MacBook Pro External Monitor Lag

Question

MacBook Pro External Monitor Lag

I run my macbook pro with an Samsung SyncMaster external monitor.

A few months ago — I noticed that the video "speed" on the external monitor was very slow — windows would lag when moved, scrolling would be slow, etc.

It just sort of creeps in when I’m working — It goes away when I restart; when I switch refresh rate — but then after a half hour or so, it comes back.

I thought it might be heat - not that; thought it might be a 3rd party app — not that.

Any ideas?

MacBook Pro, 2.2 GHZ, 4GB RAM, GeForce 8600M GT, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 16, 2010 11:29 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 26, 2010 11:40 AM in response to Daniel Tomasch

I'm having the exact same problem. Using Samsung Syncmaster 226bw as my external display. This also started a few months ago. Some osx/firmware update screwed things up?!

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Answer 2

Dec 1, 2010 7:35 AM in response to Community User

Same problem here. Except I'm using a Dell 2405FPW. I've noticed that Quicktime movies in particular are susceptible to lag. I'm trying a lower resolution (than the standard 1920x1200) to see if that helps things.

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Answer 3

Jan 16, 2011 12:22 PM in response to Daniel Tomasch

Bump.

I am having the same problem as well, with a 22in LCD - lagging whenever playing video in a reasonably sized window, especially whenever in fullscreen. lags during quicktim, or streaming video (more with the latter).

i'm using a black macbook from 2007, running 10.5.8 - and 4 GB RAM even.

Would greatly appreciate any help.

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Answer 4

xApple

Level 1

5 points

Mar 28, 2011 3:58 AM in response to Daniel Tomasch

Rebump.

I am having the same problem as well, with a SyncMaster LCD screen. The main screen will lag even when just trying to drag a window from one side of the screen to the other, as soon as the external monitor is connected.

I am using a MacBookPro6,2 with 4GB.

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Answer 5

gsetser

Level 1

5 points

Oct 14, 2014 11:30 AM in response to jackjames

I, too, experience a lag when using an external monitor (DELL ST2320L) from my mac book laptop osx 10.9.5. I sometimes click items a couple times to get a response and if the intermittent lag is in play, items open, then close quickly. Or it works. Also, it is necessary to click very precisely on each item. Strange.

This makes using an external monitor impossible when I have a lot to do quickly.

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Answer 6

gsetser

Level 1

5 points

Oct 14, 2014 11:30 AM in response to Daniel Tomasch

I, too, experience a lag when using an external monitor (DELL ST2320L) from my mac book laptop osx 10.9.5. I sometimes click items a couple times to get a response and if the intermittent lag is in play, items open, then close quickly. Or it works. Also, it is necessary to click very precisely on each item. Strange.

This makes using an external monitor impossible when I have a lot to do quickly.

Reply