Q: Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

Do not laugh. Apple support specifically asked me whether I'm using their RAM or some other manufacturer, although I don't think it matters.

OK, my Mini2012 is running as it should!

After switch back to the original 4G Ram, both TB displays didn't blackout or flickering anymore. I can put the display to sleep and wake up normally. So, the shared Vram on Intel Graphic Card is toying with us!

Whether memory issue or not, apple is to blame of everything that is being discussed here. If memory shouldn´t be exchanged by final users, the manufacturer must not give them this possibility.

IMHO, I belive we are being guinea pigs for this beta version of thunderbolt port (which I honestly think is a pretty good idea) that is still quite problematic and unstable.

Hi guys,
I am experiencing the same issue, a few times a day, and I would like to share some details with you, because both my MBP and Thunderbolt dispaly are new from the Apple Store online. Hope it helps.

- 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display 15.4/2.6 GHz / 16GB RAM / 256GB FLASH-GBR - part number Z0MK1B/A

- APPLE THUNDERBOLT DISPLAY-GBR - part number MC914B/B

So 16 G of RAM, yes, but from Apple... well I think. Here is the System Information details:

  Size:          8 GB

  Type:          DDR3

  Speed:          1600 MHz

  Status:          OK

  Manufacturer:          0x80AD

  Part Number:          0x484D5434314753364D465238432D50422020

I've just turn "automatic graphics switching" to see if the issue haapens again today. I will report back if anything else happens.

Kind regards,
Hervé

Yes, if you've a Retina display model, it's definitely "Apple" RAM - so that's not the problem in your case.

Download the free (well, donation-ware) gfxCardStatus and make sure that your external display is dependent on your discrete GPU. You should not have to turn off automatic graphics switching to get the display to work properly. I suspect that you've a hardware problem: were I you, I'd take the whole kit into your local Apple Store or an AASP and have them test both the display and your rMBP.

Clinton

Yeap, I'll do that, thank you Clinton! It happened twice again with "automatic graphics switching" off.
I have lodged an Apple support case. I will see what tehy say and report back (call scheduled for Monday).

What are your experience with Apple support so far?

I too had a TBD that kept acting up. If you've read through the whole thread you'll see my posts.

Since replacing my TBD at the local Apple store it has only acted up if I leave it connected to my MBP too long. Meaning if I reboot my MBP regularly wether due to working remotely or just a purposeful reboot it doesn't act up at all.

If I leave it running for several days eventually it will reboot my MBP for me. This actually kinda makes me laugh. Like it "knows" it needs a reboot. But who believes all that "ghost in the machine" noise....!

I'll gladly do an occasional reboot to keep this fine display/MBP running nice n smooth.

YMMV

So, have a brand new... just out of box MB Pro 15 - retina.  Hooked up only to the TBD.  That's it.. simple.

In now just my 5th hour of using I've had the display shut off 3 times.  It will keep playing music or what have you though the speakers.... but the display... is black.

OSX thinks it's still alive as I can move my cursor over to the black TBD.

Figures since it still is playing sound.

Sometimes I'll have my iphone via USB to the back of the TBD and I've got the USB numeric apple keyboard...but that's it for devices pulling power off the display.

So... I'm a bit concerned considering this is the first of 2 workstations I've got for my small team.

Thanks ramblinlamb, I've read your posts, and it helps to understand. Maybe the TBD may need to be replaced. But I supposed i'd better wait afer the holiday season, my local Apple specialist will be closed anyway, and the Apple support team may probably be less busy (if there is not too much default and returns after Xmas ;-)

I know it is very frustrating, especially with bread new products (and not cheap). I think we all emphatise with you here. But you should lodge your issue on http://www.apple.com/support/contact/ for your country, and see what you can do, and when.

Please share any follow up with your case.

yeah, already logged a complaint there and with our Apple 'business' rep.  Just to let them know, this isn't starting as cleanly as my mb pros in the past. 

I'm heading into the Apple store here in a few minutes.  Three days to replaced a recalled Segate HHD on the iMac.

Hi guys,
I had Apple care this morning, and after the usual SMC and PRam reset. As it was possible to reproduce the issue while over the phone, I was told to call back with my case number, and to go to the senior department to deal with my issue.
Well, of course, 25 minutes after the end of the phone conversation, my TBD went black again!!

Any way, cheer up, and have a Lovely Christmas (with or without external display ;-)

First the solution I found - in Powersaving turn off Automatic graphics switching and set sleep to Never! Spontaneous flashing and switching off stopped - so far.

Hi all. About a month ago I was sitting at my computer and there was a power surge. Everything in the house went off for litterally 1 to 2 seconds and came straight back on. It was so quick my clock didn't even lose the time. Immediately afterward my 27" Thunderbolt started having tiny flashes, then it turned off. The only way I got it back on was to pull out all peripherals and pull out the power. It then started randomly turning off after 3 to 5 minutes of use. This went on for a day or 2. I rang apple - my warranty had expire 3 weeks earlier - and was set to take it in for repair. Then after repeated turning off and resetting it stopped. I still had the occasional flash, but it stopped switching off. I just went away for 3 weeks and on return the problem was back and worse than ever. The monitor wouldn't stay on for more than 2 minutes. The wird thing is that the network and peripherals kept working, the screen just went blank. Again I was about to take it back to apple for repair, but tried one lats thing - the solution at the top. It has been about 28 hours and it is still running fine. No flashes, no switching off.

Will update with any changes.

An update on my situation.  I took back the 3 day old TBD and have had a new one for about 2 weeks.

The replacment has been fine so far.  Now, I've got full apple care on the new one as I'm a little worried about the build quality of these guys...given I'm 1/2 on a new one working...but at least it seems there isn't anything on the laptop/OS side that could fix these.  The are just built bad or not...

I bought a new TBD yesterday.  It's a georgous display.  But I've encountered a problem, which sounds similar to yours, where after 5-10 minutes the display goes blank.  I encountered this today when I was watching a web video in full screen.  The sound continued but the display went blank. 

Moving the mouse and pressing keys on the keyboard didn't bring the display back.  However, when I pressed the power button (on my Mac Mini i7, bran new as well) the Mac Mini went into sleep mode.  The sound, coming out of the TBD's speakers, stopped.  I pressed the power button again and the computer woke up from sleep mode and the display came back on. 

I was able to repeat this cycle several times consistently.  It seems like the display goes to sleep, but it only wakes up when the Mac wakes from sleep mode. 

Any suggestions?