Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

Some of this would even suggest the possibility that certain Thunderbolt displays have some level of issue contributing. And a combination of interactions combining to the issue manifestation as well. I am using a Thunderbolt display with a 2012 and have not experienced issue with Ethernet port in use.

it is always frustrating when no staight up, consistent circumstance that is the cause. A lot of circumstantial stuff here and some combination of factors - again, including possibility of specific Thunderbolt displays - brings this on. All said - various updates over time seem to have alleviated for most, and improved otherwise.

My heart sinks to see such a long thread about this problem.

I've had my mac mini and thuderbolt 17' display since april 2012. I'm a light easy user. No Ram or anything added and only use it once every several days.

Just recently the display has started to turn off randomly. At least once per session. Appliations like skype frequently set it off.

Feeling quite worried as the Thuderbolt dipslay was an expensive purchase for me and now realize i might have made a big mistake.

I take it from these threads that there doesn not seem to be much to do, other than take it in for servicing. I'll report back if I come accross any solutions.

Similer discoverys here https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4490924?start=345&tstart=0

I found my issues with 2 thunderbolt dispalys going black and dooing all sorts of random stuff was related to the Ram.

I was running 2 x 8GB Strontium SODIMMS (SRT8G86S2-P9M) I think its CL9 1600Mhz DDR3, I removed 1 Dimm and the problem disapears, I then took that out and replaced the ELPIDA 2 x 2GB genuine ram modules back in and everything works flawlessly, Im currently looking to purchase another brand, I will post the brand and model if it works for me so others can hopefully fix there issues as well.

It's easy to make assumption - but this isn't that easy.

I'd agree the memory is likely the issue in your case though... you're issues are a bit extreme and not the typical reported + that memory is over clocked as well. 1600MHz SO with full compliance has a CL11 rating, not CL9. With respect to what this thread is about, seen no reports of snow and random craziness in terms of the Apple bug. On a Retina I use - I still get an occassional wig out... until I restarted it kept flipping the position of my two displays each time I reconnected... and then locked with blue and black screens entirely after 2 or 3 plug ins over a the sme number of days... which why I restarted.. Using current release 10.8.4 with all updates...

Back to memory in general - there is a lot going on and we maintain an open invite for anyone who has OUR memoy and has a problem to ping me for a personal review and test. We really want to see a symptomatic machine that isn't an Apple factory soldered ram system. We have a fleet of several dozen Mac minis and have done extensive testing - which I've noted in this very thread recently again... with the current EFI and OS updates, Apple appears to have squashed - for the most part - a bug that impacts ALL Thunderbolt equipped Macs when it comes to supporting two displays.

I maintain, at least in the case of our OWC Memory - which is fully Tested and Certified for the Macs such memory is listed for, the memory is not the cause of the issue and never has been.

Thanks!

I can only state, in my case, as fact, that removing the 16GB OWC ram and installing Kingston KTA-MB1600 ram solved my problem.

IMO, there is an issue with OWC ram installed in the late 2012 Mac Mini with dual monitor configurations with the Thnunder Bold Display.

I contacted OWC on this issue and received no acknowlegment of the issue and only suggested I return the ram for testing.

It is an issue completely non-reproduceably as of mid-June (with current EFI and O updates) on a large number of Mac minis we've tested with - 2012 models - with multiple dual display/dual thunderbolt scenarios.

I am not questioning what worked for you at the time - but am stating there is more to this than memory regardless if a memory swap took care of the issue with your specific Mac mini. To that matter - i'd love for you to reach out to me personally with consideration given for us to attain the Mac mini you have if we could first get you to install (we'd provide without cost) our 16GB memory set and advise if issue still occuring with current updates.

I maintain that the issue is not one related to our memoy. Is not confined even to systems you can update Ram in. And is one we'd sorely like to see in house as the issue itself is definitely particular to specific Mac units vs. simply all encompassing.

Further - it is an issue with multiple interactions that Apple has, for the most part, had apparent success in eliminating via the various updates.

Thanks!

Id happily test your ram, Id even purchase it if it works,

My system ATM.

Model Identifier: Macmini6,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 4

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 6 MB

Memory: 8 GB

Boot ROM Version: MM61.0106.B03

SMC Version (system): 2.8f0

Im about to purchase 2 x 4GB chips today but I would prefer 2 x 8GB, I will post here and in another thread, what model brand and specs have worked form, it does appear to be quite random, and yes not specific as one person I have read has had Crucial ram work and another did not, then one user has had success with certified ram from a Kinston and another has also had success with there HyperX, it could very well be just one particuler spec on the ram that cause's this issue, as there may be a slight difference or spec/timing change between batches fom a manufacturer.

Thank you OWC Larry,

I would not be prepared to forward you my Mac Mini as my problem has been solved as I indicated. For the benifit of this community, I would be open to installing a second set of OWC 16GB memory and report back to this community and OWC the results.

If you would like to proceed you can contact me with information supplied in your SI-3551666.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Thanks and I can understand the Mac mini send in bit.... we will be in contact with you very coon concerning the memory though... and will look forward to the results. if the results still in line with prior, I will seek to come up with some arrangement - even if means advancing a replacement mini - so we can get a hold of your system just for the sake of having something that is testable/repeatable. Thanks!!!

OWC Larry,

I look forward to working with you on resolving this issue.

Please email me owc at macsales dot com - and we'll get it going. Thanks.

Thanks again - appreciated!

Email sent.

I've been following this post but haven't been really active since my early reports. My late 2012 Mini suffered the original symptom of the black screen and the required reboot. As a refresher, it worked fine with the 4GB Apple memory it shipped with. I upgraded to 16GB OWC and started having the problem. Dropped it to 8GB of OWC and the problem vanished. Swapped in 16GB of Apple memory and had no problems. Replaced that with a second set of OWC 16GB and the problem returned. Replaced that with 16GB of Crucial and haven't had a problem since.

While I am not willing to send my Mini in for testing since it is the main machine here at the house I'd be willing to try the OWC memory as part of a test if that would help move this discussion along. I have had nothing but the highest regard for the folks at OWC. They were understanding and helpful back in January and February when I was first chasing this issue. I continue to do business with them for that very reason. If the updates since the first of the year have solved the problem and exonerate the OWC upgrades I'd be willing to report results back here.

Received 16GB of RAM today for testing from OWC and have it installed as of 11:00am PST.

My configuration is:

Late 2012 Mac Mini 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7

2 x Kingston HyperX 240 GB SSD

OWC 16GB DDR3L PC12800 1600MHz RAM

1 x Apple 27” Thunderbolt Display (2560 x 1440)

1 x Dell 24” 2408WFP Display (1920 x 1200)

So far there are no issues to report.