William Kruidenier
Level 1 (49 points)
Desktops

Q: Mini and Monitors = Mystery

Bought new Mini in March (3.0 ghz, 16 RAM). Connected to two Dell UltraSharp 24" monitors connected via MDP (Thunderbolt) > HDMI on the monitors.

Immediate problem: random scrambled color on one of monitors when Mini waked from sleep.

Tried switching cables, ports, display profiles in DIsplay Pref Pane -- problem of scrambled color continued.

After extended tech support sessions, Apple allowed return of Mini and sent me a new duplicate. Exact same problem.

 

With the second Mini, continued switching ports, using new cables, trying different display profiles. Problem persists -- whichever monitor is connected (MDP > HDMI) to the right-hand MDP on the back of the MINI, that monitor displays scrambled color when waking from sleep (randomly, not every time -- about half-plus time).

 

Also, if I connect the two monitors as MDP > DVI instead of MDP > HDMI, it eliminates the problem entirely -- perfect color on both monitors when waking from sleep. So the problem is with one of the MDP ports connected to HDMI on the monitor.

 

SO -- I can get by with MDP > DVI connections. I'm just at a loss as to why the MDP > HDMI connection on ONE of the two MDP ports on the MINI displays scrambled color when waking from sleep over half the time.

 

Just wonder if anyone has any ideas on . . .

 

MDP > HDMI connections on the MINI?

Video problems on current edition of the MINI?

HDMI specs on the Dell monitors being incompatible with HDMI specs on the MINI?

Anything else I'm not checking or that I'm overlooking?

 

Kudos to Apple for two very long tech support sessions with the first MINI and for sending me a replacement, even though none of that solved the problem.

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), 16 gigs RAM

Posted on Apr 9, 2016 6:23 PM

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William Kruidenier

Q: Mini and Monitors = Mystery

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  • by den.thed,Helpful

    den.thed den.thed Apr 9, 2016 6:42 PM in response to William Kruidenier
    Level 7 (27,639 points)
    Apr 9, 2016 6:42 PM in response to William Kruidenier

    Stick with the Mini DisplayPort to DVI connections, DVI is much more stable than HDMI.

     

    FWIW I've never had any problems with dual DVI connected monitors 24" or smaller on any of my Mac Mini models.

  • by William Kruidenier,

    William Kruidenier William Kruidenier Apr 9, 2016 6:47 PM in response to William Kruidenier
    Level 1 (49 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 9, 2016 6:47 PM in response to William Kruidenier

    Don't see a way to edit my original post so I'll add it here:

     

    I should have mentioned that when the MINI wakes from sleep and one monitor has garbled color, the color can be restored by switching the monitor off, waiting 10-15 seconds, then switching the monitor back on. The color is then fine and remains good while I'm using the computer. The garbled color occurs only when waking from sleep.

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Apr 9, 2016 6:59 PM in response to William Kruidenier
    Level 7 (27,639 points)
    Apr 9, 2016 6:59 PM in response to William Kruidenier

    You still on 10.11.3...? If so, go to the App Store, select Update and update to 10.11.4.

     

    Optionally if you are already at 10.11.4, go to > Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 Combo Update and install that Combo version over the top of the App Store update version.

  • by William Kruidenier,

    William Kruidenier William Kruidenier Apr 9, 2016 7:51 PM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (49 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 9, 2016 7:51 PM in response to den.thed

    I'm at 10.11.4 -- sorry -- had forgotten to update my profile.

     

    Reinstalling the OS seems like major surgery to me. Any specific ideas on how that might help? Or is that less of a "surgery" than I imagine? (Just hate to re-set all manor of OS settings. Or does it not change anything like that?)

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Apr 9, 2016 8:53 PM in response to William Kruidenier
    Level 7 (27,639 points)
    Apr 9, 2016 8:53 PM in response to William Kruidenier

    Installing the Combo update over the top is not major surgery. Plus it has been know to fix short comings that were rolled out in the factory installed OS X and incremental updates.

  • by William Kruidenier,

    William Kruidenier William Kruidenier Apr 10, 2016 9:13 AM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (49 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 10, 2016 9:13 AM in response to den.thed

    I installed the OS Combo update -- easy, like you said. However, nothing changed -- still have the same problem. But thanks for your efforts. Since this thread isn't attracting any more ideas, I'll probably just switch to the DVI inputs on the monitors and let this puzzle remain unsolved.


    Thanks again for your input.