Tim Hassett

Q: Thunderbolt Display Flickering Epidemic - Extensive Testing

I've personally spent about 400 miles of driving back and forth to my closest Apple Store, hours and hours of time, and multiple repairs on this issue.  I then replaced all of my hardware!  Add that to the various threads on this topic that total over about 500,000 views, and it's clear there's an issue here.  I'll try to keep this post pithy, with the facts here at the top.

 

This problem started with a 1.5 year old 15" Retina MacBook Pro and Thunderbolt Display.  I now have a brand new Apple Thunderbolt Display AND brand new 15" MacBook Pro - AND HAVE THE SAME FLICKERING PROBLEM!

 

 

Steps Taken

 

  1. Many, many phone calls to AppleCare.  No clear "yes we've seen this before and know how to fix" type of response.
  2. Many visits to the closest repair facility to me, which is the Genius Bar at an Apple Retail store.  Again, I worked with about a half a dozen people there, and no one reported "yes, we've seen this and know how to fix this.".
  3. After replacing the LED panel, I drove 40 miles back home, plugged in the display, and it was totally dead.
  4. After driving BACK to the Apple Store, they told me they would have to try another repair.  As I was leaving, the Manager asked me if I was okay, I explained my issue, and in an awesome show of understanding, he replaced my display right there.
  5. I took a brand new Thunderbolt Display home, and I STILL had the flicker problem.
  6. In a second act of desperation, I bought a BRAND NEW 15" Retina MacBook Pro!!  (going to sell my 2012 model to a friend)

 

After ALL of this, I'm sitting here with 100% new Apple hardware and the display still flickers!  This is maddening.  I've made no OS X setting changes.  Everything is 100% factory default new, and my Thunderbolt Display has flickered about 20 times, and is now totally dark.  (as I've typed this) 

 

 

Other Notes

 

  • A very basic setup.  Just my 15" MacBook Pro and Thunderbolt Display.  I keep the Mac lid open and use both screens in extended mode. 
  • My MacBook Pro resolution is set to "scaled" at the "looks like 1680 x 1050" option.  But I've tried the recommended option as well.
  • I've replaced the MagSafe connector.  (I've read some posts that a bad connector was the theoretical culprit)
  • Display flickers and goes dark, but the USB ports still work.  (I have a wired Apple USB keyboard plugged into it.)
  • The display resolution settings are factory default. 
  • I've tried adjusting brightness settings, spaces settings, and arrangement settings.  Nothing works.
  • I've tried Apple's recommended SMC reset and PMU reset procedures.  No changes.
  • This all started when I upgraded to Mavericks.  I really think this could be the issue. 

 

 

Anyone have any other thoughts??!?!?  Am I missing something?!?!?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), 15 " Retina, 2014 Model, 2.3 i7

Posted on Mar 31, 2014 4:07 PM

Close

Q: Thunderbolt Display Flickering Epidemic - Extensive Testing

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 6 of 7 last Next
  • by Stanley E Kaufman,

    Stanley E Kaufman Stanley E Kaufman Nov 4, 2015 10:32 AM in response to darthkt
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 4, 2015 10:32 AM in response to darthkt

    Congratulations. That worked for me too -- for about three weeks after which my TBD died again, apparently permanently this time. I fear you'll soon be back to report about your door-stopped display like the rest of us.

  • by masevans_aus,

    masevans_aus masevans_aus Nov 7, 2015 5:48 PM in response to Stanley E Kaufman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 5:48 PM in response to Stanley E Kaufman

    Hello All  I thought I would let you have the latest relating to thread above

     

    Two weeks ago I took the TBD into the apple shop.  They said that they had never heard of the problem before, but took it in to test.  I was sure to tell tham that it fails only on full brightness and that they would have to leave it running for some hours before it started to fail.  A week later they called me, told me that they couldn't reproduce it but thought it sounded like a power supply problem.  (Theory being that the power supply gets hot driving screen at full brightness, turn it off, let it cool down and then turn it back on again).   I took it home and it failed again 2 hours later.  Once it starts to fail, then it fails every few minutes.

