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Level 1

0 points

ThunderBolt + External Monitor = Mounds of Woe

I posted this issue in another thread but since I'm seeing more issues I thought it best to create my own post.

I use an external monitor, connected using either HDMI or DVI. This monitor (an Ausus) works fine & has been working correctly attached to my old macbook.

With the new 2011 MBP, I can get the external monitor to work, but it exhibits strange behavior. It's difficult to make it the primary monitor using the normal macbook methods, and so I have resorted to just dimming my MBP display to zero (which I don't like having to do).

Once the external is running (either mirrored or as extended) it functions normally. However if the MBP display goes to sleep (or the MBP itself goes to sleep), the external will go black but remain on. When this happens I can no longer turn the external on/off or use any of the buttons on the display. It's frozen in this black "on" state. I have to remove the mini display adapter from the Thunderbolt port which makes the MBP screen primary again & I can then enter pass and wake the MBP up.

At first I thought I could turn the external off and access the controls once the mini display adapter was removed but this is no longer the case. Once it's in this "frozen" state the external won't do ANYTHING until I actually unplug the power cord.

This renders an external monitor on the new MBP's unusable. I reported this to Apple directly along with this post. I may call apple tech support when i have the time. Hopefully I won't have to return this lappie because overall I really like it, but no external monitor is not cool.

I would love to hear if anyone else is having this issue or has any ideas for a fix.

13" macbook pro (early 2011), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 7, 2011 5:42 PM

164 replies

jlyall

Level 1

9 points

Sep 14, 2011 6:11 PM in response to steve359

Could you please post up the adapter that you bought? With pictures and a link to a website selling it? That could be helpful to impending buyers of an adapter, or people trying to fix their monitor issues.

Has anyone heard anything else back from Apple?

steve359

Level 6

17,175 points

Sep 14, 2011 6:18 PM in response to jlyall

Apogee Kanex, purchased from a local MicroCenter (http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0334087).

Not exactly "Apple"brand, and perhaps I was trying to shave a few dollars, but the post-length seemed worth risking the "return if necessary" possibility.

jlyall

Level 1

9 points

Sep 14, 2011 10:16 PM in response to entropic23

"This update enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection and includes fixes that resolve issues with Apple Thunderbolt Display compatibility and Thunderbolt Target Disk Mode performance on MacBook Pro (early 2011) models."

Sep 15, 2011 2:06 PM in response to entropic23

Apple just released a firmware update for Thunderbolt on the MacBook Pro. My install went smooth but I haven't had a chance to see if it fixed my external display issues (to a Philips Plasma HD TV).

dmdimon

Level 3

856 points

Sep 15, 2011 2:12 PM in response to William Fiveash

not helped in my case

entropic23 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 15, 2011 2:32 PM in response to William Fiveash

I updated this am... Install went fine here as well, but I haven't had a chance to test it either. Will be interesting to see how many ppl this helps.

Sep 15, 2011 5:52 PM in response to entropic23

Well in my case it didn´t change anything... Im running an Imac mid2011 27" i7 with an EIZO 24" Flexscan S2431W... it is still not working right... When i use the active corners to set the imac into "monitor Standby" the Eizo will not go to sleep... (this worked well with the Imac 27" mid2010)...

So Apple, please get an solution, and teach the thunderbolt I/O the DDC Signals...

cheers...

Sep 15, 2011 7:45 PM in response to William Fiveash

I just tried hooking up my HD TV and my MBP did not recognize the display modes properly unlike my older MBP with a real Minidisplay port. 😟

MaxHedrm

Level 1

48 points

Sep 15, 2011 9:17 PM in response to entropic23

I noticed something interesting. I have a Windows laptop from work that has a full size DisplayPort. My monitor also doesn't work with that & an adapter. I think in my cae (& perhaps others) the monitor just doesn't like adapters at all. Before I was using it with DVI. Looks like I have an excuse to get a new monitor if this firmware doesn't fix it.

