After 10.6.4 Update Black Screen

Having the same problem here. Config:
Model Identifier: MacPro4,1
ATI Radeon HD 4870

Trying to use a NEC MultiSync LCD 2080UX screen with a DVI-D cable (the screen works fine on other Mac Pros). The computer boots with grey screen and apple logo, then some flickering appears and the screen stays black. The computer remains responsive. Display Port shows no picture at all (with adapter and NEC screen).

The interesting thing: I now hooked up another cheap screen (again with DVI-D cable), an "AOC 2230".
With this screen it works.

What is happening here? This is not the first time that this problem occurs to me.

have you tried booting into windows?

as (obviously) the windows drivers are different to the mac - and they work fine.

Booting into Windows works fine. I suppose Apple did some real bad things to the driver. This shouldn't happen. If everyone who has this problem reports here, they maybe hear us.

I seem to have a similar intermittent problem with MacPro 4,1 w/ HD4870. Running dual screens, ACD 23" and 30" w/ the 30" showing the intermittent problems. Read somewhere on the forums to set the display hot corner in power savings to put the screens to sleep. When this occurs, move the mouse/cursor to the designated corner and that this will reload the display and should "wake" up the screen. I have set mine up tis way but so far hasn't re-occured.

Matt

Correction, not in "Power Savings" but rather "Appearance and Screen Saver"

Matt

Mhm, the "Hot Corner" advice didn't solve my problem. If the screen stays black it is not recognized by the system at all (if I connect to the Mac Pro via VNC the sys profiler does not list the display). As I said, it happens not with every screen, but today I had another incident: My 23" Apple Cinema Display is also not recognized. I have to say that it is connected via ADC/DVI adapter, but it ran fine with all previous graphics card like XT1900, HD2600 or HD4890 (under Windows).

I have now seen three screens in my research which do not work with the ATI HD4870 or 5770 (like in my last case): The Apple 23" CD, the NEC 21" TFT and another screen by LG.

What is it with the driver, Apple? It works under Windows, but not under Mac OS. We NEED a solution for this problem.

Ok, another screen tested: The HP L2335 TFT screen works flawlessly via DVI-D.
I will update my list of tested screens:

AOC 2230 - DVI-D => Working
HP L2335 - DVI-D => Working
NEC MultiSync LCD 2080UX - DVI-D => Not working
Some LG 23" screen (sorry I haven't got the model) - DVI-D => Not working

Testet with both, Radeon HD 4870 and Radeon HD 5770 in MacPro4,1 and MacPro1,1, same (!!) results in both machines (running 10.6.4).

I have the same problem. I have a Mac Pro 1.1 and replaced my Radeon x1900 with a Radeon 4870 in hopes of getting better reliability. My Apple ACD 23 inch Clear Plastic Cinema Display screen went black after powering up into the Apple Logo white screen with OS 10.6.4. The 4870 worked fine with my Gateway FPD2185W Display all the way.

Last night after giving up ever using the Radeon 4870 with my beloved ACD Apple 23 inch Cinema, I tried OS 10.5 without updates. It worked; however, there was no support for openGL and/or Core Image. How do I know that? There was no translucent menu bar nor support for turning it on or off, but I was able to see OS 10.5. As soon as I updated to OS 10.5.8, the screen went black again. The ACD display may work with OS 10.4, but I haven't tried it yet.

The problem is with Apple drivers, not ATI. In my judgement, this confirms it.

Unfortunately, the only card I've found so far to work reliably with the ACD Clear Plastic Display is the Radeon X1900. It also supports openGL and core image. You just have to clean the fan frequently to keep it running. Doesn't hurt to download SMCFanControl either and run all your fans at 1200 RPM.

Hopes this helps.

Hey straycat,

I think I'm using exactly the same plastic ACD like you 🙂
The Radeon HD 4870 and 5770 are know not to work with 10.5 unfortunately. The original 10.5 doesn't supply the necessary drivers (because the cards didn't exist at that time).

At this time I am using the HD 2600. But I will replace it with my 5770 (which is now spare) as soon I have a new screen. Until now there is no other solution than to buy a news screen it seems. I need to rely on a fast card like the 5770 for my job so its a pretty inconvenient situation 😟

For some reason, my screen lit up with 10.5.0 but not with 10.5.8. No openGL or Core Image support, however. Try it on a spare HD. I was pleasantly surprised. It may or may not work for you.

Sorry 10.5 is a no go for me 🙂
Tested another screen: Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 via DVI. Works.
But it would be much more interesting which screens do NOT work at the moment :P

MacJam: Sorry that 10.5 didn't work. I'm using a Mac Pro 1.1. I suspect that may be the difference. I think it's an EFI 32 instead of EFI 64 so that it could run Tiger. I think that is correct. The two experts that responded to me said I had a software conflict with the Acrylic 23 inch. I have a real problem with that. Why isn't Apple supporting the Acrylic? Great piece of hardware. Not that old. I guess it's gone the way of the G5. Left high and dry and supported though not very old at the time of introduction of OS 10.5.

Got another screen now which FINALLY works with the HD 5770. The HP ZR22w is a Full-HD, S-IPS screen with Display Port. I thought "if a display has a Display Port it maybe is more likely to work with the HD 4870/5x70". Full sucess, screen works great via Display Port.

My old ACD 23" will go to the stack now… poor him.

Hey straycat, I can feel your pain. My ACD 23" is obsolete now, too 😟
I had some good experience with HP screens so this is my new choice (until I can afford some Eizo CG screen or something like that).

Macjam:

The 23 inch Acrylic is obsolete for OS 10.6 with the Radeon 4870, but it is not with Linux Mint. Works real well. I think the combo works with Windows(Ugh) as well. I don't think Linux would probably be an option for you. I have also had a chance to compare the Acrylic 23 with the Aluminum 23 inch. The Aluminum 23 inch works with the Mac Pro 1.1, Radeon 4870 combo. However, I'm finding that the color and resolution are not as good with the Aluminum though they are probably the same screen. At least side by side comparison with the same settings did not yield the same visual quality as the Acrylic.

If I'm going to stick with Mac, at least for the short term, I'm going to have to find a graphics card that works with the newer Mac Pro's and the Acrylic.