New MacBook connected to external VGA display screen flash.

FWIW, if I connect the nVidia 9400 to my 40" Westinghouse HDTV (1080i), via VGA, I get no flashing! It works just fine. But if I hook it up to a newer Sony Bravia HDTV (1080p), I have the flashing, and the only way to not have the flashing is to switch to the 9600, which is not preferable, as that chip gets so hot.

Anyway, just thought I'd report this. I truly think this ***** for everyone with a macbook sans the 9600 option.

FWIW, if I connect the nVidia 9400 to my Westinghouse 40" HDTV (1080i), (via VGA,) I get no flashing. It works fine. But, if I connect the same 9400 to a newer Sony Bravia HDTV (1080p), I get the flashing. Not sure what this means, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

POSSIBLE FIX...!!!!!!!


Perhaps my previous rant against Apple was premature.

Just NOW did a Software Update of 10.5.6 (I think this is BRAND NEW from Apple).

Suddenly my new MacBook aluminum can actually RUN my Hi-Def LCD TVs (a Sony Bravia 32" and an Aveis 19").

However, no time yet to see if the screen flash happens. Previous to this update the MacBook would not power either of these TVs AT ALL.

Good luck to all.....

Answer to question 2: Yes, I connect a 2.4GHz MacBook Aluminum to my Apple 23" (Aluminum) Cinema display (at native resolution of 1920 x 1200) via DVI and get static lines and black outs after the monitor returns from sleep. If I simply don't let the monitor sleep (just use a screen saver only), I never get the problem.

Had 10.5.6 for quite a while. Still get flashes just like all the other folks. 10.5.6 was not the fix. It might be that the new MacBooks are fixed from Apple. Mine is 3 months old.

Personally if the new one's shipping are fixed I am really ****** off.

Mike

I also have this problem using a 2.4GHz MacBook. With my Samsung HL-S6767W LCD TV it doesn't recognise it as a PC input. I use my MacBook Pro to connect and it is fine (lets me get on the PC input), then switch to the MacBook and it works. However, "works" is excepting the same goes-blank-for-a-half-second-every-so-often. It happens when I use the MacBook to stream movies to the TV off a NAS. When I tried using it with another 17" Princeton monitor, it worked with no problems whatsoever. Odd...

I registered on these forums just to add my name to this thread.

I have a late 2008 Alu Macbook and I'm having the same flashing problems described.

I have talked with Apple tech support and have done all recommended updates.
( 10.5.6 , deleting .plist files , PRAM reset etc. )

I'm still having periodic flashing after exhausting all options given to me by Apple support.

They have told me that they escalated the problem and the solution from the Apple tech's is to " wait for an update".

They have basically told me that until this issue is recognized on : http://www.apple.com/au/support/macbook/ that they wont accept a return or exchange.

This has me concerned because It appears to be a hardware problem. My 13" Macbook is next to useless for the time being as my main tasks require a bigger external display for functionality. I also bought it to use with VJ software ( video beat matching ) on data projectors for live shows. Im now not sure if I can trust this to work with the projectors provided at said venues.

This is the first mac i have bought and i have been very impressed with most if not all other aspects such as the OS X and the functions/aesthetics of the laptop. I found tech support to be friendly and understanding and I don't blame those guys.

However, if this issue is not recognized / resolved I have essentially paid what for me is a considerable amount of money for something that doesn't work.

I hope that Mac will at the very least recognize this problem so I'm not left with the fear that I may have wasted $2000 if a firmware update cannot resolve the issues with the Nvidia chip.

I encourage anyone else still having the problem to contact Apple and lodge a docket with them so hopefully we can have this issue resolved.

Regards

I agree 100% with Bocuma. I've had great customer service from Apple, but nothing is resolved or even identified for me and it's been a month. Longer for others.

So frustrating.

it's not solved. I've bought my mac about 2 weeks ago and have the same problem.

What's more, I can't even set the resolution higher than 1360:768 because other are not even on the list. Sometimes they are there (when I have my mac turned off and plug the TV to turned off mac and then turn on everything) but the image is on the part of the screen only and is very ugly and when i click to identify screens those hi resolution options disappear...

I too installed SwitchResX and selected a non-standard resolution 1920x1199 instead of the default 1920x1200 and all the flash problems have gone away. I'm not sure if it was the act of trying to use a resolution that was a little off or just the fact that SwitchResX was installed. Needs more research.

Mark

Agreed. I haven't tried to take the machine in yet and after reading the comments I'm considering taking video until it happens again. It's very annoying. Glad to know I'm not the only one. Hooray for forums!

Hi all.

Again I echo Bocuma's comments. I've had this issue since purchasing the MacBook in November. I have called Applecare a number of times and they still do not seem to acknowledge the issue exists which worrys me.

I have today booked an appointment with the Genius Bar in Regents St, London on the recommendation of Applecare. I do not hold out much hope of 1. Anyone acknowledging the problem and 2. finding a fix.

Just to add points to my issue. I'm using a Samsung Syncmaster 232bw monitor set on resolution 1650 x 1050. The flashes happen every 5 mins or so for 2-3 seconds at a time.
I also have an old Sony 19in TFT and I have plugged the VGA mini displayport into this at 1280 x 1024 resolution and I don't appear to get any screen flashes at all with this monitor.
Maybe it points to a resolution capability issue? Normal VGA on my Samsung monitor work fine with PC and Mac Mini and always has done.

I hope Apple at least acknowledge this as an issue, that would be a great first step. Appleinsider.com has been talking about this issue for months.

I have recently switched to Apple from PC but this sort of thing does make me wonder why I bothered and if Apple do not listen to their customers, wheres the support? Its getting frustrating!

As posted earlier I have exactly the same problem. When connecting to a high resolution screen with a pixel rating of 1600 and up, the screen starts to switch off sporadically every few minutes. I use a 22 inch Samsung at work and a 24 inch Acer at home which both have the same symptoms. Needless to say this is very, very irritating.

This is a huge problem with these machines and I have not heard of anyone who can fix this. With no official statement from Apple I decided to email sjobs@apple.com and one of the european PR reps phoned me to find out about the problem. *I explained the entire situation and she assured me that they will work on a solution.*

My colleaugue has the exact same machine with exactly the same problems with his machine using his VGA adaptor. So this is clearly not a one off fault.

I get a call every few days from Apple engineering in Ireland telling me they are working on a fix... I have persuaded my local iStore to swop out my VGA DP adaptor for a DVI one in the meantime. No problems.

Read about it here: http://techrumor.blogspot.com

i'm using windows xp under boot camp.

i tried switching my resolution like this, to 1680x1049 (instead of 1050). but it didn't stop the monitor losing input every so often.

My problem with the samsung t220 has been fixed by using the hdmi input with the display port - dvi adapter on my mac. No more Flickering
In spite of this, Apple should work on a solution for the VGA input...