Sep 16, 2011 5:06 AM in response to entropic23

I installed the Firmware update, still no connection from miniDisplay / Thunderbolt->DVI adapter > DVI to a dell monitor. The same monitor works with another mac with the same DVI-cable, and with this computer with miniDisplay / Thunderbolt->VGA adapter > VGA of the monitor. The miniDisplay>DVI adapter works on other monitors, such as Samsung 21 ones ( 2-3 year old models). Haven't checked this display yet with miniDisplay-DVI > DVI-VGA cable or miniDisplay-VGA > VGA>DVI-cable…

tombear

Level 1

0 points

Sep 16, 2011 5:48 AM in response to steve359

Hearing all these troubles, here's my setup that works great for new MBA: I worked out all the bugs for you to benefit from:

Cover MUST be closed to get the full resolution of the HP 2511x monitor..

Also I turn off all energy management on the MBA and monitor. (if energy management ever does apply, then I simply unplug the back power cord and push it back it to reset the display).

It is a beautiful monitor running at HDMI resolution -1080p the apple display software says....

Bought From apple:

Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support

Twelve South BookArc for MacBook Air (2nd Gen.)

MacBook Air, 13-inch

Bought from Amazon.com

HP 2511x Monitor

BlueRigger High Speed HDMI cable with Ethernet (10 Feet) - Supports 3D and Audio Return [Latest Version]

Good luck.

Sep 20, 2011 8:08 PM in response to entropic23

I got my Philips TV working with my MBP with Thunderbolt. I found another discussion thread that had this advice for getting a Philips display working with Lion:

Terminal commands (pasted here for your convenience):

cd /System/Library/Displays/Overrides/DisplayVendorID-410c/

sudo mv DisplayProductID-0 DisplayProductID-0.old

After I did this my MBP properly recognized the Philips 42PF7320A/37 TV when I connected it. Note that I've also applied the latest Thunderbolt firmware update.

Sep 22, 2011 8:04 AM in response to entropic23

I have just purchased a new MBP with the Lion OS, and a new Thunderbolt 27" display using the DVI cable which comes with the display. I'm finding the same problem which as best I can tell, is being addressed in this thread. When waking my MBP from sleep with the external display connected, the external display never comes up. If I shut down the MBP and reboot, it will reboot and bring the display up. No problem closing the lid on the MBP after the external display is active, and still retaining the active external display. However, if the external display is not active, and i wake the MBP from a sleep session, the external display does not turn on. It seems the only means of activating the external display is from a complete reboot of the MBP, while the external display is powered and connected via DVI.
I'd be interested in seeing inputs from anyone else specifically with the new MBP and the new Thunderbolt display (which has no HDMI interface, so DVI is the only option unless you adapt from the DVI interface to HDMI to the MBP.

MaxHedrm

Level 1

48 points

Sep 22, 2011 8:15 AM in response to sylviafromaptos

Uh, the THUNDERBOLT monitor uses THUNDERBOLT, not DVI. That's what that little connector is. If you are still having issues, I would recommend reporting it to Apple.

entropic23 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2011 10:27 AM in response to sylviafromaptos

@sylviafromaptos

As the post below says, that's actually a Thunderbolt port. It also functions as a MDP (mini-display port) if you don't have any TB ready devices, but since your monitor is TB ready, it's functioning as a TB port (you should be able to plug in USB, firewire, ethernet etc into the back of your monitor).

Here are a couple things you can try:

1) Try unplugging the TB cable from the MBP and see if the display wakes up when it's plugged back in. So wake the MBP up, unplug TB cable & plug back in.

2) If that doesn't work, you can try unplugging the power cable from the monitor & then plugging it back in & it should get recognized.

It's a shame that there are serious probs popping up like this and the Lion battery drain issue... you're the first person (that I can recall) that I've read about with a new TB display that has this problem. I find it somewhat amazing that a direct TB to TB setup is having problems.

I started this discussion over half a year ago (closer to 7 months ago) & there has yet to be a final solution. So while I would love to tell you I think a fix is coming soon, I can't.

Hopefully one of the above workarounds will help you out.

ThunderBolt + External Monitor = Mounds of Woe