2011 i5 2.5Ghz Mac mini screen flicker issue...

This morning I had the opportunity to use my mini for at least 4 consecutive hours and the issue is really bad. It happened around 15 times that my screen got no signal for 2-3 seconds and then it went back as nothing happened.I called apple and asked for a new mini same specs.I'll let you know when I'll get the new one if the problem persists even if I've got a bad feeling about this.

When I hooked up the Mac Mini to my TV using an HDMI cable there was no problem with flickering. I called support again and they sent another HDMI to DVI cable to see if it was a problem with the cable. However, the new cable did not correct the problem when connected to my LCD monitor.

All I know is the supplied Apple HDMI to DVI adaptor used with the DVI cable that came with my HP monitor has solved my flicker. It was happening a LOT but I used it again this AM for an hour and not a single problem.

Just changed to a Mac Mini Server. So far so good. Still thinking the AMD card may be the issue. Knocking on good.

I got my new mac mini same specs as before. It's exactly 1 hour from the set up and I already had the 1st flickering. I'm so angry right now...

@Javier : still so far so good?

Reading others thread around I'm starting to think it could be an handshake HDMI problem.

Mini server still with no flickers or black outs. Have used only for a few hours but seems all right.

I just bought a 2011 I5 MAC mini and it is connected to my 24inch apple cinema display from 2010 with the minidisplay port.

I keep getting flocker in the screen. Also the screen blinks to solid black momentarily and then clears up. Sometimes it happens over and and over again such that you can't work on the computer and once it shut the screen down completely.

I spoke to Apple support this morning who could not solve the problem and gave me a case number to call back if it continued. I have just started the mac mini and the same problem has begun again. It ids less frequent this time but the monitor started with a completely fragmented broken startup screen.

The cinema display works perfectly with my 2009 macbook pro through its mini-display port.

So far I am not impressed and will call Apple again tomorrow. (I have tried SMC reset- helps briefly then the problem recurs) screen flicker also continues intermittently.

After I replaced my mini the flicker was still there like I said before so I decided to try it with others monitors or HDTVs and finally i think to know what the problem is in my case it's and HDMI handshake problem like report from many users in those discussions :

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2600405?answerId=12365481022#12365481022

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3080713?answerId=15530115022#15530115022

there is nothing I can do untill apple release a software upgrade and it's funny cause the flicker it's like an improvement of the problem since, for example on the Philips 32pfl5404, I wasn't able to see anything. the screen comes and goes every second.

Now I really don't know if to keep it or ask my money back.Nobody knows when and if this will be fixed.

I have the Mac Mini server without the ATI GPU and have no video problems. It sounds to me that its either a driver problem or a bad batch of chips. Hope its software. Did anyone try your machine under Windows 7 with the latest ATI drivers? If it goes away under Windows 7 with the latest ATI drivers, then its likely to be the OS X driver. If the problem still happens under Windows 7 then its likely to be a cooling issue or a defective GPU. I would be very interested in knowing the results of your testing.

there is a new update.Let's hope.

Installed the firmware update this evening, seems to have solved all of my problems. :-). Good luck to all.

That's excellent news! Glad to see a straight forward solution.

New update old flicker. Already 2 times in 7 mins... I'm getting really disappointed from Apple...I could have got a pc if I knew I was going through all of this.

To get to the bottom of the issue either being an OS X driver issue or an actual hardware issue, its time to do a test under Windows 7 (or XP). Set up bootcamp, install Windows and get the latest drivers from AMD. If it goes away under Windows 7 with the latest ATI drivers, then its likely to be the OS X driver. If the problem still happens under Windows 7 then its likely to be a hardware issue. Either a cooling issue or a defective GPU. My 2011 Mac Mini is the server version (Intel built-in graphics) so I can't try out the test myself but this is exactly what I would do to find out. If its an OS X driver issue, Apple will fix it... eventually. If its hardware then its more serious and Apple will need to replace it under warrenty. Hopefully after they replace the potentially defective chip batch in manufacturing production if hardware is really the cause.