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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Mouse skipping problem when external display connnected

I recently purchased a Macbook, and I connect it to a Dell 3008 display using the mini DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adaptor. My issue is that when the Dell is connected and in use, the mouse pointer skips across the screen when I move it, like something is interrupting the input for a very brief period, and it's being interpolated wrongly when the input comes back.

The problem doesn't occur when the external display is disconnected, and it happens with wired USB, wireless USB and wireless Bluetooth mice.

No adjustment of mouse sensitivity options seems to fix it, and the interruption in the pointer movement seems to happen at semi regular intervals of between 5 and 10 seconds apart, although I can't be 100% sure.

Interestingly, it doesn't happen when I connect a lower resolution external display using the same adaptor. So it only happens at 2560x1600. I'm wondering if it's a problem with a hardware accelerated mouse cursor and the NVIDIA graphics driver.

Anyway, it's a real barrier to me using the Macbook, so hopefully someone has a solution.

Thanks!

2.0GHz 13" Aluminium Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.6), Mini DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adaptor, bluetooth Mighty Mouse

Posted on Apr 5, 2009 6:07 AM

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48 replies
User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 19, 2009 8:08 AM in response to Community User

Hi all,

I'm still experiencing this issue when using my MacBook, and was wondering if anyone had experienced it too and found a fix, or whether Apple have a fix planned in a future update.

It makes using the MacBook with my big screen really frustrating.

Thanks!
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User profile for user: DallasJones
DallasJones
User level: Level 1
14 points

May 4, 2009 9:47 AM in response to Community User

YES! This is my EXACT problem! I've been troubleshooting it for days and you have the same results. Beyond frustrating when you get that external display to use for slight of hand projects and the mouse keeps messing up your work. I'm using a miniDP to HDMI from monoprice (since Apple hates us in certain ways) and it connects to a Samsung. The resolution I believe is something like 1370x1080. And I just unplugged the miniDP and no more mouse issues. What to do now?
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User profile for user: Kim P
Kim P
User level: Level 1
15 points

Jul 2, 2009 11:30 AM in response to Community User

Same problem here: wireless MS Laser Mouse 6000, either a samsung or LG external display connected via mini adaptor. Have the MS intellipoint drivers installed. It began to happen about a fortnight ago, and seemed to coincide with the Java update 4/Bluetooth Firmware/ Safari update applied on 24/6. This may have been around the time I changed display preference to 'best performance', so could well be a graphics driver issue?

In my case, it tends to happen in certain spots on the screen, and the likelihood of a skip seems to depends on the speed I'm moving the pointer. Faster = more likely.

It's messing up my tanking in warcraft something terrible. 😟
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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Aug 12, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Kim P

Hi all,

I still experience this issue with the latest OS X update (10.5.8), with my display connected via mini DisplayPort.

Please, Apple, at least acknowledge the problem and do some debugging or investigation, especially since I'm not the only one with the issue. Accurate mousing is impossible.

😟
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User profile for user: Mark Lindsey
Mark Lindsey
User level: Level 2
159 points

Aug 14, 2009 7:48 PM in response to Community User

Same problem here using the Mini Display to DVI Adapter and a princeton 17" LCD as my second monitor. Oddly enough, I only get the mouse lag (about every 5 seconds) when I also have iTunes open (playing or not). I didn't have this on my G5 Quad - it just started when I migrated to a new Mac Pro Quad with an NVIDIA GeForce GT 120. I have a Dell 2408 plugged into the DVI port. It makes it almost impossible to do anything critical like graphic design or audio editing, and makes everything else very annoying.
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User profile for user: Mark Lindsey
Mark Lindsey
User level: Level 2
159 points

Aug 27, 2009 11:55 AM in response to Mark Lindsey

I've been working with Apple for almost 2 weeks to solve the problem. They've sent a couple special apps to extract monitor/port timing information and logs of my system to try and figure out what's causing the conflict. We've also done a number of tests (new user account, extensions off, clearing cache, safe boot, etc.) to try and narrow the potential culprits, to no avail yet. We're waiting for a response from engineering. Productivity is suffering - I just hope they can make this right. 🙂 I'll post more results here in hopes that it will help some of you out.
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User profile for user: wa
wa
User level: Level 1
5 points

Aug 29, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Community User

I can reproduce this bug.

I just purchased a new MacBook Pro 17", prior I had the old MacBook Pro. The new MBP requires use of DVI to my 30" Apple Cinema Display. When the display is connected to my machine, my bluetooth mouse skips all over the screen, when the display is disconnected, the mouse works great.

My old MBP didn't use the DVI connect, and the mouse worked fine.
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Mouse skipping problem when external display connnected

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