Wycliffe

Q: 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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Q: Screen Flicker with External Monitor

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  • by Rippeddisc,

    Rippeddisc Rippeddisc Jun 5, 2011 6:47 PM in response to Allison Sheridan
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 5, 2011 6:47 PM in response to Allison Sheridan

    SAME issue.  MBP '11.  Dell Ultrasharp 27".  Monitor will be fine then randomly start flickering...usually after comp is closed and then started up again. 

     

    FIX THIS!!!

  • by CharlesEslen,

    CharlesEslen CharlesEslen Jun 15, 2011 10:33 AM in response to Wycliffe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2011 10:33 AM in response to Wycliffe

    I believe I have discovered the solution to this, at least in my case.

     

    I was have the same screen flickering issues with my Sceptre 24" and 2011 Macbook Pro 13".  After digging for a while I notice on areas of the screen with solid black (google solid black screen and look at that) there appeared to be a 'sparkling' of digital noise.  It was the first time I had noticed that and started looking around at my monitor settings.  Finally I found a setting called "Over Drive" in a misc setting area.  Apparently this is a setting on many monitors that allow the monitor to boost the voltage from the gpu to 'excite' the lcd and reduce ghosting.  Upon reducing the 'over drive' amount, it eliminated the digital noise in black areas as well as completely eliminated the screen flickering I have been experiencing with the thunderbolt port.

     

    My hypothesis is that somehow the power output from the port doesnt play nice with the 'over drive' boost the monitor is using from the gpu.

     

    Anyway, as I said this completely eliminated the flicker for me and I hope it will do the same for you.

    -Charles Ford

  • by Rippeddisc,

    Rippeddisc Rippeddisc Jun 15, 2011 4:34 PM in response to CharlesEslen
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 15, 2011 4:34 PM in response to CharlesEslen

    Sounds great.  But couldnt find any 'over drive' setting buried anywhere.   ?  Googled and nothing still.  Meh?

  • by CharlesEslen,

    CharlesEslen CharlesEslen Jun 15, 2011 11:04 PM in response to Rippeddisc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2011 11:04 PM in response to Rippeddisc

    Sadly, I don't believe every display has the option to control and/or disable the Over Drive.  There are quite a few out there with it just built in.  I'm linking the forum post so it can possibly be researched further by someone with more expertise in the area.

     

    http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080322211543AAKzu9P

     

    http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=302690

     

    http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=279&threadid=135219

  • by CharlesEslen,

    CharlesEslen CharlesEslen Jun 15, 2011 11:16 PM in response to Rippeddisc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 15, 2011 11:16 PM in response to Rippeddisc

    One last note regarding the display linked in your post.  While it is not your exact display, it is a Dell UltraSharp.

     

    In the article at the bottom of the first paragraph they mention "The only notable absence for a wide gamut monitor is the ability to switch off its overdrive."

     

    http://www.trustedreviews.com/Dell-UltraSharp-2408WFP-Widescreen-24in-LCD-Monito r_Monitor_review_dell-2408wfp_Page-4

  • by Rippeddisc,

    Rippeddisc Rippeddisc Jun 16, 2011 11:51 AM in response to CharlesEslen
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 16, 2011 11:51 AM in response to CharlesEslen

    Ah ha...so then it's up to Apple...

     

    Oddly enough I havent had the issues since I posted.  Wonder how to recreate....

  • by Heronymo,

    Heronymo Heronymo Jun 18, 2011 11:06 PM in response to Wycliffe
    Level 1 (66 points)
    Jun 18, 2011 11:06 PM in response to Wycliffe

    I'm having the same issue only it's with an external TV.

     

    I've had this Samsung HDTV for a couple of years and it worked perfectly with my 2006 MacBook Pro.

     

    I just upgraded to a 2011 MacBook Pro and now I have the display issue.

     

    My OS build is 10J4139 so I'm assuming the MacBook Pro Software Update 1.4 came pre-installed (it says it gives you a build of 10J4138).

