30" Apple Cinema HD Display: NOT Detected, NOT Connected.

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30" Apple Cinema HD Display: NOT Detected, NOT Connected.

I have used my 17" MacBook Pro happily since March 2007. Recently, I decided to hook up to 30" Apple Cinema HD Display. It was delivered 14th Dec 2009 complete with Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse.
All setup and worked perfectly.
Monday 4th Jan 2010, when I connected and booted the MBP from shutdown, the ACD would not work:
(1) The tiny white power indicator glows steady
(2) 'Detect Displays' on both the Menu Bar and System Prefs pane (of the MBP) do nothing
(3) 'Display Connector' Status on System Profiler says 'No Display Connected'
(4) Spent the whole of last week trouble shooting: googled & tried all (PRAM & SMC resets, restarts, reconnects, reboots, etc). Read all on this forum way back to 2006 postings. No luck.
(5) Out of desperation, I went and purchased the latest Mac Mini 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo preinstalled OS 10.6 with Dual Link DVI adapter out of the box. It fires the ACD screen alright but offers maximum of only 1280 x 800 resolution. Its System Profiler also reports 'No Display Connected', always, although occasionally the 'Options' tab will show up on the Display pane in System Prefs. Even after running 'Software Update' completely to 10.6.2.
What else may do? I am 1,000s of Km from the nearest Apple care/technical/repair shop & Ebay that shipped it!

MBP, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 11, 2010 12:05 AM

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Answer 1

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BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 11, 2010 8:52 PM in response to webbadger

Do you have another DVI monitor, or one that you can borrow, to plug into the MBP's DVI port? It sounds like possibly the port went bad on the MBP. One way to confirm that would be to try another monitor.

By the way, the Apple Mini DVI to DVI Adapter the comes with the mini is single-link, not dual-link. To run Apple's 30", you need to purchase that expensive Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter.

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Answer 2

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 11, 2010 9:39 PM in response to BSteely

Thanks a lot @BSteely.
Yes, in-between my frantic checks, I did try the MBP with another monitor. It detected instantly and worked normal.
I do think the adapter that shipped with the Mini is Dual-Link. It looks exactly like the construction of the MBP's DVI port (Y'know, three rows of 8 pins and a solitary flat blade. But the solitary blade means, if I understand my research correctly, it is Digital only, DVI-D and not DVI-I. I also understand it does not have to be DVI-I, or does it?)
NOTE: Although the Mini fires the ACD screen and the MBP does not at all, the System Profiler of BOTH MBP & Mini show 'No Display Connected'
Again, thanks.

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Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 12, 2010 12:32 PM in response to webbadger

Yes, in-between my frantic checks, I did try the MBP with another monitor. It detected instantly and worked normal.

Just to be clear, that was a DVI connection, not a VGA connection, correct? Because DVI and VGA are two different outputs coming from the same DVI-I port on the MBP. So VGA could be working and DVI not.

Probably that No Display Connected message in the System Profiler on the mini is referring to the Mini DisplayPort output since nothing is connected to it. Somewhere in the System Profiler the DVI connected 30" should be registering.

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Answer 4

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 12, 2010 10:21 PM in response to BSteely

Correct. It was DVI connection (belonging to/from the 'other' monitor) I used to test the MBP. Although a DVI-D Single Link to VGA adapter did come in the MBP box, I never needed to use it and is ever still idle inside the carton. Since the MBP tested positive on another DVI monitor last week, I don't see any further benefit to test it again on VGA.
Repeat: why would the MBP work with the 30"ACD, full-feature, for a couple of weeks and then suddenly fail to detect it one morning while, according to the subsequent test, its DVI port is ok?
I am continuing my search today in the shops for the MacMini DisplayPort-DVI Dual Link adapter which you advised, I could not see it yesterday, and will report promptly back here.
Thanks, appreciate your valuable attention.

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Answer 5

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 13, 2010 7:10 AM in response to BSteely

I am back. I got the Mini DisplayPort-DVI Dual-Link adapter. I post below the differences as seen on the System Profilers between (1) Mini DisplayPort (2) Mini DVI Port and (3) MBP DVI Port.
Regretfully, the Mini DisplayPort still gives maximum option of only 1280 x 800 just as the Mini DVI Port instead of the full 2560 x 1600 of the 30"ACD which I must have. At least it does acknowledge the ACD, which the DVI still refuses to. The MBP output remains black screen. I still cannot forget that the MBP actually pampered me by tolerating to work it for those 2weeks.
Further thoughts/advice will be much appreciated.

