periodic Dual-link display problem with new adapter

looks to only be on the UK site for me, US still shows the reviews.
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MB571Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng&mco=MjE0ODQ2Nw
no reviews for me on that link.

I have three of the dual-link adapters and they all have the same symptoms. One late 2008 MacBook Pro connected at times, based upon where I'm working, to 3 different HP LP3065 displays. Each work environment has a dual-link adapter installed. I have periodic problems at all 3 work places. I don't think replacing the dual-link adapter will solve the problem unless the very latest adapters have some sort of fix included and I don't believe they do.

This issue combined with a recent service experience getting my MacBook Pro repaired is taking the glow off of the Apple experience.

Funny, my screen just fuzzed up while typing this entry. 🙂

Does anyone know if this issue could actually be damaging the LCD displays?

I have gone half a day so far without any 30" external display problems by doing the following:

1. Having only wireless keyboard (before I had a usb keyboard) and mouse with no items plugged into the usb ports on the MacBook Pro except the portion of the Mini-Dvi to Dual Link Link cable that goes into the usb port on the MacBook Pro.

2. Printer usb cable is plugged into the adapter usb.

Has 1) anyone else found this to work AND 2) did it work for a sustained period of time without the external display problems?

I just had this same problem when coming out of sleep mode using the 9600 card with an Apple 30 inch cinema display. I had to put the machine to sleep and then come back out of sleep mode to clear it up. I am currently using the Cinema display as the primary monitor with the MACBOOK closed in clam shell mode. I really hate the fact that I upgraded from a late 2007 Macbook Pro where I did not need this stupid adapter and everything worked fine from the built-in DVI on my previous Macbook. I am using a complete apple solution here. Apple 30' Cinema display, Apple Mini Display port, and Late 2008 MACBOOK PRO 15.

Apple needs to stop beating around the bush on this one.

spoke with apple business today (in the UK), as I am looking to switch to apple (laptop + 30" Dell 3007) just all these messages worry me.
I asked him, he admitted there is a problem with the device but had no information on any call back or update.
Doesn't seem like a fix is coming soon?!

To me the whole issue sounds like a power supply issue as the mini display port cant support the power for dual dvi, I just wonder if it would work at all even with a Display port screen? (the apple guy I spoke to said he didn't know if it would!!)

plugging the usb plug into a separate USB hub (powered) or even the screens USB port does that make it better?

Its a shame as I would really like to switch to apple (as its the only laptop with dual dvi) but no point if it doesn't work .. and apple is a bit odd in not commenting on any thing? So many products in the online shop have just 1 star reviews ... overall not a very trust worth sign? do they not take customers serious?

Message was edited by: oliver221

Powering the adapter separately does not help, in my experience.

By that, I mean not using ANY of the MBP (Late 2008)'s USB ports at all (running mouse and keyboard off Bluetooth or using the MBP's built-in keyboard and trackpad), and plugging the adapter's USB port into a standard Apple USB adapter (like the one that comes with the iPhone) for power doesn't solve the problem. Again, in my experience.

Display is fine most of the time, but complete fuzz exiting sleep, occasional flicker or pop of the screen, and occasional loss of sync (like the photos have shown). Useable, but incredibly annoying.

The same here: I have a 'flicker', where the screen turns black and then immediately comes back. I have an Apple 30 Inch Cinema Display. This did not happen from the beginning, though. The adapter worked fine for some weeks, but then the problem showed up. Now it happens fairly often (about every 5-15 minutes).

It started to happen frequently when I updated to 10.5.6, but I am not sure it is connected to that.

I hope that I'm not speaking too soon...


Today I installed the nvidia update and so far I have been using the 30" Dell display in dual-display mode with the macbook pro for a few hours with NO problems at all.

Anyone else having this pleasant experience after the update?

If this is the fix, I am very happy.

{quote:title=joet3ch wrote:}Anyone else having this pleasant experience after the update?{quote}

Yep. Still having the problem.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the update and thought that it might be fixed, but alas...

We're discussing it here as well: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8882122#8882122

For those of you not having issues after the update, try and run iTunes or Quicktime. The problems will return until they are quit.

sadly nothing is fixed with this update. when changing the graphics card to "high performance" an external apple 30" monitor display is not even recognised. when changing back to "better battery life" the display is recognized sometimes but only renders highly distorted images. tested with two current macbook pros 15" 2.8ghz and two different mini display port to dual link dvi adapters on two different 30" apple cinema displays. apple should recall this adapters!

I am having the described issues as well, actually i tested the dual-link display port adapter on the following machine:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP51.0074.B01
SMC Version: 1.33f8

tested with two different external Apple Cinema Displays the screen mostly stays blank. When activating "mirroring", in some cases the external monitor displays a highly distorted image, which is really not usable (green and purple stripes across the screen). Tried with Energy Saver Settings "Graphics: Better Battery Life" and "Graphics: Higher Performance" the results vary slightly, but actually both settings are completely unusable. When switching the graphics cards too often, the whole machine freezes. Freezes also occur sometimes when plugging and unplugging the adapter.

I had replacement of the adapter sent from apple today, and it still has the same issues. Even after the Update "NVIDIA Graphics Update 2009" these problems are still there.

After visiting the local apple reseller store and trying there with several other MBPs of the same generation (5,1) and other dual-link cables the problem could be reproduced. In my opinion, the whole series of those adapters is flawed. Apple should really start a recall.

After phoning the german Apple Care Support and talking and reproducing the problem (i was on the phone for about an hour), running CaptureData.app to collect my system information, the chief-in-command told me that the problem will be escalated and sent to apple directly. So please, people, bug apple care and apple support by calling them and reporting your issues! That's how we can get this fixed fast. I am actually without my external monitor now, which is totally no option!