Display is all snow coming out of Sleep mode

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Display is all snow coming out of Sleep mode

Just replaced a 17" LCD (using the mini-DVI-to-VGA) with a new Acer 24" widescreen LCD (using mini-DVI-to-DVI). After a little fiddling with the profile, I've got a pretty nice picture. Problem: coming out of sleep mode, the screen is all snow. If I pop the monitor off and on, everything comes back normal. I did NOT have this problem with the older 17". This is more of an annoyance than a major issue, since just a couple of hits of the on-off button correct it. But it ain't right, so I'm hoping I can fix it for good. It happens whether the Mini goes to sleep by itself or if I put it to sleep. I don't know if it's a DVI issue, monitor issue, or something goofy with the Mini's video.

I did a search and found similar issues, but not exactly the same, and saw no suggested resolutions that fixed them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks ...
Ed

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Acer P244W, DVI

Posted on Mar 7, 2010 6:15 PM

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Answer 1

BGreg

Level 6

17,552 points

Mar 8, 2010 4:34 AM in response to edc1300

As a suggestion, you might run the Apple hardware test to eliminate that it's something obvious with the video hardware circuit. Sounds more like a problem with the monitor, since turning it on/off fixes the problem.

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Answer 2

edc1300 Author

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Mar 8, 2010 8:56 PM in response to edc1300

I might have found a culprit, if not the culprit -- I'm running TrueCrypt encryption on one external drive, and the problem seems to happen when TrueCrypt is running, but does not when it is not running. Also, the display just started blacking out very intermittently for about a second, then comes right back on its own. I'm starting to think maybe this monitor needs to be returned. To be honest, I'm not entirely happy with the display quality anyway -- contrast and color 'pop' is rather crappy.

Two more questions:
1, where can I find Apple Hardware Test in 10.6.2? I've only got one Snow Leopard install disk, and it doesn't seem to be on it.

2, Everything I've read indicates that just about any DVI, VGA or HDMI monitor is compatible with a Mini. Are there any that are known to be more compatible than others?

Thanks ...
ed

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Answer 3

BGreg

Level 6

17,552 points

Mar 9, 2010 4:28 AM in response to edc1300

You get to the Apple hardware test on the Intel-based systems by booting and holding the D key down. The hardware test isn't on the DVD as with the PowerPC-based systems. Will need to have others chime in on any monitor incompatibilities.

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Answer 4

edc1300 Author

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Mar 9, 2010 6:51 PM in response to edc1300

Monitor is boxed up and going back tomorrow. Not happy with it at all. Got snow when I first turned it on tonight, and then I had to go re-adjust the resolution, because it came up at like a 1024x768 ... yeah, on a 24" widescreen, it looked a bit odd. Like they say, you get what you pay for.

I reconnected my old 17" Samsung SynMaster, and even at 7 years old, the picture is just eons above the Acer. I should have stuck with the tried-and-true, so I'm now on the hunt for a Samsung 2233SW. Looks a little light on features, but if the picture is anywhere near as good as my trusty old 17" here, I'll be a very happy user.

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Answer 5

edc1300 Author

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Mar 11, 2010 6:33 PM in response to edc1300

UPDATE --
Returned the Acer 24", no problem. Picked up a Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW. No frills, just a 21.5", full 1080P matte finish display. Absolutely love it. Color is full and rich, even the smallest text is as bold and readable as my older 17". This monitor has been panned in reviews for lack of brightness, but I have to disagree ... I have the brightness down to 65 and contrast at 75, and the picture is as bright and perfect as I could possibly ask for. No snow, no black-outs, goes to sleep and wakes up as it should. For just a few $$$ more, the Samsung blows the Acer away.

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Answer 6

BGreg

Level 6

17,552 points

Mar 11, 2010 6:46 PM in response to edc1300

Glad to hear the Samsung is working for you. We have an older 19" Samsung and it's worked well for us.

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Answer 7

Mar 17, 2010 9:28 PM in response to edc1300

The 9400M device driver on our Macs appears to be really bad.

My buddy tried to put a Sharp LCD projector on the external port on his Mac laptop, which also had a Nvidia 9400M, and it was not usable. The picture kept coming and going. The projector screen would go blank, then a picture would come up, go blank, and then the picture would come back again, over and over. Being an experienced Mac, PC, and Linux user, I attempted to help him get it working using the display properties page in the System Preferences. Nothing helped.

I'm having similar troubles with the second port on my 9400M on my new Mac mini.

The primary display is fine. I have a 24" Acer LCD on the miniport to DVI converter for my second display, and it works most of the time, however the picture goes to snow fairly often, and blacks out sometimes, too. It usually comes back. Occasionally, I have to power cycle the LCD to get the picture back.

Seeing similar problems with two different DVI display devices, when these devices work fine on our PCs, seems to point the problem at the Mac Nvidia display driver.

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Answer 8

Lucky13

Level 2

201 points

Mar 18, 2010 4:38 PM in response to Chris Shaker

I'm thinking that it may be Mac related.

An HP 2009m display is connected to my Mini via DVI. On occasion, the monitor displays only static when waking from sleep. Pressing the on/off button solves the problem.

I've also got Windows 7 running under Boot Camp - and after numerous sleep and wake cycles, the issue has never cropped up under Windows.

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Answer 9

Apr 2, 2010 1:03 AM in response to Lucky13

Yes, it is Mac related. My buddy's projector and my Acer display work perfectly with PCs.

I strongly suspect problems with the Apple 9400M device driver.

Chris Shaker

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Answer 10

Apr 9, 2010 12:17 PM in response to Chris Shaker

Anyone running into problems with Apple 9400M displays should feel free to send Apple feedback about the problems, since Apple doesn't actually read these forums. Send feedback to Apple via:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

I've sent feedback about the problems I'm seeing.

Chris Shaker

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Answer 11

dAdE0H0

Level 1

10 points

Apr 11, 2010 7:38 AM in response to Chris Shaker

Last night my MM came out of sleep mode and the screen was full of multi-colored static.

Chris, used your link thanks.

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Answer 12

sieler

Level 1

8 points

Apr 13, 2010 5:13 PM in response to dAdE0H0

When my MacPro comes out of sleep, about 5% of the time it wakes up and the screen is
full of snow. Usually, a second press of a key or the mouse clears everything up. Except for
today, cycling power on the monitor (Dell 2709W).

Hmm...this sounds just like the thread at http://discussions.info.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11272019&tstart=0

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Answer 13

Apr 25, 2010 1:18 PM in response to edc1300

Me too!

I've had this occasionally with both my monitors running from DVI. A samsung syncmaster and a iiyama. I've also noticed other posters having the same with Apple monitors and other Macs, so it's likely a Mac /adaptor issue.

Power Off/On fixes it so no biggy.

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Answer 14

xenon2k9

Level 1

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Apr 29, 2010 6:59 PM in response to edc1300

I'm having this issue as well, so far 3 times in the last week. Connected to external 22" Samsung LCD via DVI, no KVM. Seems like this problem has been around for quite some time (posts from early 2009). Apple, are we going to see a fix anytime soon?

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Answer 15

xenon2k9

Level 1

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Apr 29, 2010 7:00 PM in response to edc1300

I'm having this issue as well, so far 3 times in the last week. Connected to external 22" Samsung LCD via DVI, no KVM. Seems like this problem has been around for quite some time (posts from early 2009). Apple, are we going to see a fix anytime soon?

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