     

    I'm using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable (no adapter).

     

    I can't find the Over Drive setting (guessing because it's a TV and not a monitor, but aren't they essentially the same thing, both are LCD monitors?)

     

    Any ideas? I've already written to Apple about this but I figured I'd ask here too.

  • by debito,

    debito debito Jun 22, 2011 11:15 PM in response to Wycliffe
    Level 1 (60 points)
    Jun 22, 2011 11:15 PM in response to Wycliffe

    Adding another voice to the thread ... having the same problem with a brand-new 15-inch Macbook Pro w/Thunderbolt and a 24" Sceptre monitor.

  • by debito,

    debito debito Jun 23, 2011 7:01 PM in response to Wycliffe
    Level 1 (60 points)
    Jun 23, 2011 7:01 PM in response to Wycliffe

    Just wondering ... which adapter is everyone using? The single or dual link?

     

    I have this problem with a 24 inch monitor but not with a 20 inch one from the same manufacturer (Sceptre).

  • by Allison Sheridan,

    Allison Sheridan Allison Sheridan Jun 23, 2011 7:56 PM in response to debito
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 23, 2011 7:56 PM in response to debito

    this problem is with the Thunderbolt port on the new MBPs being used with a mini-display port connector to the Apple Cinema Display (and others).

     

    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

  • by Rippeddisc,

    Rippeddisc Rippeddisc Jun 23, 2011 8:17 PM in response to debito
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 23, 2011 8:17 PM in response to debito

    monoprice mini-display -> dvi  think single...as there is only one plug going in to monitor instead of two...

  • by Heronymo,

    Heronymo Heronymo Jun 25, 2011 7:43 AM in response to Wycliffe
    Level 1 (66 points)
    Jun 25, 2011 7:43 AM in response to Wycliffe

    Update:

    I've switched the HDMI port I'm using on my TV to one of the other standard HDMI ports. Previously I was using the HDMI/DVI port since my previous MacBook Pro used a DVI to HDMI cable.

     

    I'm not sure what the differences between those two HDMI ports are, but the display flicker is much improved. It still happens, but it's very infrequent now. I would say it's down from once every 10 or so seconds to about once every 10-15 minutes. At least at first.

     

    I've also noticed that over time (within the span of an hour) it starts to happen a bit more frequently.

     

    Sometimes it's not even the whole TV that's flickering. At times it's just the bottom half or the top half.

     

    I wonder if it has anything to do with how hard the graphics processor is working, or how hot it gets. I haven't tried taxing it very much besides online Flash video like YouTube.

  • by almejia16,

    almejia16 almejia16 Jun 25, 2011 7:17 PM in response to Wycliffe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 25, 2011 7:17 PM in response to Wycliffe

    Have the same problem and Apple is not doing anything about it. Just started being a Mac user just a month ago.

     

    I hope they do something about this FAST.

     

    I tried connecting my MBP 13 2011 with a moshi HDMI adapter to an HP 22 inch monitor. Flickers eternally.

     

    Help Apple.

  • by Krag,

    Krag Krag Jun 25, 2011 8:16 PM in response to almejia16
    Level 2 (250 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 25, 2011 8:16 PM in response to almejia16

    I had an HP monitor that would flicker at times... it took me forever to find out why... my cellphone was too close to the monitor, I moved the cellphone and the flickering stopped. I now have a 226BW and it does not have this problem. BTW the cellphone also causes my clock radio to buzz sometimes.

  • by Heronymo,

    Heronymo Heronymo Jun 27, 2011 7:31 PM in response to Wycliffe
    Level 1 (66 points)
    Jun 27, 2011 7:31 PM in response to Wycliffe

    Update:

     

    In case anyone is wondering, the "Thunderbolt Firmware Update" released today (June 27 2011) does NOT fix the display flicker problem.

     

    Please fix this problem, Apple! I'm not going to buy a new TV so that my MacBook Pro displays the image properly! It worked perfectly fine on my 2006 MacBook Pro.

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