*_(1) Mini DisplayPort_*
NVIDIA GeForce 9400:
Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400
Type: GPU
Bus: PCI
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0861
Revision ID: 0x00b1
ROM Revision: 3362
Displays:
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected
Cinema HD:
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported

*_(2) Mini DVI Port_*
NVIDIA GeForce 9400:
Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400
Type: GPU
Bus: PCI
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0861
Revision ID: 0x00b1
ROM Revision: 3362
Displays:
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected

*_(3) MBP DVI Port_*
ATI Radeon X1600:
Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-xxxxxx-158
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.158
Displays:
Color LCD:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected

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Answer 6

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 13, 2010 11:05 AM in response to webbadger

webbadger, that is some great troubleshooting effort you have gone through and you have documented it very understandably in your posts. Unfortunately, it seems to me all indications from your efforts point to the monitor having gone bad.

It's hard to say why it worked for two weeks and now doesn't. Lightning strike? Power surge? ESD? It's impossible to say. But it does seem 90% certain there is trouble with the 30" monitor now from all you have tried. It could even be so simple as broken wires in the monitor's cable, but that is still monitor trouble, no matter how you look at it.

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Answer 7

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 13, 2010 10:02 PM in response to BSteely

@BSteely, appreciate your attention and can't thank you enough.
We don't have thunders in these parts now. I occupy my office alone, overnight, no one went in, no earth shaking from tremor or construction work. Power surge, electrostatics: I have all these stabilizer, surge protector, ups, grounding etc stuff. But yes, they do fail.
I can understand your level of certainty about the monitor/cable wires. I will wait till this weekend for the time and courage to open it up. Maybe get an electronics technician friend to standby. I'll report you how it goes.
The life of me! My troubles are usually this aggro.

P.S.: Can you point me where the cable can be purchased for replacement (if it comes to that)?

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Answer 8

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 14, 2010 2:33 AM in response to webbadger

One thing you might try before you go so far as to disassemble the monitor is to download and install SwitchResX. In SRX is a utility that can read a monitor's EDID, which is the monitor's display driver data. There is a button labeled "Export EDID" that will send the data to a text file which can then be opened and reviewed by any text editor.

It would be interesting to see if the data can be read at all because from the lack of the display showing up in the Profiler, it seems the EDID cannot be read. That could be a starting point and a possible hint where to look for trouble in the monitor.

http://www.madrau.com

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Answer 9

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 14, 2010 3:17 AM in response to BSteely

Sir, here's what I've got (what will I do without you):

DDC block report generated by SwitchResX version 4.0.3 for display Cinema HD
------------------- RAW DATA ------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
-----------------------------------------------------
0 | 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 06 10 21 92 6E EA 01 02
1 | 31 12 01 03 80 40 28 78 28 FE 85 A3 57 4A 9C 25
2 | 13 50 54 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01
3 | 01 01 01 01 01 01 BC 1B 00 A0 50 20 17 30 30 20
4 | 36 00 81 91 21 00 00 1A B0 68 00 A0 A0 40 2E 60
5 | 30 20 36 00 81 91 21 00 00 1A 00 00 00 FF 00 43
6 | 59 38 34 39 30 30 4A 58 4D 50 0A 00 00 00 00 FC
7 | 00 43 69 6E 65 6D 61 20 48 44 0A 00 00 00 01 E1

-----------------------------------------------------
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
-----------------------------------------------------
0 | 40 01 03 00 00 00 00 C8 48 01 A5 00 A5 00 01 02
1 | 03 19 19 A8 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00
2 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
3 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
4 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
5 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
6 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
7 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 41

-----------------------------------------------------
< 00FFFFFF FFFFFF00 06102192 6EEA0102 31120103 80402878 28FE85A3 574A9C25 13505400 00000101 01010101 01010101 01010101 0101BC1B 00A05020 17303020 36008191 2100001A B06800A0 A0402E60 30203600 81912100 001A0000 00FF0043 59383439 30304A58 4D500A00 000000FC 0043696E 656D6120 48440A00 000001E1 40010300 000000C8 4801A500 A5000102 031919A8 00000000 00004000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000041 >

-----------------------------------------------------
Valid EDID block: checksum passed

-----------------------------------------------------
------------------- MAIN EDID BLOCK -----------------
-----------------------------------------------------

EDID Version........1.3
Manufacturer........APP
Product Code........8594 (2192) (9221)
Serial Number.......0201EA6E

Manufactured........Week 49 of year 2008
Max H Size..........64 cm
Max V Size..........40 cm
Gamma...............2.20

Display Supported Features:
---------------------------
Power Management: Active off