     

    So I took it back.  The technician was both very embarrassed/apologetic and very helpful.  Listened to the symptoms all over again and agreed to keep it again and this time keep testing it until he reproduced the problem himself in the workshop.  Called me the next day and said it had failed for him and he was therefore able to diagnose it while it was in a failed state. He said:

    "there are only three components in the TBD, Power supply, logic board and the main display panel and this problem is unequivocally the display panel.  The display panel is $1,280 (aussie dollars - about $950 US I am guessing) and therefore not worth repairing/replacing vs a new TBD.  BUT given that we have messed you about and you already paid us for a $120 Power supply you probably didn't need - we will cover the cost of the panel"

     

    So..  now I have it at home - full brightness for some 4 or 5 hours now and not a blink.

     

    At this stage, I'd say its fixed.

  • by Stanley E Kaufman,

    Stanley E Kaufman Stanley E Kaufman Nov 12, 2015 2:15 PM in response to masevans_aus
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 12, 2015 2:15 PM in response to masevans_aus

    Well I'd say it's "replaced" not "fixed."

     

    Since Apple has variously attributed this problem to the power supply, the logic board, and the screen itself -- after of course typically saying that they "can't reproduce the problem" at all -- it's hard not to think that they don't have a clue what is wrong with these displays. What is easy to think is that they don't really care to know, and instead they just replace the monitor, if you're unusually lucky, with the expectation that you'll just go away. Which appears to work.

     

    If Apple quietly fixed in new production runs whatever was defective, then it might make sense to buy a new one. But unless Apple acknowledges that they found and fixed the problem, it would be nuts to do so. And if they did find and fix the problem in new units, why won't they do it for old units? But perhaps that's the new Apple: customers should expect to replace all hardware as soon as AppleCare expires.

  • by masevans_aus,

    masevans_aus masevans_aus Nov 12, 2015 2:39 PM in response to Stanley E Kaufman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2015 2:39 PM in response to Stanley E Kaufman

    Fair Enough

     

    I merely put this information up here because I thought it would be useful for people who have the same issue and weren't sure what exactly the problem was.  Certainly that is why I first came here when the problem first presented itself (rather than any critical assessment of Apple).

     

    With the consideration that this fault was intermittent and therefore not 'always' reproducible, I thought the guys at the Apple Store did a good job.

     

    In any event - that's what the problem was.  Hope it helps someone.

  • by Steve Garfield,

    Steve Garfield Steve Garfield Nov 13, 2015 9:00 AM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 13, 2015 9:00 AM in response to Tim Hassett

    Unbelievable. I am going to try this now.

  • by htmanning,

    htmanning htmanning Jan 12, 2016 11:44 AM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (15 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 12, 2016 11:44 AM in response to Tim Hassett

    I'm having all issues mentioned here - flickering, random dimming, going black.

     

    I have tried:

     

    1.  Unplugging everything.

    2.  Using a separate power supply.

    3.  Using a separate Thunderbolt cable.

    4.  Using a different power cable.

    5.  Using a different computer.

    6.  Updating firmware.

    7.  Turning off Auto Brightness

     

    None of this works. My display starts flickering about 2-3 minutes after it comes on.  After a few flickers,  it dims.  Then it goes black.

     

    This is a serious issue for a $1000 monitor to have.

  • by htmanning,

    htmanning htmanning Jan 14, 2016 9:34 AM in response to htmanning
    Level 1 (15 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 14, 2016 9:34 AM in response to htmanning

    I finally solved this issue.  After reading this forum, I tried using a Thunderbolt cable instead of the built-in cable.  It did not work, but it was not an Apple Thunderbolt cable.  I went to the Apple Store and picked up the official Thunderbolt cable and IT WORKS! 

     

    You have to use an official Apple cable!!!

     

    While I was at the Apple Store I spoke to a couple of the "Geniuses."  They were convinced the cable would NOT work, and that the logic board in the monitor would have to be replaced for $600.  They gave me all sorts of reasons why it could not be the cable, but they were wrong.  Just get the official Apple cable and be done with this issue.

  • by htmanning,

    htmanning htmanning Jan 14, 2016 9:55 AM in response to htmanning
    Level 1 (15 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 14, 2016 9:55 AM in response to htmanning

    Okay, I may have spoken too soon. After a day of using the TB cable I no longer have flickering, but I still have the issue where the monitor will dim randomly. And yes, I have unchecked the Automatically Adjust Brightness option.

