periodic Dual-link display problem with new adapter

Fix this, Apple! The 30 inch monitor boondogle has nearly cost you a $3000 laptop purchase. I am more than happy to upgrade my current machine and wait for this error to be fixed. Why isn't it?

Just an update - I assumed that if I paid for the more expensive dual-link dvi connection that it would in fact work with my Dell 24" monitor - no such luck. I'll ask for refunds on both dvi connectors, but it astounds me that a laptop of this caliber can't send an image to a standard dvi digital monitor. Something very wrong here. If you're buying the new macbook pro 17 assuming your monitor will work, make no assumptions.

Just to let you know: I have the same problem with the new iMac9,1, Boot-ROM-Version: IM91.008D.B00; SMC Version: 1.37f3. I have solved the problem on my MacBook 15" unibody by installing sytsem 10.5.5 (came along with the MacBook) and applying the patch "MacBookMacBookProSU1.2.dmg". I zapped the PRAM and connected the 30" Dell. Problems gone. I updated to 10.5.6 and problem came back.

I am going to install this system on my brand new iMac now and see what happens.

I have a new unibody 17" MacBook Pro and a Dell 30" Monitor. Just got the Dual Link DVI cable as they did not deliver it when the MacBook arrived.

Same issues here. Fuzzy screen and snow. Happened around 20 times today. Very annoyed as this is the most expensive laptop around and the reason I replaced my old 17" MacBook Pro is so I could use the 30" display as my old one was a bit slow at 2560x1600.

Anybody got a solution for this?

I have a new unibody 17" MacBook Pro and a Dell 30" Monitor. Just got the Dual Link DVI cable as they did not deliver it when the MacBook arrived.

Same issues here. Fuzzy screen and snow. Happened around 20 times today. Very annoyed as this is the most expensive laptop around and the reason I replaced my old 17" MacBook Pro is so I could use the 30" display as my old one was a bit slow at 2560x1600.

Anybody got a solution for this?

So far - no one knows what is going on or how to fix it.

Has anyone successfully useed a smaller monitor that doesn't use dual link DVI? If so, what was the result?

Count me in with the problem. I just bought a new 2.66Ghz 17" Unibody MBPro on Sunday and hooked it up to my 30" Apple Cinema Display with the Dual-Link DVI adapter. At first, it worked fine and I thought I got lucky, but after the first waking from sleep, I started getting the flickering pixel snow in the background. Now, after 2 days, it's gotten worse--and it's really distracting while I work. Here is a crappy photo of the prob: http://www.repeatpattern.com/snow.jpg

I've tried unplugging/replugging the adapter, tried both graphics cards settings, detached all USB peripherals from the 30", but it doesn't solve the problem. I don't know if it's even worth exchanging the adapter or MBPro given how persistent these problems seem to be based on what I've read in various forums. I'm hoping there's a software fix in the works and it's not a hardware issue. I love Apple products and have been a customer for 15 years, but this is extremely frustrating.

They say the engineers are aware of the problem, and recommended that I wait for a software update to address this issue. He said I could try exchanging the adapter, but it might not necessarily solve the problem (somehow I don't feel like it will, and they're in short supply here in NYC--maybe from a lot of exchanges?). Unfortunately, he couldn't say how long we have to wait 'till that update comes out...

Supposedly graphics issues are fixed in the new forthcoming Leopard update, which is apparently in final field testing. It sounds like the release could come very soon.

That's good news...hopefully that'll fix the problem.
I was surprised to see in a post above that someone with an Apple Cinema 30" display is also having this issue. If that's true, then we should definitely expect to see Apple address this rather than sweeping it under the rug by stating it's only supported on the Apple Cinema display.

Additionally, either in this thread or another forum, I've read that the issue is with the power requirements from the USB plug. I've been using my 30" dell with my unibody using a powered USB hub. Issue has not completely disappeared (still get the occasional snow), but the number of times this happens is low.

Don't want to get anyone's hopes up...it's not a solution, but I can definitely bear with it now as it doesn't happen too often.

"Here is a crappy photo of the prob: http://www.repeatpattern.com/snow.jpg"

Boy, that reminds me of back when I had my old 17" PowerBook G4 1 GHz connected to my old Apple 23" Cinema HD Display via the DVI-to-ADC adapter. I used to disconnect/reconnect it a fair amount, until I started seeing a problem like this snow JPEG (except it was vertical, not horizontal). I had to press on the back corner of the PowerBook (near the DVI connector) to make it go away - even resorted to smacking it on occasion. That told me it was a loose connection in the DVI port (or the electronics behind it).

In short, folks, don't expect a software fix for this. I suspect it's a hardware problem endemic to either the mini DisplayPort adapter or something involving the nVIDIA 9400M/9600M as well.

Shame really - I was just about to buy a new Mac mini and connect it to my 30" Apple Cinema HD Display via this adapter, freeing up my present MacBook Pro to become mobile. Looks like I'll have to hold off on that until this adapter problem is solved 😟

Out of curiosity, what brand/model powered USB hub do you have?

I was using a 4 port Belkin model number F5U304

I have two 30" Cinema Displays: one from 2005, and one from 2008. Only the older one does this, and has done so on three of the last 5 Powerbooks/MacBook Pros I've owned. From this, I've drawn the following conclusions:
1) It is graphic card-related (otherwise, it would happen with all the portables I've hooked up)
2) The older models are more sensitive than the newer ones. Apple changed the specs of the 30" display sometime last year, and my newer one has none of these flashing lines (when using the exact same computer).