24" LED Display with 2011 15" MPB

I think it does fix the issue, as you can see that hurd300403 did fix the issue using a Matrox DualHead2Go, and when connected through this device, it doesn't have the issue:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2765598&start=30&messageID=132 02843

While the Matrox DualHead2Go is no entirely the same thing as the DVI (female) to MiniDP (female) converter like the one I linked to, I'm quite confident a DVI to MiniDP converter will fix the issue, also I don't have one to verify it.

If you try it, don't forget to report back 😉

From your (iFrodo) tests I would deduce that it is a hardware issue and a software issue.

- It is a software issue because the driver maybe does not recognize the transfer speed of the cable.
- And it is a hardware issue because some ACDs maybe use cheaper/worse cables.

Will the software fix then give other quality issues on the ACDs with poor cables? What do you think?

The fact that it works just fine with other Macs, like previous 2010 MBPs, proves that with the same "cheaper/worse" cable the ACD 24" uses, it can just work fine when the driver/firmware of the computer is operating correctly.
So if the cable was really a problem, problems would be visible with any Mac, and we know that it's not the case. That's why from my tests I conclude that probably the computer don't correctly select the settings for the hardware it's connected to (this includes the cable capabilities).

So with the software fix of the driver (or firmware, don't know if it's only a driver issue), it'll just work as good as with MBPs 2010 for example (or other Macs that works already just great with ACD 24").

I take back my previous post of the blackouts happening less frequently. They're happening just as often as pre-10.6.7 😟

I installed W7 on bootcamp just to test the idea out that the problem goes away..... So far, no issues!! What the heck does this mean? Simple driver problem??

I talked with AC again yesterday and got to a senior tech. He gave me an activity monitoring program to run to catch the event. I did...... haven't heard anything back from him yet......

He had no further info (like that they were replacing machines for this).......

I am ordering the Gefen adapter (should have by Wed?), if it works I will try and get AC to pay for it!

-Lee

Also doing the intermittent black screen (every 2-4 seconds) on my 13" Macbook Pro i7, but only AFTER updating to 10.6.7

Also reporting this issue on my Early 2011 15" MBP 2.2GHz, flickering never stopped after updating to 10.6.7
It gets really bad sometimes. Feels like my computer is a person with a nervous tic that can't stop blinking.

Have not been able to identify the problem specifically. Still use my display's charger and USB hub, no problems there. Guessing it's a software/firmware/driver fix for the AMD GPU and/or the Thunderbolt I/O chip and associated data links and pipes ("buses").

Does anyone know if the 27" ACD's suffer from this same problem? I might just replace my 24" with that one if it's trouble-free with the 2011 MBP's.

After 3 long talks with AC..... I dropped the monitor off with local apple store and made sure they were aware of this and the 25 page sister thread......

Will keep y'all posted......

-Lee

I have a 27" and have the same problem. Some days are better then others, but typcially the screen will go black for about a second a dozen times a day.

This is awful news...... I was hoping it was only the 24's.......

So is it the MBP or the Display --- both somehow????

-Lee

PS>> mine is in for "repair" but it may be a few days before they tell me what they are going to do........ how's that HP ZR24W looking now 🙂.....

Well.......

After long discussions with applecare and taking this monitor into the store I can tell you that every person said something different!

1) First AC person...... take it into the store for repair
2) Second AC person....... take it into the store for repair (different reason-- cable)
3) Apple store tech....... There is nothing wrong with your monitor..... and there is an engineering report that says this is a "software issue" between the ACD 24 only and the 2011 MBP 15" only..... no ETA on fix........

So ultimately I got my wheels spun for like 6 hours of my time (including picking it back up) to find out that there is an "engineering report" that no one at Applecare can see (apparently) and that I should live with the issue. I probably wouldn't be so torqued if they would have told me this to begin with. At least I wouldn't have wasted my time......

When I asked why they don't just post here to let us know they said..... "we can't do that.... then everyone will say that Apple says there is a problem...." .......... And what of all the other people here.... wouldn;t it be nice to give them a consistent message too...... sorry .... just a bit frustrated tonight. I will go get my monitor back and live with it for a little while...... after having a chat with my local store manager 🙂......

I hear ya Lee. Similar frustration here. Haven't attempted to deal with AC or "geniuses" at the Apple Store because I know there's an engineering report out there and this issue's still being examined. I don't know 100% but I can gather that from what Apple reps are telling you and other murmurings. I just wish there was some more official info from Apple that gave us frustrated dual-display users an idea about a timeframe, etc...

I'm hunched over my 15" MBP screen which is sitting in front of my (relatively) expensive 24" Apple LED monitor, been turned off and black for weeks now. That's the price I pay for early-adopting these sweet Sandy Bridge machines. Still don't regret it, hehe!

I can confirm that 10.6.7 has, if anything, made things worse between my 15 inch MBP and my 24" cinema display. VERY disappointed right now, as the crappier Dell monitor at the office is stable.

I spoke to Apple Care yesterday and they confirmed that this is being investigated and is a software issue. A software fix should be released soon they said, or at least within 1-2 months, hopefully sooner.