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MacBook Pro Late 2008 External Display Issues

Hi there,

I registered here to hopefully get some information and help with my problem. It's my first Mac, but in general I've a good knowledge of computers, sice I've used Debian for about three years (and ongoing). I bought the MacBook Pro (Late 2008) with 9400/9600M (512MB) to visit conferences and therefore, showing my presentations or demos.

So it's a big issue that I've horrible problems with an external display attached. During startup and the first use everything works fine. If I put the macbook to sleep and wake it up later the display sometimes stay black or doen't get a signal. In some cases there is a kind of gray noise on the screen. I tried to open up the Macbook (it's usually in clamshell mode) to use the internal screen - without success. It doesn't have a signal. Reconnecting cables doesn't change anything. This happens with both graphic cards. In some cases the external screen wake up correctly. Following a variaty of pictures taken trying to solve the problem restarting the MacBook Pro sometimes...

http://www.benjaminpoppinga.de/mbp/pic1.jpg
http://www.benjaminpoppinga.de/mbp/pic2.jpg
http://www.benjaminpoppinga.de/mbp/pic3.jpg
http://www.benjaminpoppinga.de/mbp/screenshot.png

I use a Dell 2709WFP (1920x1600@60Hz) connected via Mini-Displayport to DVI Adaptor. I already read about some display issues, which hopefully get adressed by Apple soon. Do you think it's another difficult problem or could it be fixed with a software update. I just bought my MBP and don't want to exchange it, since I really need it the next few weeks.

Thank you for any help!

Best Regards,
Benjamin

Message was edited by: BePo

Message was edited by: BePo

MBP Late 2008 with 2,53GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 9400M/9600M 512MB, 4GB RAM

Posted on Nov 17, 2008 9:45 AM

122 replies

Feb 26, 2009 12:45 PM in response to Tomas Blazicek

Tomas Blazicek wrote:
Hi, i dont know where you buy so expensive "DVI-D dual link" cable.
Try Google with phrase
DVI-D dual link cable
and search in you country.

I buy this 6ft cable (24+1pin) for 4,5USD with VAT

I had one of those cables free with my external display.

This is the cable that sorted all my problems:

http://store.apple.com/fi/product/MB571Z/A

daenneys

Level 1

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Mar 24, 2009 9:37 AM in response to BePo

Apple's DualLink DVI-cable doesn't solve the issue for me.

On a Samsung 2253BW the link goes dead (after a while) and the only thing you get is snow.
On a Samsung 305T one of the thwo links goes dead (after a while) and you get snow overlayed over the normal picture.

This is either a hardware defect affecting both the 9400M and 9600 in my system or a serious driver bug which needs to be fixed.

(This has all been tested with Apple's own signle- and duallink DVI cables).

MacBook Pro Late 2008 External Display Issues