Screen Flicker with External Monitor

Question

Level 1

4 points

Screen Flicker with External Monitor

I have a brand new MBP 17 inch running 2.3GHz i7 with 8GB RAM.

When I connect my 24 inch Apple Cinema Display, I get constant flickering and the screen trying to re-size on the Cinema Display (the display for the laptop is unaffected). Not sure if this is being caused by Thunderbolt (it is the same port now as what you would use to connect an external monitor in previous Macs) or not, but this is an annoying issue.

Anyone else having this problem? Apple are you listening?

17" MacBook 2.3GHz i7, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 11, 2011 4:15 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 14, 2018 1:04 PM in response to Menlo Park Matt

New firemware for 24 inch apple display to prevent flicker.

http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/29/apple-quietly-releases-fix-for-flickering-on -24-inch-led-cinema-display-over-thunderbolt/

http://km.support.apple.com/library/APPLE/APPLECARE_ALLGEOS/TS4045/24-inchCinema DisplayFirmwareUpdate.dmg

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2018 1:04 PM in response to Community User

Apple quietly issues firmware fix for Thunderbolt flickering issues on 27-inch LED Cinema Displays

http://km.support.apple.com/library/APPLE/APPLECARE_ALLGEOS/TS4045/24-inchCinema DisplayFirmwareUpdate.dmg

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Answer 3

Oct 14, 2018 1:04 PM in response to Acram Jr

I have the same issue with a new Macbook Pro 17" Early 2011 attached to 24inch cinema display. The flicker seems to come about when loging into user account. It occurs on the lower 1/4th of the screen where it suddenly jumps to the right and back. I also noticed a strange reajustment of the screen resolution when logging out of the user accoutn where the scrren is enlarged and cannot be adjusted using the display setting in system preferneces. Only resolution is to restart the laptop. Hopefully apple will address these two annoying bugs soon.

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Answer 4

Oct 14, 2018 1:04 PM in response to Wycliffe

Spoke too soon. The flicker returned after waking the external display from sleep. It seems it only happens when the diplay is in a sleep mode for a while (cooled down). When the dipaly is on for a while the flicker stops. Anyone still having the smae issue as me?

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Answer 5

Dec 22, 2017 8:13 AM in response to Wycliffe

Same thing here, I was so happy but no same thing is happening 😟 I have two Cinema display, one at work and one at home, I applyed the patch at work so, is it that when I applied the patch it updated the firmware of my work screen and not the one at home?

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Answer 6

Oct 14, 2018 1:04 PM in response to Community User

Well. It was short lived. The screen started flickering again, this time th whole screen would wiggle for a short period. Noticed it happens when the display wakes from sleep. Will try to disable screen sleep and report on the results.

Ahmed

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Answer 7

Jun 8, 2017 6:29 PM in response to Wycliffe

In my case, I'm using a MacBook Air, and the monitor is a UN40K6500 of Samsung.

I think it's a problem of static electricity, but I can't solve... sometimes works...

I disconnected my Samsung TV of energy plug, and of MacBook Air, Leave a time, and I turn on again... Doing that flicker 2 or 3 times no more. But sometimes no works...

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Answer 8

mp4d

Level 1

8 points

Sep 23, 2017 12:16 AM in response to Graeme Watt

You are a genius! Your thinking is not remotely crazy. I can't believe I didn't think of this before. I have had this problem on and off for years, and it never occurred to me that it could simply be when my iPhone is interfering. I have had so many problems with the display flickering on and off (black) this morning, that I decided to look this up on the Internet again and found your post. My iPhone was right between my laptop, monitor and next to the HDMI cable.

Well, having banished it to another table, one hour on, no more problems! For what it's worth, I am using:

Dell U3011, MacBook 12" with multipart adapter and iPhone 6.

Matt

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Answer 9

Sjuull

Level 1

0 points

Mar 31, 2011 12:55 PM in response to Wycliffe

Hi,

I have a MBP 13 inch (early 2011) connected to a 24 inch Cinema Display and have the same issue.

and worth mentioning is that I also own a MB 13-inch (Late 2008) which does not have the issue when connected to the same Cinema Display

Message was edited by: Sjuull

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Answer 10

Apr 6, 2011 9:10 AM in response to Wycliffe

I have a new MBP as well, using the Thunderbolt connector with my 24" Cinema Display also has flicker (2008 MBP does not cause this problem).

Two flicker symptoms - whole screen turns very briefly on and off, and the bottom 1/4th of the screen suddenly jumps to the right and back.

I have a genius bar appt set up for this Friday. Hopefully I'll remember to report back here!

Allison Sheridan
NosillaCast Podcast at http://podfeet.com
A technology geek podcast with an EVER so slight Macintosh bias!
Follow me at http://twitter.com/podfeet

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Answer 11

Apr 6, 2011 9:18 AM in response to Wycliffe

Just found a much more extensive thread on this topic, many people with this problem:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=13179287&#13179287

Allison Sheridan
NosillaCast Podcast at http://podfeet.com
A technology geek podcast with an EVER so slight Macintosh bias!
Follow me at http://twitter.com/podfeet

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Answer 12

Apr 6, 2011 9:49 AM in response to Wycliffe

I have seen this happen when the resolution and/or refresh rate is set incorrectly for the external monitor. Try checking System Profiler to see the native resolution/refresh rate for your Cinema Display and then cross-check your display preferences.

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Answer 13

Acram Jr

Level 1

4 points

Apr 14, 2011 10:23 AM in response to Wycliffe

Same Problem Here, Brand new Macbook Pro 17" Early 2011, flickering and screen resolution problems on external monitors via Thunderbolt/mini-display port, who thought it would be a good idea to pair I/O with video output. Apple i have been a loyal customer for almost 12 years now, and this is the first time i actually got on discussion, because there is not any fix on the net.
You need to put out a bug fix as soon as possible and it can't wait for the nest osx update, send it sooner as a firm update or something. I have external display with a wrong resolution and if i down the resolution to make it at least visible enough, there's this screen flickering from now and then...and when you think abou a 3000 computer at least the model i always buy is the Buit to order one.
We the community need a fix...

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Answer 14

batsrock

Level 1

0 points

Apr 14, 2011 8:19 PM in response to Wycliffe

I'm new to the mac world buying my first macbook 13" for travel 3 weeks ago. And tonight was the first time to connect to an external 20" Dell and I had the joy of experiencing the same flicker issue. Very disappointing as a first time user (not that it isn't for others 😉
I'm used to fixes coming out quickly in the pc world. I'm guessing that's not the case in the mac world?
On a better note I can at least stop the flicker by turning the monitor off and on. Hopefully this helps others until the fix comes out.

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Answer 15

Dec 22, 2017 8:13 AM in response to Wycliffe

Ok we all know now this is real, now what?

When can we have a fix for this, I spent 4 000.00$ on my 2nd MacBook Pro and I am so 😟

Appel, when do we get a fix for this?

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