New MacBook connected to external VGA display screen flash.

Same problem here.

Black screen on random. Also considers to buy the upcoming LED cinema display and just switched to Mac from 20 years of Windows use... however...

Found this in "About" - wondering what "No display connected" means...

Hope for some attention from Apple some point in time.


NVIDIA GeForce 9400M:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Type: Display
Bus: PCI
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0863
Revision ID: 0x00b1
ROM Revision: 3327
Displays:
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected
SyncMaster:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Connection Type: Analog VGA or Analog over DVI-I

Hi, Ive just posted the following in another forum and I now see this one, Im sorry I didnt see it earlier, a lot earlier.....

I bought a new 2.4 Macbook, then a Sumsung 22" monitor to go with. I am using the vga adapter until I can get a DVI. The problem is that the monitor goes black (looses signal) for a second every now and then. It can happen quite frequently (10 times in an hour) or just a few times in a couple of hours. I took the monitor back to the supplier and they have had it on for a day and say they cannot replicate this. I have tried two other monitors, including a 17'' Sumsung and do not get the same result. Can anyone shed any light. I may have to go back and try and exchange it, but I really like the sharpness/colour.

regards
allan

for me the lower resolution idea does not work, it just looks bad. The temporary solution for me may be to get a refund on the monitor, or swap with my daughter who owns the 17'' one - lucky girl

Hey allan,

It's not your monitor - you've got the same problem as everyone else here, a couple with samsungs too.

It's either a problem with the graphics chips in the macbooks, the external adapters (though it happens with DVI and VGA, so not likely), or the software (I hope).

Welcome to the waiting-on-apple club.

I don't know if people here have realized, but this is not just a macbook problem. Also it's not just the nvidia chip or a certain make of external displays. I get the feeling this is a bug or major issue with MacOS on certain adapters when you use larger external displays running at higher resolutions? The same problem is occuring on iMACs (that's where I am experiencing it with a 22" external Dell screen) and it is being discussed here for instance:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1760036&start=0&tstart=0

Apple is not even acknowledging that there is a problem in either of these cases and blame the monitors when they run flawlessly under Windows. After having searched around a lot, I have only decided never to buy an Apple computer again. On a PC you could at least get technical support and possibly new drivers from your graphics adapter supplier but on MacOS? No surfacing of a solution or true reason for this screen flashing anywhere.. 😟

AppleInsider reports that Apple does know about the external monitor issues.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/10/appletrimming_notebook_orders_plans_fixes_for_newmodels.html

Thanks to Corey on another thread for pointing this out
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8445018#8449277

Same issue. 2.53ghz MBP, Dell E248WFP display, goes into "Power Save Mode" sporadically. Usually VGA adapter.

Solution pleaaaaaase.

Same problem here, I'm using a MacBook Pro 2.4, with Apple MiniDisplay Port adapter to connect my Samsung Syncmaster 226bw.
C'mon Apple, this thing is annoying and driving me nuts.

I am also having the same problem with my 21.6" Hanns-G LCD. The screen goes black for a few seconds and then comes back to normal. This is using the Apple mini=dp to VGA adapter. I'm using the VGA adapter because when I use the mini=dp to dvi adapter and a bekin dvi-hdmi cable I get intermittent colored pixelation/static when I wake from sleep. I hope they fix these issues soon.

It would seem that this issue with the Graphics Card / GPU is not isolated to a VGA or DVI output source as folks using both types of displays are experiencing very similar problems.
So to those folks that have been advised to go out and purchase a DVI adaptor i would say 'watch out'.

I have a 20" Apple Cinema Display (DVI) and I'm experiencing problems.

Connected to my late 2008 Aluminum MacBook via the Display Port (via the DP=>DVI adaptor). If the MacBook is awakened from screensaver mode the second monitor (Cinema Display) will have loads of crackly horizontal lines, (like static interference), the screen will also start to go black every few seconds as if it is struggling to reset the monitor settings or something. This problem is only solved via a full reboot. I am now going to adjust my screensaver settings to see if that avoids the problem.

switching to the 9600M has seemed to fully solve the problem (as far as a makeshift solution goes)...no blinking for about 3 days (experienced maybe 25/day before)

Having same issues but with projectors at work.

Using new VGA adapter with new Macbook aluminium 2GHZ/160GB/2GB, and it rarely works with any VGA points with numerous projectors. When connected, the screen on the mac turns blue to change resolution, then changes its mind and returns to its original state - the projector image flickers for a split second like there may be a faint glimmer of hope traveling down the cable... alas I have been thwarted once more. It reminds me of when I was once stood up on a date and I kept thinking she would walk around the corner any minute...

Other Powerbooks, Macbook Pros and even rubbish PC Laptop's work.

The new Macbook is an absolute lame duck for me as a teacher I need to hook it up to a projector several times a day.

I do not want an exchange - The genius bar is annoying as you have to book in, then they will not be able to replicate the problem in store, they may give me a new adapter, I return to work, same problem, shall I go back - no, instead I shall call Apple care instead and speak to a nice chap who cannot even see the problem.

Very frustrating. G4 12" powerbook anyone? - mine still works with any display!!!!

Nice one Apple. Rant over.

I have made the problem go away on my aluminum macbook. If you NEVER let the unit blank the display sleep ( "system preferences" -> "energy saver" -> then set the "computer sleep" and "display sleep") to the same value [or display sleep never] my aluminum macbook with external 20"cinema works fine. If you EVER let the display sleep kick in, then sometimes I get the "flashy-screen-thingie-with-horizantal-flashing-lines"

Just my experience.

Same problem here...

When using the displayport to VGA adapter my Samsung 32in LCD does not recognise a signal from my new MacBook. Nothing....

Went round a friends house with my macbook and vga lead into a Hitachi 32in LCD and got the signal, but the screen flash issue briefly came up every 10mins. Then tried he's new macbookpro into the Hitachi and my VGA lead, but we had the same screen flash issue as before 😟

Same problem here!
Macbook 2.4Ghz + MiniDisplayPort to VGA + Samsung2032NW.

APPLE! FIX IT!

Then again there is this gem of a display "Patch" direct from apple for new macbooks....


http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macbookmacbookprosoftwareupdate12.html



MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2

About MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2
This update contains software bug fixes for precision aluminum unibody enclosure MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers introduced in October 2008.

The update improves compatibility with external displays and includes a variety of software fixes. This update is recommended for all users of these systems.