Display type:
-------------
RGB 4:4:4 & YCrCb 4:4:4 Color Encoding Formats
Display is non continuous frequency
Default color space is not sRGB standard

Input signal & sync:
--------------------
Digital Input
Color Bit Depth is undefined
Digital Interface is not defined

Color info:
-----------
Red x = 0.640 Green x = 0.292 Blue x = 0.146 White x = 0.313
Red y = 0.343 Green y = 0.611 Blue y = 0.074 White y = 0.329

Established Timings:
--------------------

Manufacturer Reserved Timings:
------------------------------

Standard Timing Identification:
-------------------------------

Monitor Description blocks:
---------------------------
Descriptor #0 - Timing definition:
Mode = 1280 x 800 @ 59.910Hz
Pixel Clock............. 71.00 MHz Non-Interlaced

Horizontal Vertical
Active.................. 1280 pixels 800 lines
Front Porch............. 48 pixels 3 lines
Sync Width.............. 32 pixels 6 lines
Back Porch.............. 80 pixels 14 lines
Blanking................ 160 pixels 23 lines
Total................... 1440 pixels 823 lines
Scan Rate............... 49.306 kHz 59.910 Hz

Image Size.............. 641 mm 401 mm
Border.................. 0 pixels 0 lines

Sync: Digital separate with
* Negative vertical polarity
* Positive horizontal polarity

Descriptor #1 - Timing definition:
Mode = 2560 x 1600 @ 59.860Hz
Pixel Clock............. 268.00 MHz Non-Interlaced

Horizontal Vertical
Active.................. 2560 pixels 1600 lines
Front Porch............. 48 pixels 3 lines
Sync Width.............. 32 pixels 6 lines
Back Porch.............. 80 pixels 37 lines
Blanking................ 160 pixels 46 lines
Total................... 2720 pixels 1646 lines
Scan Rate............... 98.529 kHz 59.860 Hz

Image Size.............. 641 mm 401 mm
Border.................. 0 pixels 0 lines

Sync: Digital separate with
* Negative vertical polarity
* Positive horizontal polarity

Descriptor #2 - Serial number:
CY84900JXMP

Descriptor #3 - Monitor name:
Cinema HD

-----------------------------------------------------
------------ EXTENSION EDID BLOCK 1 ---------------
-----------------------------------------------------

DI-EXT: Display Information Extension:
--------------------------------------
will not be interpreted

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Answer 10

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 14, 2010 7:13 AM in response to webbadger

OK, well that's a good thing the EDID can be read by the Mac. But that has me wondering about what might be wrong.

You mentioned trying a lot of trouble shooting measures but have you even started the Mac in Safe mode? That might be a good thing to try if you haven't. If you get a working screen under a Safe start, go into Displays preferences and see if 2560 x 1600 is showing up. If it is, select it and see what happens. If it works at that resolution, try restarting normally and see if the setting sticks.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

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Answer 11

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 14, 2010 8:13 AM in response to BSteely

I did not try in safe mode. But I have now. Three times. Unfortunately, neither OS Display Preferences nor SwitchResX Control showed more than the 1280 x 800.

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Answer 12

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 14, 2010 4:18 PM in response to webbadger

It seems like one of the links has gone down in the dual-link, DVI interface. That could be something as simple as a damaged cable. But it's hard to say.

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Answer 13

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 14, 2010 11:00 PM in response to BSteely

Ok, that gives me added encouragement to do the cables. But I am posting this while at the airport on my way to an assignment 1hour flight out of town. Hope to report back to you Tuesday.
Very much obliged.

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Answer 14

webbadger Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 18, 2010 11:09 PM in response to webbadger

Hi BSteely,
I was imagining to check for simple continuity of the individual wires or visible loose connection. I started by opening the Dual Link connector head, you guessed, nothing to see and nothing to do there. To go any further, I had to called in 2 electronics engineers that repair PCs, plasmas etc. We all could only stare. I told everyone to hold on till I ask: Just how does one open up an Apple 30" Cinema HD Display?
Regards.

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Answer 15

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 19, 2010 6:20 AM in response to webbadger

It's not pretty. You have to pry off the right side plastic strip, which is glued down. Then you will see a slide catch that holds the bottom seam together. You pull on the catch to release it along the length of the seam. Then the seam can be split and the case pried apart.

It's not really meant to be serviced. Assembly is pretty much a one-way trip. So before you go forward, you really want to be sure you have left no possibility that the problem lies outside the display. I think you have done that but you might wish to double-check all other possibilities.

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30" Apple Cinema HD Display: NOT Detected, NOT Connected.