screen flicker using external ACD on new 15" MBP

so...this link is now broken? what the heck does THAT mean? I searched many sites, all point to the one Mike95 posted, and none of them work.

***?

Allison Sheridan

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the article and firmware can be found here. its also has a description of what systems and configurations are affected

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4045?viewlocale=en_US

-mvimp

2008 24" LED Cinema display

2011 MBP 15"

I just did the firmware update stated above and it fixed the problem.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4045?viewlocale=en_US

Wahoo, no more screen flickering.

I guess I'm just here to chime in and say that I've got the same problem.

Late 2011 15" MBP into a 25" HP monitor, Thunderbolt port > HDMI.

IT IS DRIVING ME INSANE.

Is the only solution so far to get a MDP -> DVI adapter? I just read through the entire thread and that seems like the only sure bet.

I put in one call to Apple; I guess there's no point in another.

Interesting note: I have Boot Camp installed, and when I'm in Boot Camp the problem does not occur.

I finally got a hold of apple support and they fixed the problem within minutes. I'm sorry I don't remember exactly what we did but it seems like we down loaded new firmware. You might search downloads or continue to try to get a hold of support. I have Apple Care. It is an easy fix though and you are right it was very obnoxious! I nearly sent the MBP back.

Try this http://support.apple.com/kb/DL998

Senator16

Isn't that only a solution for if the external monitor is an Apple display? Mine is an HP, I can't even install drivers for it on my system. Ah well, back to the drawing board.

i guess that firmware update will correct this issue only for those using apple 24" cinema display, right?

all these reports are worring me, i ordered a late '11 15" macbookpro and a hp lp2475w BEFORE reading about these issues. and i'm fairly nervous about it. the mac is having some shipping delay, the monitor is already on my desk hooked via MDP-DP cable to a macbook that's driving it perfectly.

if i'll be experiencing these problems, i'll be showing these threads to the geniuses at my local apple store and firmly ask for a mdp-dvi dual link adapter FOR FREE. as it seems that's the only effective solution so far, but i'm slightly disappointed [sarcasm!!] by giving another 100 bucks away like that, after spending some 3K € on mac+monitor.. w-t-f!

btw, last monday i went to the apple store [italy - turin] and asked about these problems which seem to be quite documented, and they had no clue. the "genius" I asked was simply pushing me to buy a thunderbolt display.. are you kidding me?! 😀

furthermore, no such adapters were there, no MDP-DP cables, only TB cables or TB-HDMI.. are you kidding me again? how are professionals supposed to work with hdmi cables, intended for home cinema systems and stuff like that?

Stefano:

Yes, the firmware update is useless unless you've got the Apple Display, which I'm loathe to buy after this issue.

However, good news. Switching to a DVI cable totally solved the problem. For whatever reason, that seems to be the only way to reliably connect an external display with the Thunderbolt port. I just picked up the Apple MDP>DVI adapter and then plugged that I to a Dvi cable and ran it to the HP monitor. If you end up having problems, I'm fairly certain that this will take care of them.

MDP<DVI only [aroun 30 bucks] or Dual Link [100 freaking $/€] ? please tell me it can be fixed on the cheap! 😀

what monitor are you using? i've read HP, mine is a LP2475W, it's sitting on my desk for 3 days now and i already love it!

thank you

No no, just Apple's standard propietary MDP->DVI adapter which yes, is $30. Rocketfish and some other vendors make ones as well, they might be cheaper, but everything I looked at suggested that if you want things to work properly and reliably it's best to go with Apple's. You will also need the DVI cable separately, but they're not that expensive and if I remember correctly already come with most monitors.

I've got the HP2511x, and I love mine as well. Shelling out for an Apple Display doesn't make any sense in light of how sharp and bright this one is for $700 cheaper. Mine came with that DVI cable, hopefully yours does too.

Stefano:

I just looked up your monitor and realized you've got a display port on it. You might be alright, try your current set-up with the new MBP before you shell out for that adapter.

yes it has a DP port, but the problem with MDP-DP cable seems to be that thunderbolt can't drive correctly these kind of monitors: the results are flickering screen and strange artifacts, unreadable texts and so on.. i've got here from another thread about these subjects..

that's why i was asking whether you could solve those problems with a simple mdp-dvi adapter, because according to what i've read around, a dual link [that bigger dvi adapter with usb cable and port attached] is needed in order to get them fixed.. seems like thunderbolt recognizes big sized monitors as tv screens and messes up with rgb signal.

i dunno, i'll wait and see. fingers crossed! 😀

I'm using a Late-2009 MacBook connected with a VGA Adaptor to a 22" Asus screen - in Clamshell mode

The screen has started going black and coming back on in the last couple of months

I seem to be able to force it to do it reliably by using Firefox (11 or 12) to display these pages:

http://www.squeakerclean.com/

(on this page, the screen will lose signal when the slider starts the transition to the next slide)

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-dQIgfIFsI

I can use Firefox without the screen losing signal if I stay away from sites that have the Flash content...

If I turn off "Use hardware acceleration when available" in Firefox preferences, the problem is about 90% less

I can view those sites in Safari with no screen problems. (Using the same version of Flash Player)

So, for me at least, it looks like Firefox/Flash Player with "Use hardware acceleration when available" may be causing the problem....

I have been frustrated with this on my new 15" MBP with flicker and lines on my external display. Moving the dual-link MDP box away from my power adapter and electrical sources solved the problem. Hopefully this will help someone else.

I have a 13" MacBook Pro and my external monitor would constantly flicker on and off while I was working. At first, I believed it was a problem with the input jack on the Macbook, so after much fuss with that, I decided there was another issue.

Eventually, this is what solved my problem - I simply switched the refresh rate on the external monitor from 75 hrtz to 60 and the problem was instantly fixed!

Hope this helps!