

    FYI: the First 2011 15 MBP 2.0 I bought was from a local Apple Store (Bellevue WA). It DID have this issue even after 10.6.7. I returned it and got one from MacMall (Memphis TN). It has the exact same issue. I concede it is possible these two were from similar production runs. I think I will repeat your exercise and give them a second call this morning too.......

    Very interested if this solves it for you...........
  • by iFrodo,

    iFrodo iFrodo Mar 26, 2011 11:59 AM in response to DanRyb
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 26, 2011 11:59 AM in response to DanRyb
    I've my theory on this issue, as I've been able to replicate it on my HDTV, but I fixed it (sadly the fix can't be applied for ACD 24", you'll see why).

    Tests conducted:

    - MBP connected to HDTV through Mini DP <-> DVI <-> HDMI adapter (yes first Mini DP - DVI adapter and another DVI to HDMI adapter on it) and a low end quality cable (max bandwidth probably of 4.8 or 6.4Gbits/sec. Don't know the versions of HDMI this cable supports, but for sure it's less than 1.3)
    => NO issue at all

    - MBP connected to HDTV through Mini DP to HDMI adapter (with sound) and a low end quality cable (max bandwidth probably of 4.8 or 6.4Gbits/sec. Don't know the versions of HDMI this cable supports, but for sure it's less than 1.3)
    =>I had the issue with similar frequency than with ACD 24"

    - MBP connected to HDTV using the same Mini DP to HDMI adapter (with sound) and a HDMI 1.3 cable capable of 10.2 Gbits/sec bandwidth
    => NO issue at all!

    So my theory is that the issue comes from the computer not setting the right settings for the output signal and sometime use a higher transfer rate than the one supported by the cable or screen, that makes the screen to malfunction (cause of incompatibility with the signal it receives).

    This explains why the problem doesn't appears when using DVI or VGA, as there are no multiple max bandwidth in that case, VGA is analogic (so talking of bandwidth in that case is a nonsense ), and DVI have only one max 3.96Gbits bandwidth for single link version and a variable max bandwidth for dual link DVI. Btw, did you remember the issues with dual link Mini DP <-> DVI adapter at the beginning? It was probably the same issue, as max bandwidth is not fixed, but negotiated, in dual link DVI, as for HDMI and DisplayPort.

    Also I'd not be surprised if with some HDTV the problems persist even when using HDMI 1.3 cable, if those TVs don't support HDMI 1.3 themselves.

    The good news: It's probably a pure software driver (or firmware) issue, not detecting correctly the right settings to apply for the output signal when used with native DisplayPort or HDMI.

    The bad news: While it's fixable right now for HDMI screens (at least those supporting HDMI 1.3), it's not easily fixable for the ACD 24" for now.

    Well in fact there is a fix that can be used right now, but it's expensive, as it requires to buy a converter like this: http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-p-17859.html, additionally to the Mini DP to DVI adapter. This solution have already been reported as fixing the problem by someone here, but it's an expensive solution, even though it gives the additional advantage to be able to use the ACD 24" with devices without Mini DisplayPort connector.
  • by leesilberkleit,

    leesilberkleit leesilberkleit Mar 26, 2011 12:11 PM in response to iFrodo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2011 12:11 PM in response to iFrodo
    Excellent post!

    I believe you are on the right track here....... It would also explain why external monitors with DVI inputs are not having an issue.......

    If one uses a miniDP --> DVI then gender changer then DVI --> miniDP then gender change again --> ACD...... does the adapter(s) have some smarts in it so that the computer sees DVI as the max BW it can send out??

    -Lee
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