  • by LTParis,

    LTParis LTParis Jan 16, 2016 1:14 PM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jan 16, 2016 1:14 PM in response to Tim Hassett

    I have had this problem intermittently for two years now (27" TB display, Early-2013 MBP and Mid-2011 MBP). Many eprom clearings, separate TB cables, Was hoping that since this issue has been a burden for so many that Apple would have had a solution by now. :/

  • by jeppef,

    jeppef jeppef Jan 22, 2016 12:59 PM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 22, 2016 12:59 PM in response to Tim Hassett

    I had the same issues with random dimming of backlight on my 27" TB display. When re-inserting the TB cable it was sometimes possible to get it working again. I then tried to replace the internal TB cable by looking at the teardown on iFixit and also re-soldering some of the components on the power supply but did not help.

     

    As a last try I bought a new power supply on AliExpress (cheaper than eBay) and this solved my problem. Now fully working again for around 10 days.

  • by htmanning,

    htmanning htmanning Jan 22, 2016 5:26 PM in response to htmanning
    Level 1 (15 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 22, 2016 5:26 PM in response to htmanning

    I took my monitor to the Genius Bar and they said I need a new logic board.  It's about $189 +tax.  I'll get it back in 10 days and see.

  • by AGR5119,

    AGR5119 AGR5119 Jan 24, 2016 5:10 AM in response to kayakfromluling
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 24, 2016 5:10 AM in response to kayakfromluling

    Hello Everybody,

    This issue was driving me crazy too... I followed the advice in making a direct Thunderbolt connection in between my MBP Retina (Mid 2012) / Thunderbolt Display. Additionally I connected my MBP directly to his own power supply. Knock on wood, but it seems to work.

    One small advantage I have through this issue. The Apple guys were only focusing on a MBP issue. They replaced at the end (3x in repair service for this issue!!!) my full motherboard under guarantee. Unsuccessful!!! Crazy that they didn't come with the simple solution of a direct connection.

    Even though for me this solution seems to be working I don't understand the real problem and keep monitoring this forum ;-)

    Thanks,

    Alain@Belgium

  • by htmanning,

    htmanning htmanning Jan 30, 2016 1:09 PM in response to htmanning
    Level 1 (15 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 30, 2016 1:09 PM in response to htmanning

    Apple just called me.  They changed the logic board, some cables, power supply and it still flickered after using for several minutes.  The problem is the LCD display which is $700 and not worth fixing.  I bought a refurbished from Apple for $800.  

     

    Apple is convinced these are good monitors.  I told of the many people who are having problems and they said it's a small fraction of the number sold.  If 1 million of these displays were sold, and 10,000 people had an issue, that's still only 1%.  They believe these monitors are good.  I believe Apple has an unusually high failure rate and quality control is poor.  Every one of my Macs has had a failure as has my iPhones and iPads.  I love Apple and spend thousands per year on hardware for myself and my friends and family.  I continue to buy Apple, but their failure rate is way too high.  I believe their thin designs trap heat and cause parts to wear quickly.

  • by geophile,

    geophile geophile Feb 20, 2016 4:43 PM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2016 4:43 PM in response to Tim Hassett

    Can someone describe this flickering? My display will disconnect occasionally. Sometimes it's fine for hours, and then it will disconnect several times an hour. When this happens, all the windows rearrange as if I unplugged the display. When this happens, the screen stays dark, it doesn't come right back. So I'm not sure that what I'm seeing is the same thing as "flickering", which sounds like a short outage.

  • by BevoLonghorn,

    BevoLonghorn BevoLonghorn Mar 20, 2016 5:40 PM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2016 5:40 PM in response to Tim Hassett

    Just like many people on this post...I can't believe how big of an issue this is!

     

    I am heading to the Apple Store to get a Thunderbolt cable.  Reason why:  The built in cable in my 27" TBD gets very very warm (not hot)  I "jiggled" the wire at the housing where it splits and I noticed that the power indicator would go off and on.  That would indicate something wrong with the cable...right?  I've read many of the posts that recommend the cable replacement and there seems to be many with the overheating porblem that are attributing it to the brightness level and attempting to keep the monitor from overhearting.  I suspect the cable.

     

    I will give an update when I get back...within the hour.

first Previous Page 6 of 7 last Next