External Display not working with MacBook Pro 13" (early 2011)

Question

External Display not working with MacBook Pro 13" (early 2011)

I just bought the current MacBook Pro 13" (i7 processor). My external display (Benq 20"W, 1600x1050) always says "No Signal Detected!". I've tried it with a DVI-Adapter (Griffin Video Display Converter) and with a VGA-Adapter (LMP Mini DisplayPort-VGA-Adapter). With lower resolution I once got a picture (but with weird lines). On my old MacBook (white, 2.16 Ghz) there was never a problem with this display (also OS X 10.6.6). Who can help?

MacBook Pro (early 2011), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 9, 2011 12:24 PM

Reply

Answer 1

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Mar 9, 2011 7:57 PM in response to Christian Herter

I recommend trying a real, Apple-branded adapter of some kind. The third-party ones can be dicey.

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 10, 2011 9:23 AM in response to Christian Herter

Today I've tried it with an original Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter from Apple: It worked! Swapping back to the other adapter from LMP it worked as well without any problems. Very strange! The Griffin HDMI/DVI adapter still does not work. Do I have "initialize" the settings with an original Apple HDMI adapter? 😉

BTW: I've tried both adapters with a MacBook (late 2008, unibody) and they worked without any problems!

Reply

Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Mar 10, 2011 10:48 AM in response to Christian Herter

I'm curious to know how the Griffin adapter applies because the MBP only has DisplayPort on it. Do you use another adapter in conjunction with the Griffin? Can you describe the full connection chain, including any cables in use?

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 10, 2011 12:59 PM in response to BSteely

I use the Griffin adapter (Mini DisplayPort-HDMI) with the included HDMI-DVI adapter (see http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/video-display-converter). This adapter then connects with a dvi cable (the same as I used with the old mini-dvi to dvi adapter of the old MacBook) to the display.
(As mentioned before this whole "Griffin-Adapter-Cable" chain works with a MacBook late 2008 model. In the early 2011 MacBook Pro model the display is correctly recognized by the MacBook Pro, but the display always says "No signal detected".)

Message was edited by: Christian Herter

Reply

Answer 5

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Mar 10, 2011 5:36 PM in response to Christian Herter

Hmm, that sure looks like it should work. I suppose a real, Apple-branded Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter would be the acid test to see if there is some basic compatibility issue with the new MBP and the BenQ.

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 10, 2011 11:23 PM in response to Christian Herter

Check this post if you want more info:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2774718

The gist is that DVI is currently very iffy through Thunderbolt. Mini display -> mini display OR mini display -> HDMI should work fine. It's most likely not your adapter itself but the fact that it's DVI.

If you can, get a mini display -> HDMI adapter and try that (assuming your external has HDMI).

I should hear back tomorrow or Monday from apple engineers with more specific info about this issue and I will update then.

BTW- DVI anywhere in the chain will make things fail. Mini Display -> DVI and a DVI/HDMI cable won't work with any reliability (I've tested it on three completely different monitors).

Reply

Answer 7

Mar 11, 2011 11:56 PM in response to BSteely

It is definitely the DVI that makes problems with thunderbolt. I'v checked with HDMI (using the same adapter from Griffing without hdmi-dvi adapter) and this works perfectly.
Why the VGA did make problems on the first day I cannot tell, because it still works without any problems.

Reply

Answer 8

Mar 13, 2011 8:06 AM in response to Christian Herter

Been struggling with getting Mini-DVI to VGA going as well. I was using a Dynex cable, after a few weeks it stopped working. Finally went out and purchased an Apple branded cable (paid the extra $$) - worked! Didn't do anything different with settings, so net-net it looks like some of these third-party products may be suspect.... Cheers.

Reply

Answer 9

Mar 28, 2011 1:06 AM in response to Christian Herter

DisplayPort to DVI does not work with 10.6.7. What do I have to do? Does DVI work for others?

Reply

Answer 10

Apr 5, 2011 9:45 AM in response to Christian Herter

Today I had an appointment at the Apple Store. They checked it and replaced the main logic board (MLB). At the end it was clear that there seems to be a general problem that at least the 13" MacBook Pros (early 2011 with thunderbolt) do not support hdmi to dvi adapters at all which is a failure (They said they could reproduce the error on other devices.)
That means I have a new main board with the same problem as before and hopefully it is resolvable by a software update after this error is escalated (as they told me). With an adapter mini display port to dvi it works (only hdmi to dvi seems to be a problem).

Reply

Answer 11

isend

Level 1

10 points

Apr 6, 2011 4:44 AM in response to Christian Herter

Hi Christian, do you have to do the "initialization" for every external display? (say, the display at home, the one in the office, and every single projector you encounter in the conference rooms...)

Reply

Answer 12

Apr 9, 2011 6:25 AM in response to Christian Herter

Fascinating thread. I can't believe they've let this slide by. I have a 2011 13" and use a mindi-display (adapter cable) -> hdmi (cable) -> dvi (hdmi-dvi adapter) -> Screen. I know I'm asking for trouble with that setup, but it's what leftover equipment gets you.
*Here's the thing*: It works when running Windows 7 through Boot Camp! Flawlessly, even. And even what I'd call the "bootup screen", the spinning gray thingy on a white background, is shown on the external display! But as soon as OSX (newest version) starts, the screen goes black and apparently "doesn't understand the signal".
what gives, Apple? This ain't no hardware problem.

Reply

Answer 13

Apr 9, 2011 6:41 AM in response to TheShortStory

It works when running Windows 7 through Boot Camp! Flawlessly, even.

Wow. Now that's very very interesting. Not knowing any better, I've been thinking it was some sort of firmware issue, but if it's true that it's an OSX thing, I have to say that's pretty sad, almost laughable. If it wasn't such an annoying issue it would be laughable. Pushing hard for new tech only to have your OS bugger it up when Windows handles it just fine.

I don't use this particular mac dual, but I would love to hear further reports on this. If you've got a dual or are thinking of going dual, please test on an external and report back. It would also be interesting to see if the monitor works when using a VM…

Reply

Answer 14

Apr 12, 2011 1:23 AM in response to TheShortStory

Thanks for your tests. This rises hope that Apple can fix this by software (and that it is not a hardware problem).

Reply

Answer 15

Apr 19, 2011 11:56 AM in response to Christian Herter

I have a 2011 MBP 13" i5. I am having the same problem connecting a 1900x1080 NEC monitor to the machine. I have used MiniDisplayPort to DVI and while it does work, it does not scale up to the max resolution of the external monitor. It shows a message on the external monitors window that the "max resolution for this monitor is 1200x800" which is not true.

I went to the Apple Store here in Denver and they have not been able to rectify the problem, as of yet.

Reply